June 14, 2008
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Yale had the upper hand on Harvard at the Eastern Sprints (Ivy League Championship) and defeated Harvard soundly again in their last match-up in Camden, N.J., at the IRA National Championships on June 7. Saturday, however, the Bulldogs were unable to complete the run by narrowly dropping the annual four-miler by a mere 7 seconds over the nearly 20-minute race. Seeking to repeat as Regatta champions in the 143rd edition of the race, the Bulldogs jumped out to an open-water lead by the first mile buoys. But Harvard answered back midway through, passing the Bulldogs and taking an open-water lead of its own. In the end Yale could not match its fantastic comeback from a year ago, and the Crimson came away with the victory.
"It was like a boxing match," said Yale captain Jack Vogelsang, who was in the six seat. "You throw a couple punches, then wait and see how they respond. They throw a couple at you, you put up your defenses and try to go in. So much of it is just being very patient and knowing when to go in. They played it well."
The way Yale started made it seem as if the Bulldogs could pull off back-to-back wins. They led by a length or more through the one-mile mark after a tremendous start.
"We weren't trying to win it in the first 20 strokes, but we did want to have a strong start," Pescatore said. "That had been a strong point for this crew the last couple times they faced them. Playing to your strengths is a good idea. We were aggressive at the start, but we never quite settled down low enough on our cadences or got long enough on our strokes to create a sustainable rhythm."
By the 1.5-mile mark Harvard was nipping at Yale's stern. The Bulldogs held a slight lead at the halfway point when the Crimson put together a 20-stroke push that switched momentum. By the three-mile markers Harvard led by a boat length.
As the crews neared Bartlett's Cove and the finish line, the Bulldogs were still within striking distance and had the chance to evoke memories of last season's memorable finish. The 2007 Regatta came down to the final stroke, with Yale finishing its comeback from an open-water deficit and edging the Crimson by half a second.
That was not to be this time around. With the win, Harvard reclaimed possession of the Sexton Cup, which has been awarded to the winner of the varsity race annually since 1859.
"We know what it feels like to be on the winning end," said Pescatore. "It's disappointing to have to hand the trophy back over."
Saturday's clash capped a memorable season of battles between these two rivals, who first faced each other in 1852 -- the first intercollegiate athletic competition of any kind in the United States. At the Eastern Sprints on May 18 Yale edged Harvard by .685 seconds for second place in the third heat. That sent the Crimson to the petite finals at Sprints for the first time in 44 years. Yale ended up fourth in the grand final and Harvard was second in the petite final, eighth overall.
Last week at the IRA national championship regatta, the rivalry intensified but Yale again came out on top with a third-place finish in the petite final, open water and two places ahead of the Crimson.
That set the stage for Saturday's showdown, which ended with Harvard finishing in 18:54.1 to Yale's 19:01.6.
The two-mile freshman race, for the New London Cup, was also closely contested. The boats were even through the halfway point, but a surge by Harvard eventually led to a seven-second win (8:53.8 to 9:01.3). That was the third-fastest time by a winning crew in the freshman race.
"The freshmen had a great week of practice," Pescatore said. "They got their confidence up and they were willing to pour themselves into it. We just needed a little more time. I give a lot of credit to the Harvard crew for having a strong, steady season."
Harvard won the three-mile second varsity race (14:03.2 to 14:23.4) and earned the F. Valentine Chappell Trophy, which has gone back and forth now for four years running. The Crimson also won the combination race Friday night, finishing in 8:55.3 to Yale's 9:07.4.
"I thought both the second varsity and the combination boats fought very hard," Pescatore said. "They put a lot into it and I'm really proud of them."
The Regatta marked the final race for Vogelsang and fellow seniors Michael Ciccotti, Tyler Guth, Sean Hurley and David Mcintosh. Ciccotti was the cox in the varsity boat Saturday, while Hurley was in the two seat. McIntosh was in the bow on the second varsity boat.
Those that return next year will have much to build on.
"We had several close contests this year," Pescatore said. "I'm really proud of the effort from all of these guys. I know they're going to keep working harder and come back here with different expectations next year, just like Harvard did this year -- they wanted to get those two spots back, and they did. We'll make an extra effort to do the same."
report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity
Yale Boatings:
Varsity
C: Michael Ciccotti, Sr.
Stroke: Pieter Morgan, Jr.
7: Andrew Collard, Jr.
6: Jack Vogelsang, Sr.
5: James Tormey, So.
4: Henry Cole, So.
3: Lucas Spielfogel, So.
2: Sean Hurley, Sr.
Bow: Erik Woelber, Jr.
Junior Varsity
C: Rebecca Burgoyne-Allen, So.
Stroke: Keir Evans, Jr.
7: Nolan Maher, So.
6: Matthew Barber, So.
5: Max Kramer, Jr.
4: Antonio Sirianni, So.
3: Sean Riordan , Jr.
2: Richard Littlehale, Jr.
Bow: David Mcintosh, Sr.
Freshman
C: Carolyn Tobkin
Stroke: Spyridon Mastroyannis
7: Benjamin Grant
6: Duncan Logie
5: Marcos Carzolio
4: Matthew Ramlow
3: Ezra Mitchell
2: Nathaniel Reeve
Bow: Daniel Klassen
Combination
C: James Luccarelli, So.
Stroke: George Moran, Fr.
7: Patrick Vergara, Fr.
6: Kristoffer Strauss, Jr.
5: Benjamin Ortiz, Fr.
4: Charles Moore, So.
3: Joseph Porter, Fr.
2: Dominique Fenton, So.
Bow: Vincent Granata, Jr.
