MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rowing team is playing host to its annual intrasquad Gold and Blue Regatta on Friday, April 18, in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 
The Regatta will begin at 11 a.m. The boats will start downstream of the Westover Bridge and finish in front of the WVU Boathouse. Racing will occur on a 500m stretch of the Monongahela River in doubles, fours and eights.
 
"This is a unique event that the team really rallies around," associate head coach Tina Griffith said. "It allows some of the rowers to step into coaching-type roles in which they choose lineups and make strategic plans in order to try to capture the team win. It also is great in that it allows for even more parents, fans and supporters of our team to come, cheer and see what these athletes get the opportunity to do on a daily basis."
 
The 4+ event is an open event that will showcase two boats from the Gold team and two boats from the Blue team. The First- and Second-Years 8+ will showcase the newer Mountaineers who are in their first and second years on the team. The Open 2x event is a sculling event in which the rowers will row with an oar in each hand as opposed to the sweep events where each rower has one oar. The final event will be the Open 8+ in which you will see the strongest rowers from the Gold team line up against the strongest rowers from the Blue team.
 
"The Regatta portion of the day though, is just a piece of the competition that goes on for Gold and Blue throughout the day," Griffith said. "Before even showing up at the river, the athletes are working hard and competing with one another on the erg deck. All those points they earn on the erg and on the water will lead to bragging rights as the Gold and Blue Regatta Champion, which will earn them the right to have their color oar visible for the next year."

There will be a marketing table set up in the boathouse area (40 Donley Street), just off the Caperton Rail Trail, from where spectators are encouraged to watch. In addition to seeing the boats in action, WVU rowing invites fans to participate in several events throughout the day. There will be giveaway packages, and the first 50 fans will receive donuts. There also will be free posters, schedule magnets and yard games available to fans around the boathouse.
 
Parking is available at the Waterfront Place Parking Garage at 72 Warren Street.
 
Gold and Blue Regatta Schedule
11 a.m.            Open 4+
11:30 a.m.      First and Second Years 8+
11:50 a.m.      Open 2x
12:10 p.m.      Open 8+