Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawk rowers set for tough fall schedule
9/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks rowing team is anxious to get the 2009-10 season underway. Lehigh has another strong schedule lined up for this year beginning on September 27 when the varsity 8 crews head to the nation’s capital to compete in the Head of the Potomac. This early season race will give the Lehigh coaches a good indication of where the team is at and what they need to improve upon as the fall season progresses.
The Mountain Hawks’ first home race of the season will take place on October 3 when they host Iona College, Loyola College and Franklin & Marshall on the Lehigh River. Lehigh won four of the six races in this event last year and once again this will provide all Mountain Hawk rowers, including novice and walk-ons an opportunity to experience collegiate competition for the first time.
October 10 will bring the Brown and White to Philadelphia as the Mountain Hawks take part in the always competitive Navy Day Regatta on the Schuylkill River. Last season the women’s varsity 8 crew posted a top-six finish in its event while the freshman/novice 8 placed fifth out of 20 entries at this race. The men’s varsity 8 was only seven seconds off a top-six finish.
Lehigh will continue its 2009 fall season when it travels to New England for the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta on the weekend of October 17-18. One of the world’s largest and well-known regattas, the Head of the Charles attracts rowers from across the globe that compete in more than 55 events in front of over 30,000 spectators. In 2008 Lehigh competed in four events, including the men’s club eight, the women’s club eight, the men’s collegiate eight and the women’s lightweight eight. The women’s varsity 8 had a great showing, finishing ninth out of 45 entries, while the lightweight crew was only three seconds away from the seventh place finisher. On the men’s side the varsity 8 placed 13th out of 38 entries and the second varsity 8 registered a 26th place finish out of 69 entrants.
The 2009 fall season will come to a close on November 7 when Lehigh hosts the Brown and White dual at the Steiner/Steinberg Boathouse.
