The Lexus Gauntlet. Image from user Heyduder; Wikipedia

“Damn the torpedoes, Full speed ahead!”
-Admiral Farragut (1801-1870). Aboard the ship Hartford.

Saturday is always a good day to be a USC Trojan, only this time it wasn’t because of football…Two Trojan athletic teams had the chance to prove themselves in big ways, and both rose to the occasion. To start, the women of Troy’s track team ended a 15-year losing streak to Bruins, winning the dual meet 86-77 at UCLA. But the real battle on Saturday was won at sea (or the port of Los Angeles, if we’re going to get technical). The USC women’s crew team won its seventh consecutive annual battle against the Bruins. But this year the win was a bit different. That’s because this win came with a trophy.

Not just any trophy – the most coveted Trophy in all of Los Angeles…

The Lexus Gauntlet is a year long competition between USC and UCLA, competed in an array of men’s and women’s sports. Points are awarded to the winner of key matches/series played between the schools; the trophy going to the school with the highest point total at the end of the year. The women of Troy crew team carried the University of Southern California over 67.5 points, which puts the Bruins (42.5 points) out of reach of a comeback.

The Lexus Gauntlet Trophy has changed hands every year since the competition’s inception in 2001. Keeping in line with tradition, the Trojans won it back after a terrible year of Bruin reign.

Pete Carroll may say F*&K Trophies, but nothing says “F*&K the Bruins!” like bringing the gauntlet back home.

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