Bring on the chaos.
This weekend, the men's crew team will compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta, the largest two-day regatta in the world, racing in the Collegiate Four and Eight categories. The colossal spectacle, in which rowers, fans and food vendors all converge on Cambridge, Mass., will afford the Jumbos the opportunity to gauge their competitors' strength, as well as their own.
"The fall races are like a benchmark to see how we are," junior tri-captain Thomas Jordan said.
Tufts' fourth regatta of the season, the Head of the Charles, is immensely popular among rowers of all classes and not just collegiate competitors. Racers are separated by age, with groups ranging from children to adults older than 60. While Tufts will compete in only two races — fours and eights — the squad will be able to watch a total of 55 official races over the two-day event.
Despite the inordinate number of competitors, Jordan and the Jumbos have honed in on fellow NESCAC schools as the team's biggest foes. The Head of the Charles will give the Jumbos a chance to determine the strength of conference rivals, which may have drastically changed since last season due to graduation and matriculation.
"Since the race is so early [in the year], it is a good experience for freshmen and anyone just starting out," Jordan said.
The Jumbos have maintained their vigorous practices going into the Head of the Charles. The team trains at 5 a.m. every day and frequently tests different lineups until the best combination is found. Then, once they achieve a more consistent lineup, the rowers begin to run mock races.
A newcomer to the varsity team, freshman Ian McConnell, says that recent practices have had an extra focus on technique.
"We need more than just power. We need to be in sync," McConnell said.
Jordan added that the Jumbos practice as many new strokes as possible, primarily to achieve the perfect rhythm that marks any successful rowing team.
On race day in between events, the rowers will try to remain as inactive as possible in preparation for the incredibly demanding competition.
"The key is being prepared and trying to stay dormant during the hours before the race," McConnell, who will not race in the event due to a hand laceration, said.
The men's four team on Oct. 9 placed 14th out of 19 at the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta in Worcester, Mass., while the eight boat took 16th. McConnell said that this weekend's regatta will give the Jumbos the opportunity to improve on their last performance.
"Our goal is to go out there and fix some of the mistakes we made last time out and have a good row," McConnell said.
"It's a really fun regatta to do. Tufts has been taking part in it for a long time," Jordan said. "It's more of an experience than a race we gear up for."
Fans coming out to watch Saturday's fours race will see Jordan on stroke, senior tri-captain D.J. Ambrozavitch in the third seat, sophomore Kyle Flood in second and senior tri-captain Eugene Kim in the bow seat, with sophomore Alicia Williams as coxswain. Sunday's eights team will consist of junior Matt Goldenberg as coxswain, junior Michael Bai on stroke, sophomore William Hickey in seven, senior Ryan Flood in six, senior Alex Ross in five, freshman Chris Penny in four, junior Seth Lampert in three, sophomore Matthew Parsons in two and junior Chris Park in the bow seat.
The races will begin at the DeWolfe Boathouse at Boston University, and will finish at the Artesani Playground in Brighton, Mass., about three miles upriver. Men's Collegiate Fours is scheduled to begin at 3:41 p.m. on Saturday, while the eights race will begin at 1:57 p.m. on Sunday.
