NEWPORT BEACH, CA [Feb. 28, 2026] - The 2026 season is officially underway for UCLA Men's Rowing after a powerful opening statement at the California Challenge Cup at Marina Park in Newport Beach. Bringing two varsity eights and one novice eight, the Bruins left the harbor with two trophies, valuable race experience, and plenty of early-season momentum.

Head Coach Marcel Stiffey reflected on why this regatta continues to be a cornerstone of the Bruins' calendar: "The California Challenge Cup continues to be one of our favorite races each year. It's the first regatta of the season, and one of the things we appreciate most is that it offers three races in a single day. That format creates opportunities to execute well and opportunities to learn where we need to improve."

Varsity Eight Claims the Marshall Durbrow Cup

The UCLA Varsity Eight wasted no time establishing itself. Lining up against rival Orange Coast College, the Bruins surged out to an early lead and methodically extended their margin as the race unfolded, capturing the Marshall Durbrow Cup.

Team captain Toby Gajar, rowing in the 4-seat, embraced the intensity of the rivalry: "This was a fun regatta. It's fun to race duels and even more fun to take a definitive lead over Coast this early in the season. We will need to train hard to stay ahead of them, but that's what makes rowing fun."

Cullen Cox, 2-seat in the 1V, echoed that competitive edge: "In the varsity eight we were stoked to kick off the season with a win against our rivals at Coast. Reflecting on where to go from here we know that Coast will be coming out even faster at Newport and there are bigger fish to fry out East. Excited to up the training even more!"

The win not only secured hardware, but set the tone for a crew with ambitions that extend well beyond Southern California.

Second Varsity Shows Depth and Grit

The 2V added to the Bruins' haul, capturing the Waypoint Challenge Cup. Notably, the lineup competed without a couple of athletes who may factor into that boat later in the season—an encouraging sign of the program's depth.

Dante Ray, 5-seat of the 2V, described the race as a breakthrough moment: "It was a very good first test for the 2V. I think it inspired a lot of confidence. It was very exciting to take down an IRA crew to win our challenge cup.""

Ian Williams, 3-seat, highlighted the crew's growth over the course of the day: "We had a bumpy start against OCC's 2V at the start of the morning, but throughout the day we dialed into the racing mentality and delivered a great race against USD's varsity eight. We're looking forward to meeting Orange Coast again in two weeks for the Newport Regatta."

Three races in one day tested physical stamina and mental sharpness—precisely the format that makes this regatta such a valuable early-season proving ground.

Novices Make the Most of Their Invitation

The Bruins' first novice eight was invited to compete this year and embraced the opportunity. While only winning one of their three races, the 1N demonstrated poise and momentum against experienced competition. They were only 5 seconds behind Orange Coast College, the defending National Champions, and closely chased the USD 1V down the course.

Hayes Hellbusch, 5-seat in the novice boat, captured the crew's confidence: "The novices felt great momentum building in these races, and although we didn't win yesterday we know we have a real shot down the line."

For a program built on developing walk-ons, strong novice performances signal the health and future speed of the entire squad.

A Team Effort On and Off the Water

Beyond the racecourse, the Bruins were buoyed by tremendous support from alumni, family, and friends lining the shores of Marina Park. Early-season regattas in Newport Beach have become unofficial reunions—where past and present Bruins gather to celebrate the program's tradition and trajectory.

Coach Stiffey summarized the day and the road ahead: "Yesterday, we came away with two trophies… Overall, we have a large group training hard, and multiple boats are moving with real speed at practice each day. The focus now is simple. Get back to work and prepare for the Newport Regatta in a couple of weeks."

Two trophies. Multiple boats with speed. A hungry novice class.

The 2026 campaign has begun—and the Bruins are already rowing with purpose.