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The final day of the 86th annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta culminated with the crowning of the Inaugural men’s and women’s National Open Intercollegiate Sculling Champion. The regatta also saw Temple men defeating the 2024 champions and returning to the winner’s platform in the Men’s Varsity Eight and Drexel’s repeat as the women’s winner in the Varsity Eight.
When racing concluded, Clarkson University was crowned the Men’s National Open Intercollegiate Sculling champion with 42 points while Dominican University (24 points) and Oklahoma City (23 points) finished in second and third place, respectively.
On the women’s side, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) captured the women’s National Open Intercollegiate Sculling title with 43 points while Trent finished second with 36 points and Gordon College and Oklahoma City University tied for third with eight points each.
The Drexel Dragons won the Bratton-Galloway Trophy (combined Men’s and Women’s Point Trophy winner) for the second consecutive year and the Dr. Thomas Kerr Trophy (Men’s Point Trophy winner) for the fourth straight year. The Georgetown Hoyas captured the Jack & Nancy Seitz Trophy (Women’s Point Trophy winner) for the second consecutive season.
Drexel University returned to try and defend their Varsity Heavyweight Eight women’s crown. After finishing with the second fastest time in the semi-finals, Drexel got off to a clean start and began to separate themselves from the pack early opening a three to four seat lead.
As the race approached its final 500 meters Georgetown would draw even. As the Dragons saw Georgetown draw even, Drexel started to go into their reserve tank and pull ahead. As they came to the finish line it would be Drexel once again emerging victorious holding off a determined Hoya crew.
The men’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight race was being touted as a prize fight and the schools did not disappoint. In the end it was the Temple Owls who rowed to victory and claim their first varsity eight title since 2021 and their 22nd title in school history. As the team’s fought hard to cross the finish line, the LaSalle Explorers stormed back but the Owls held off the fierce charge to claim victory.
Additional results as well as video footage from the 2025 Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta can be found on DadVail.org.
