Gruensburg Cup Challenge 2023

By Marissa Long

The Gruensburg Cup Challenge was hosted by the University of Southern California at the Los Angeles Harbor. Crews from the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, and Long Beach State University competed in 2k races.

The races comprised of both eights and four boats with varsity and novices. While this is not the last race of the season for the Long Beach Men’s Crew, it was for one novice rower, Gillan Corvera. He stated, “I’m actually really sad,” about having to leave the team for Los Angeles County lifeguard academy.

Before the races head coach, Scott Erwin, talked to the coxswains about race strategy. For the varsity eight and four race, depending on their position, he wanted the sprint to start at the last 600 meters. For the novice 4 race Coach Scott wanted them to focus on flow and to only shift, a couple beats up at the last 600 meters.

The first race was the varsity eights which had three boats participating, one from each college. USC finished first, SDSU second, and LBSU finished third, close behind SDSU. In the fours races, four boats competed, with two USC boats, one LBSU, and one SDSU. For the varsity race the USC A boat won first, USC B boat in second, SDSU in third, and LBSU in last. The last race of the day was the novice fours, with Gillan in the bow seat. USC A boat won first with LBSU close behind in second, SDSU in third, and USC B in last. After his final race, Gillan felt “satisfied” in completing his first spring season with the Long Beach Men’s Crew.

The novice four boat returning after their race.

Group photo with coxswains, rowers, and coaches.