Rowing Competes at Head of the Charles Regatta
10/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama rowing team is taking two crews to the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass., this weekend.
"Based on what we're seeing at practice, we're as ready as we've been at this point in the season," UA head coach Larry Davis said. "Assuming we keep our cool and don't get flustered by the new environment, we should do pretty well. We're certainly ready in terms of enthusiasm and boat speed."
It will be a new experience for a majority of the 18 Tide rowers who will compete in the event, with only three women who have raced at the Charles in the past making the trip.
"Most of these ladies have never been on the Charles before, so it's going to be a totally new experience for them and it can be a bit intimidating, especially for the coxswains, who have never been down this race course before."
The Crimson Tide's First Varsity 8+, made up of coxswain Paige Storey and rowers Bianca Arrington, Alissa Kranz, Laura Skaggs, Kristen Iverson, Jessica Allaway, Kendall Williamson, Erika Baranek and Jennifer Johnson, will compete in the Championship 8+ race.
Alabama's Second Varsity 8+, which consists of coxswain Kiffy Balchon and rowers Mariah Styer, Lauren Miller, Hannah Merrill, Brianne Hadar, Lynsey Marshall, Jessica Parker, Daniella Barone and Sarah Eadon, will compete in the Club 8+ event.
This marks the fifth year in a row that Alabama has competed at the venerable regatta, which draws crews from all over the world and is arguably the largest competition of its kind in the world. Last year, the Tide earned a bronze medal in the Club 8+ event and was 14th in the Championship 4+ race. Alabama also earned a medal in the fall of 2007, taking a silver medal.
Players Mentioned
