Occoquan Sprints Schedule (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University rowing team will compete in a busy weekend of racing action this Saturday and Sunday.
 
The Patriots will travel to Norfolk for a pair of races on Saturday in an event hosted by Old Dominion. The Patriots will then return to the waters of the DMV to host the Occoquan Sprints on Sunday in Fairfax Station.
 
On Saturday at Old Dominion, the Patriots will be a part of a morning race session, before the Monarchs host a Big 12 event featuring Texas and other league schools. The Green & Gold will race Old Dominion at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, then return to the water an hour later to battle A-10 foe George Washington.
 
The races will feature an official from Fisa, the organization that serves as the official governing body of worldwide rowing. As such, the Patriots will get a chance to race in an environment set up to be run as efficiently and effectively as possible.
 
"The community of Norfolk really gets behind this race. We're really looking forward to it," head coach Ted Nagorsen said. "It's our third year going down to ODU. [Head coach] Dan Garbutt works so hard to put the race on. It's a great course with a buoy line coming in. It's a good opportunity to race against a pair of very fast teams."
 
For the Patriots, the racing experience of the weekend is much needed after training schedules have been hampered by weather over the past fortnight.
 
"Our training trip to Lake Lure didn't work out the way we wanted, between the weather and mechanical breakdowns," Nagorsen said. "And this week's been a short week, because we missed two days of practice due to the snow. We don't know what to expect. We just need to put together a race plan and get a lot of racing in. That's what's important."
 
Then on Sunday, the Patriots will compete in their first home race of 2018. The Occoquan Sprints will feature Georgetown, Robert Morris, Loyola (Md.) and Franklin & Marshall.
 
Mason's Second Varsity 8+ will kick off the home race at 10:07 a.m. versus crews from Loyola, Georgetown and Robert Morris.
 
The Varsity 8+ will be off at 10:35 a.m. while the Varsity 4+ will compete at 12:06 p.m.
 
Mason's Varsity 8+ will race again at either 12:20 p.m. or 12:34 p.m., depending upon how the boat finishes in the morning race.
 
Competing on back-to-back days for the Patriots will serve as good preparation for racing formats to come this season.
 
"Hopefully we can put together a good performance coming off this week," head coach Ted Nagorsen said. "When you get to a championship race like Dad Vails in May, you have to be ready for that format. We're excited for this weekend because it's good preparation for May where you have to put together a good performance in back-to-back days."
 
Following this weekend, the Patriots will have some time off of competitive racing before taking on George Washington and Georgetown on April 6 in Washington, D.C.
 
"After these races, we have two weeks until the George Cup," Nagorsen said. "We've battled some injuries and illness, so we're looking forward to having those two weeks to reset and recharge."
 
#GetPatriotic