Men prepare for Head of the Charles

The men's varsity crew team competed in its second race of the season on Sunday at the New Hampshire Championships.

Two varsity boats rowed in the event, the first finishing in seventh place out of twenty teams and posting a 15:01 time in the approximately three mile race, thirty-two seconds behind the victorious Colby Mules. The second boat turned in a mediocre performance, coming in 15th. The regatta on Sunday marked the second consecutive week in which one Jumbo boat achieved favorable results, as it finished near the top of the field.

The teams first trial of the season came two weeks ago at the Textile Regatta in Lowell, Massachusetts, in which the number one varsity boat took sixth place out of twenty-five teams.

"Our best rowing of the season came in the Textile Regatta. That race showed a lot of promise," varsity captain Max Bernstein said.

The second varsity boat also displayed a solid effort but was penalized for not allowing another boat to pass. With the added penalty time, the second boat finished in 22nd place.

The performance at the New Hampshire Championships should serve as valuable preparation for the prestigious and important Head of the Charles race this weekend, in which over one hundred crews from around the country participate. The event is the "culmination of the fall season" according to sophomore rower Rick Dalyai said.

"It's always fun, the athletes love it," head coach Ben Foster said of the upcoming race.

Hundreds of crew fans and curious observers gather each year on the banks of the Charles River or on overhanging bridges to cheer on the teams and admire the stamina and strength of the athletes. The carnival-like atmosphere created by the many crew enthusiasts and avid fans makes for an exhilarating day of competition.

The perpetual improvement of the team from the start of the season should bode well for a strong showing in the Head of the Charles.

"Both boats are faster than last year," Foster said of the team's improvement.

The team attributes much of its success to the abundance of varsity rowers. Six of the men on the first boat return from last year's team, and the second boat is composed of many promising freshmen and sophomores.

"We're looking to have a better boat this year with six returning rowers," Bernstein said.

The team has also found it easier to simulate race-like conditions in practice with two varsity boats.

"Having two eight man boats is a big improvement on last year. It's much easier to practice," Dalyai said.

But with the improved numbers on the team and the returning varsity rowers, the expectation to perform well has increased from last year. Foster and the team seem confident that they have rowed well from the first race and will not be disappointed this weekend.

The Head of the Charles will be that last organized race for the men in the fall, after which the grueling training process and strict practice schedule will continue through the winter. The team eagerly awaits the spring season, in which they hope both boats will propel them into one of the top places in the NESCAC conference.

The fall season, although crucial in terms of training and preparation, does not officially figure into the NCAA crew standings.

"The fall season is more of a warm-up for the spring season," Dalyai said. "It's important to do well in the fall to set the tone for the rest of the year."

The Jumbos have certainly not dominated thus far, but have executed well with one boat finishing in the top half of the fleet. This weekend will be the final and most formidable test of this phase of the season, but the men are not daunted. If they repeat their performance of the past two weeks there shouldn't be much room to complain.