ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell lightweight rowing team returns to action when it welcomes Penn to competes for the Matthews Leonard Cup on Saturday, April 9 beginning at 8 a.m. out of the Cornell Rowing Center. 

The Big Red has held the Matthews Cup since 1991, topping the Quakers 25 consecutive times (no races held in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2011, 2020 and 2021) and leads the series 47-26 dating back to 1938. The winner of the varsity eight race is awarded the Matthews Cup. The Leonard Cup is a points cup given to the winner of the majority of the 8+ races.

Cornell opened its spring season with a pair of wins in varsity eight races last weekend on its home course as part of the Ithaca Duals. The Big Red varsity eight boat cruised past Bucknell, crossing the line 29 seconds ahead of the Bison after clocking a 6:07.4. They then topped Hobart in 6:17.2, 13 seconds clear of the Statesmen, later in the morning. 

Penn's varsity eight is undefeated this spring with wins over Harvard and MIT, as well as Delaware, last weekend at the National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational.