The men’s varsity eight took the New England Championships by storm on this past Saturday, upsetting favorites and out-sprinting Boston College in the waning seconds of a white-capped and windy race to take first place; a feat not accomplished by the team since 1987. The men saved the most important race to avenge losses to rivals Williams and Trinity. It was a glorious end to a rollercoaster season, and a tribute to the dedication for every member of the squad.
Racing had been intense throughout the afternoon, and the weather conditions were a factor in the races.
“[Lake] Quinsigamond was angry on Saturday,” said varsity seventh-seat Eli Schned ’05. “Clearly, we dominated in spite of its feeble wrath.”
The varsity squad had a solid heat, taking second to qualify for the first lane in the final.
The rowers took every precaution before the race. Coxswain Dave Wyant ’05 kept watch over his crew, keeping them isolated for the most part from the crowds and family members, in order to relax, rest up and focus. Wyant has led the first varsity boat since his freshman year, and his leadership carried the team through the nerve-wracking moments before the race. When the call arrived to launch, the men organized and carried the shell down to the dock, each face wearing a determined look. The year had been marked by accomplishment and hardship, and each event of the season was a step closer to this moment.
The park where the boats launch and the crowds gather is parallel to the last 400 meters of the two-kilometer course, and consequently most of the races remain shrouded in confusion for spectators. When the boats first became visible following the 6:24 p.m. start time of the grand final, it was impossible to determine from the approach of the race who was the clear leader. People rushed to the bank of the lake, drowning out the announcer’s voice with their cheers and cries. As the race drew close to the viewing area it soon became apparent that the race had come down to Wesleyan and Boston College. Fans of the heavily favored Trinity and Williams boats stood in shock and dismay, while the Cardinals’ crowd dashed through the park, hoping to catch their team push their way through the Boston College bow for sole possession of the lead.
The two boats crossed the finish line and an eerie calm descended upon the park. The announcer, once ignored, became the center of attention again. As he announced victory for the Wesleyan team, the Wesleyan supporters erupted in victory and the rowers (after fighting away exhaustion by large gasps of air) began to cheer and splash the lake water in victory. Wyant stood up from his coxswain seat and pointed down the line at every teammate. As Trinity and Williams scuttled away to a side dock to get off the water, Wesleyan arrived at the main dock following Boston College (second place) and the University of Rhode Island (third Place) to receive their gold medals and the “Rusty” Callow Championship Trophy. The Cardinals won the race by a margin of one second with a time of 6:59.48.
When asked of the race, Darrel Lambert ’05 said, “With a powerful wind and huge waves, it was impossible to row pretty. We won because we dealt with the conditions better and had the endurance to sprint at the end. Boston College challenged us the whole way, but we broke them in the last 250 meters.”
“These guys are my brothers,” said Lambert of his teammates. “Seeing my coxswain do the victory stand after the race while my captain pounded the water with his fist was one of the finest moments of my life. We bled together and we won together. I don’t think I’ll ever be a part of a purer moment.”
The powerhouse ‘Handsome’ junior varsity eight crew took second in the JV Championship race, while the women’s varsity four finished fourth in their final. The men’s varsity four placed sixth in their heat and did not advance to the final race, while the women’s novice eight won the petite (runner-up) final for their division.
The women’s varsity four took second in their first heat, advancing them to the final. In this race they ended the regular season with a fourth place finish, falling to Bowdoin, Williams and Clark with a time of 9:52.33. Though not dismayed with their result, the finish was not indicative of the progress the women’s team has made throughout the season. The men’s JV crew surprisingly did not win their final, and fell to Holy Cross in a weather-torn race with a time of 8:26.62.