The Yale Bulldogs men’s lightweight crew team won both the Dodge Cup and the Colgan Cup on April 11, making their only home race of the 2026 season a memorable event.
These victories are significant for Yale, as they mark the team’s first Dodge Cup win since 2022. The results highlight a competitive rowing season for the Bulldogs, who have now claimed wins over Columbia, Penn, and Navy.
The day’s racing began with a second varsity (2V) victory for Penn and ended with another Penn win in the third/fourth varsity (3V/4V) event. However, it was Yale’s dramatic performance in the first varsity (1V) race that secured both trophies. In a closely contested contest, Penn held a slight lead entering the final 400 meters before Yale surged ahead to finish just over one second faster than their rivals. The official times were: Yale at 5:27.2, Penn at 5:28.4, and Columbia at 5:40.7.
Yale’s win in the premier event earned them the Dodge Cup outright while also serving as a tiebreaker for the Colgan Cup after both teams finished with an equal number of points across all three races. According to recent polls prior to this regatta, Penn’s first varsity boat was ranked No. 2 nationally following only one loss earlier in April to Harvard.
With these results added to their record this season—including victories over other Ivy League competitors—Yale looks ahead to facing Dartmouth next Saturday for the Durand Cup.
