Mountain Hawks compete at Head of Charles

Saturday, October 22

Charles River (Boston, Mass.)

Lehigh University

Head of Charles Regatta

10/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing

BOSTON, Mass. - Lehigh spent the last weekend racing in the 41st annual Head of the Charles Regatta. This premier rowing event attracts thousands of spectators and international crews to Boston, Massachusetts. The multi-day event features a notoriously difficult three-mile course testing the rower’s endurance and coxswain’s abilities.

Lehigh entered competition on Friday in the Men’s Collegiate Four. A lineup consisting of Kurt Schubert (C), Mike Flanagan (S), Tim Matthews (3), Mike Stern (2) and Todd Mickelson (B) braved the cold temperatures and dark skies first. The four took off at a blistering pace and when the first split was taken at the Riverside Boathouse, only two crews were ahead of them. The Lehigh men continued their punishing speed and never gave in. In a deep field of 19 boats, the Lehigh four finished spectacularly in 3rd place, mere seconds behind Bowdoin’s 2nd place four. Their finish marks the best any Lehigh men’s boat has ever finished in this elite regatta.

The four’s amazing finish set the tone for the two Varsity Eights racing on Sunday. The Men’s Collegiate Eight race began Sunday afternoon with the same blustery conditions as the prior day’s racing. The Lehigh line-up of Dave Highhill (C), Jon Winter (S), Matt Galuska (7), Phil Bresnahan (6), Brian Drummond (5), Chris Hause (4), Mark Chandler (3), Andrew Younghein (2), and Nick Kruse (B) took to the river and took to the course first in an incredibly competitive 41 boat field. The Lehigh men took command and less than 1000 meters into the course had passed the Wesleyan boat in front of them. The men’s speed never decreased as they handled the conditions and finished a dramatic turn under the Elliot Street Bridge in front of a slowing Harvard boat. The men finished 11th only two seconds behind Patriot League rival Colgate.

The Lehigh women’s Varsity Eight was the final boat to take the Charles River course. The line-up consisted of Sarah Michaels (C), Pam Lee (S), Jackie Cross(7), Denise Julian (6), Angela Moudy (5), Diana Philipova (4), Chisrtina Porcaro (3), Kristin Bierbauer (2) and Li-Ping Chew (B). The Women’s Collegiate Eight featured a 46 boat field chock full of Patriot League competition. The women bested Patriot League foes from both Army and Holy Cross. The women’s speed never slowed as they finished the 3 mile course ahead of 35 other boats passing Texas and New Hampshire along the way.

This Head of the Charles Regatta showcased the speed and depth of both crew programs this fall. Both men’s boats finished within 5% of the winning time and have earned automatic entries into next year’s race. The women’s equally strong finish will bode well for future entries into the Charles. Look for the Mountain Hawks this coming weekend in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. This final head race will cap the exciting and fast fall season enjoyed by the entire team.