Navy's heavyweight rowing team faced a tough start to the 2026 season, losing all four races against Boston University at their neutral site competition in Princeton, New Jersey. Each race was closely contested, with the top three varsity eight races finishing within a margin of 6.52 seconds. Despite the defeat, Navy's new coach, Matt Fluhr, expressed optimism about the team's performance, highlighting improvements in execution and composure. The next challenge for the Mids is a home opener against Princeton on April 4.

By the Numbers
  • Boston University won the first varsity eight race by 6.08 seconds (5:36.50 to 5:42.58).
  • In the third varsity eight, Boston finished just 3.79 seconds ahead of Navy (5:51.78 to 5:55.57).
Yes, But

Even though Navy lost all four races, the competitive margins suggest that the team is close to challenging for victory against strong opponents like Boston University, which could indicate potential for improvement as the season progresses.

State of Play
  • Navy's new head coach, Matt Fluhr, is still in the early stages of his coaching career.
  • The team showcased improvements in rhythm and connection during their races despite the losses.
What's Next

Navy will aim to rebound in their next race, hosting Princeton on April 4, providing an opportunity to apply learnings from their recent performance against Boston University.

Bottom Line

While Navy faced setbacks in their season opener, the lessons learned and areas for growth bode well for their upcoming competitions, underscoring that persistence and improvement will be key for future success.