To kick off the spring racing season, Rutgers traveled to Shamokin Dam, PA for an outstanding day of competition at the Susquehanna Duals. The Red Team faced a stacked field that included Bucknell, Virginia, Notre Dame, and Michigan—featuring multiple top finishers from last year’s ACRA Championship regatta across the Varsity, 2V, 3V, and Novice events. Needless to say, it was a formidable early-season test.
Rutgers opened the day with a strong showing in the Varsity 8. In the morning race, the crew made an impressive move in the third 500 meters, surging past defending champion Virginia and closing to within open water of a very strong Notre Dame crew. In the afternoon, the Varsity 8 continued to build speed, delivering another competitive performance against what appear to be two of the top ACRA boats this season in Bucknell and Notre Dame.
The 2nd Varsity delivered the highlight performance of the day. Historically a crew that has taken time to find its rhythm early in the season, the 2V turned that narrative around with a statement win in the afternoon, defeating both Bucknell and Notre Dame. This result signals that the 2V is shaping up to be a true championship contender this year—and earned some well-deserved shirts in the process.
The 3rd Varsity faced a challenging start to the day, as their morning race was stopped early due to a collision between Notre Dame and Virginia just as Rutgers was finding its rhythm. In the afternoon, however, the crew responded in a big way—finding their stride and overtaking a Notre Dame boat that had beaten them earlier, improving their margin by 12 seconds.
The Novice 8, racing in their first full regatta of the season, went up against deep and experienced lineups from Virginia and Bucknell. Despite missing several athletes, the crew showed significant improvement across their races. With no prior rowing experience in the boat, they held their own against crews featuring six or seven experienced oarsmen—a strong indication of their potential as the season progresses.
The Novice 4 may have faced the toughest conditions of the day. Comprised of four novice rowers and a novice coxswain with just three days of experience in the smaller boat, they battled a strong head current and headwind. In the face of adversity, they showed resilience and grit in their first-ever races. That experience will prove invaluable as they continue to develop speed and rejoin the 2nd Freshman 8 lineup with the return of absent teammates.
Overall, it was an excellent weekend of racing and an important early benchmark for Rutgers’ boat speed.
Full results can be viewed here:
AM Racing Results: https://tinyurl.com/AM-Results
PM Racing Results: https://tinyurl.com/PM-Results

Next up is a week of hard training before hosting the University of Delaware in our first home race in over three years.
UPSTREAM RED TEAM!