Cathedral Catholic Crew opened its fall racing season with an impressive showing at the 2026 San Diego Fall Classic on Mission Bay. Competing in eight racing events with 10 boat entries, the Dons earned four podium finishes, including a first-place win, and several results that marked the program’s highest finishes in their respective event categories at the regatta.

Four Podium Finishes Highlight the Day

Novice Boys 8+ – 1st Place

The Novice Boys 8+ captured first place in an exciting, closely contested race, finishing just 4.2 seconds ahead of the second-place crew. The win was an outstanding accomplishment for the developing athletes and a strong start to their competitive season.

Novice Girls 8+ – 2nd Place

The Novice Girls 8+ finished as runners-up, delivering another strong result for the program and a promising start to the season.

Women’s U19 1x – 3rd Place

Cathedral Catholic earned a third-place finish in the Women’s U19 1x, securing another podium result in the individual sculling event.

Varsity Boys 4x A – 3rd Place

One of the day’s standout performances came from the Varsity Boys 4x A, which placed third in a competitive field of 17 crews. The Dons finished ahead of 14 other boats, just 23.9 seconds behind the second-place crew.

Results Across the Program

The Dons also turned in several competitive performances across the remaining events:

• Men’s U19 1x: Cathedral Catholic athletes finished 11th and 19th, gaining valuable experience in the demanding singles event.
• Men’s U19 2x: Finished 11th, continuing the development of the men’s sculling program.
• Men’s U19 4x B: Placed 10th in a 17-boat field, demonstrating the program’s depth in the men’s quad category.
• Women’s U19 4+: Finished fifth, placing among the top crews in the field.
• Women’s U19 8+: Earned a 10th-place finish, providing a valuable early-season benchmark for continued growth.

Looking Ahead

The San Diego Fall Classic laid a strong foundation for the Dons as they continue to build momentum and gain valuable racing experience. The team will return to competition on December 6th at the LBRA Christmas Regatta, where athletes and coaches will aim to build on the success of their season opener.

Congratulations to Cathedral Catholic Crew on an outstanding start to the fall racing season! GO DONS!