“At that point, you find something else inside yourself,” added senior second varsity six-seat Nate Rogers. “We had nothing to lose.”
The wins ensured the Crimson of No. 1 national rankings for both the first and second varsity boats heading into the final weekend of dual competition. For the Harvard seniors, Saturday marked the first time they have defeated Navy in a dual race.
“With the [second varsity’s] win and the varsity’s open water win,” Rogers said, “it was a really sweet victory for the seniors.”
The statement made, the finish line a wash of Crimson supporters shouting at America’s new No. 1 boats, Harvard calmly rowed back to the Haines Cup’s new home, Newell Boathouse.
The hardware was nice, but they all know a June victory over the Midshipmen in Camden, N.J., will merit far more celebration.
—Staff writer Aidan E. Tait can be reached at atait@fas.harvard.edu.