Drexel Crew to Face Harvard at Henley

Drexel's Director of Rowing Paul Savell (at right) will send the men's varsity eight boat into competition against the undefeated Harvard Crimson lightweight eight at the Henley Royal Regatta.

After rowing to victory in the Reading Town Regatta, the final prelude to the Henley Royal Regatta, Drexel’s men’s varsity eight boat has been selected to face Harvard University’s undefeated lightweight eight boat in the opening round of Henley’s Temple Challenge Cup.

Director of Rowing Paul Savell will send the Lois Krall boat into action against the Crimson on Wednesday, June 27 at 11:05 a.m. (BST). Aboard the Lois Krall, the men's varsity eight consists of coxswain Randall Lee, stroke Kurt Linton, Paul Wisniowski, Michael Faust, Lorenzo Albala, Sebastian Ryan, Ryan Mallgrave, Vanja Busic and bow Will Masters.

This group of Dragons is the first men’s varsity eight crew to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta. They earned the honor following a 2012 season that saw them row to five first-place finishes during the spring and claim a bronze medal in the Dad Vail Regatta –Drexel’s first since 1995.  The varsity eight’s medal-winning performance at the Dad Vail also earned them a bid to the IRA National Championship Regatta.

Harvard’s lightweight eight crew has not lost a race this season and won the 2012 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship. The Crimson’s lightweight crew program is one of the most storied in the history of collegiate rowing. Harvard has won eight IRA national championships in lightweight rowing, more than any program in the sport’s history. Harvard boats have twice captured the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley, most recently in 2002.

The Henley Royal Regatta has been held annually since 1839. The first regatta took place on a single afternoon, but by 1940 the event had become so popular that it was extended to two days. In 1986, the regatta became a five-day ordeal as the field of participants was increased. The Dragons will join the world's best rowing programs on the two-lane 2,000-meter course.

For more information about the 2012 Henley Royal Regatta, click here. Live results streaming will be available throughout the course of the event. Fans can also follow the Dragons via Twitter (www.twitter.com/@Drexel_Crew).