Undefeated weekend leads to second-straight Mustang Open Team Race championship
VALLEJO, Calif. – Cal Maritime's final head-to-head race pitted the weekend's final two undefeated teams when the Keelhaulers faced event host Cal Poly with the Mustang Open Team Race title at stake for the winner.
Cal Maritime's crew, featuring three sophomores and three freshmen — representing the Keelhaulers in respective boats this weekend were Nick Mueller and Gavin Steuerwald, Oscar Perry and Nicolai Perez, Sam Jennings and Mateo Krok — already defeated Arizona State, Cal, San Diego State, UCLA and two teams from UC Santa Cruz throughout the preceding days, and needed only one more victory to successfully defend last year's title.
In this exceptionally close race against the host Mustangs, CSUM entered the last leeward mark in a losing combination but pulled ahead on the final beat at the finish line to finish 1-2-3 and officially end the weekend as the regatta's lone undefeated team even though it battled schools that are exponentially larger in size — from student body to program budget — by comparison.
By winning last year's event, Cal Maritime arrived in Morro Bay on Friday knowing everyone focused on upending last year's regatta winner.
Defeating Cal, San Diego State, Arizona State and one of UCSC's two teams on Saturday enabled the Keelhaulers to enter the final day of competition at the Morro Bay Yacht Club in first place with three teams to beat to accomplish their goal for the weekend.
Victories in head-to-head races against UCLA and UC Santa Cruz' other team set up an epic showdown in the regatta's final race — one that saw CSUM come up clutch to win the weekend and add another trophy to the program's collection.
The third of five regattas, in as many weeks will take Cal Maritime to Redwood City, California for the McIntyre Team Race, hosted by Stanford at the Arrillaga Family Rowing and Sailing Center.
Mustang Open Team Race
Feb. 1-2, 2025
Morro Bay Yacht Club
Morro Bay, Calif.
Hosted by Cal Poly
Results
Final Results
1. Cal Maritime 7-0 record
2. Cal Poly 6-1
3. UC Santa Cruz-1 5-2
4. Cal 3-3
5. UC Santa Cruz-2 3-4
6. Arizona State 1-5
7. UCLA* 1-6
8. San Diego State** 1-6
* - Number of races won when tied teams met (1)
** - Number of races won when tied teams met (0)