The girls varsity crew team competed in the 60th anniversary of the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Charles River. The team competed in two events, the women’s under-17 (U-17) four and the women’s youth four, racing two boats in total.
Head coach Brian DeDominici said the team was prepared for anything because of the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the event.
“It can be anything from a clear race to a demolition derby,” DeDominici said. “You just have to focus on what you can do to execute your race as you know it.”
To qualify for HOCR next year, crews are required to place within the top half of racers. The U-17 four placed 20th out of 32, missing the benchmark, but the youth four placed 33rd out of 86 crews, qualifying for next year’s race.
Junior and coxswain of the youth four, Harper Smith, said the familiarity of the Charles River helped the team.
“This is where we practice every day, and I think it feels more natural compared to other teams who come from across the country,” Smith said.
According to DeDominici, the U-17 four raced with a relatively new coxswain, sophomore Grace L’Esperance-Chouinard, who had never been in the official race before. The four overcame this challenge, however, posting faster times at the event than during their mock runs at practice, said DeDominci.
“[L’Eperance-Chouinard] did an excellent job of managing the fastest course while following the rules,” DeDominici said.
Senior and captain Zoe Zucar said the number of fans cheering the boat on was her favorite part of the event.
“It was my last Head of the Charles, which was kind of sad, but it was just so much fun being in a race with my boat,” Zucar said.
Smith said the youth four did an excellent job on “Week’s turn”, one of the hardest parts of the event, and one known to make or break crews.
“I’d say that today we were able to take it really well, especially with the rowers’ help giving me the right amount of pressure and keeping [their] heads in the boat,” Smith said. “I’d say they were able to keep the pressure and not let everything around us get in our way.”
DeDominici said the HOCR is an event he thoroughly enjoys.
“It’s also a time when you get to see people you haven’t seen in a long time, because everyone kind of regathers,” DeDemonici said. “I see coaches I haven’t talked to in years. I see athletes come back to their alma mater, so it’s one of my favorite races of the year.”
