Big Green Earn Historic Win in Olympic Axe Over Yale

Saturday, April 5

Derby, Conn.

8:00 AM

Dartmouth College

Yale

Varsity Eight Olympic Axe Heavyweight Rowing

The varsity eight and Coach Allen with the Olympic Axe

Big Green Earn Historic Win in Olympic Axe Over Yale

4/5/2025 5:50:00 PM | Men's Heavyweight Rowing

Sixth-ranked Dartmouth picked up the victory over fifth-ranked Yale (in the IRCA/IRA poll)

By: Justin Lafleur

DERBY, Conn. — The Dartmouth men's heavyweight rowing varsity eight picked up a two-second victory over Yale's varsity to send the Big Green home with the Olympic Axe for the first time in the trophy's 21-year history. Dartmouth got out to an early lead and wouldn't look back.

"It's a race that our guys have circled," said Wyatt Allen, the Betsy and Mark Gates 1959 Head Coach of Men's Heavyweight Rowing. "Yale has been the class of the Ivy League and East Coast rowing, so it's big step for us to be able to bring that trophy home for the first time in 21 years."

In the third race of the day during a windy and choppy Saturday, the varsity eight posted a time of 6:10.3, ahead of the Bulldogs who came in at 6:12.4.

Check out the end of the varsity eight's win today to claim the Olympic Axe for the first time in its 21-year history!#GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/r9Y3HNfQKv
— Dartmouth Men's Heavyweight Rowing (@BigGreenHeavies) April 5, 2025

Yale was victorious in the other four races, taking the 5V and 4V to begin the day then the 2V and 3V after the Big Green varsity's victory (complete results below).

"It was very challenging conditions," said Allen. "I give the varsity a lot of credit for the way they handled it and executed. We've got a lot of work to do to develop the overall team speed. That's something we take a lot of pride in. We're not where we want to be and there's work to do, but the guys are aware of that and excited to get back to work."

The Big Green hit the road next Saturday when they face Boston University in the Bill Cup.

"We typically have a race under our belts when we go to Yale for the Olympic Axe and we didn't have that this year with our break being a little bit later in the calendar," said Allen. "It's a big challenge to open the year against a program that's as deep and talented as Yale.

"The guys definitely learned some things and we learned where we need to get better," Allen continued. "We have an opportunity to work hard this coming week and retest ourselves in Boston against BU."

Complete Results

Varsity Eight
1. Dartmouth – 6:10.3
2. Yale – 6:12.4

Second Varsity Eight
1. Yale – 6:12.6
2. Dartmouth – 6:19.4

Third Varsity Eight
1. Yale – 6:06.9
2. Dartmouth – 6:11.8

Fourth Varsity Eight
1. Yale – 6:26.1
2. Dartmouth – 6:36.0

Fifth Varsity Eight
1. Yale – 6:35.7
2. Dartmouth – 6:44.1