DERBY, Conn. – The University of Pennsylvania men’s heavyweight crew made a big splash this weekend. They brought home the Blackwell Cup and the Colgan Cup after fierce races on the Housatonic River.
In a thrilling finish, Penn narrowly edged out Yale for the Blackwell Cup, with Columbia trailing behind. This win marks Penn’s second consecutive victory for this cup, a feat they last achieved from 1999 to 2002 when they won it four times straight.
For the first time in its five-year history, Penn also claimed the Colgan Cup, previously held by Yale since its introduction in 2022.
Race Highlights
In the Varsity Eight race for the Blackwell Cup, all three teams were neck and neck halfway through. Yet, Penn and Yale pulled ahead, with Penn clinching the win by a slim margin. Here’s how they ranked:
- 1st: Penn
- 2nd: Yale
- 3rd: Columbia
The Second Varsity Eight saw Penn take an early lead. They kept their distance, holding off a hard-charging Yale crew towards the end.
For the Third Varsity Eight, Yale clinched victory over Penn and Columbia, while Penn’s Fourth Varsity Eight dominated from the start, maintaining their lead and finishing strong.
Looking Ahead
Next up, Penn will compete on the Schuylkill River against Harvard and Navy for the Adams Cup.
This recent success highlights a growing trend in collegiate rowing. According to a recent survey by the NCAA, the popularity of rowing is rising, with a noticeable increase in participation from universities across the nation. In fact, since the introduction of new scholarships for women’s rowing, many more young women are joining the sport—a positive sign for the future of collegiate competition.
Keep an eye on how Penn continues to build on this momentum. For updates, check out @PennHwtRowing on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, or visit PennAthletics.com.
