Hoping to build from their success this fall, the men’s crew team enters its spring season with high expectations. With only one senior lost to graduation and 28 returning varsity members, the team boasts incredible depth that will undoubtedly serve them well in the upcoming season.
Encouraging results in the fall at both the Head of the Charles Regatta and the Head of the Fish Regatta showcased the team’s tremendous potential. Those results fueled winter training, as all eyes looked toward spring and a shot at a New England Championship.
While the longer races of the fall season are not always an indication of how a team will perform in the shorter sprint races of the spring, the fifth place finish at the Head of the Charles and the second place finish at the Head of the Fish were certainly strong results to build on.
Veteran coach Phil Carney believes that the work put in thus far will benefit the team as they look to make a strong statement to the rest of New England.
“The guys have trained hard through the winter, and we feel that we have a great shot at being one of the top teams in New England this spring,” Carney said. “Last spring, all four of our crews finished in the top four at the New England Championships, and we are looking to move up from there.”
Co-captains Matt Carey ’07 and Chris Cody ’07 have both held positions in the varsity eight since their freshmen year, and will be counted on again to provide leadership along with classmates Colin Prensky ’07, Zak Alexander ’07, Ben Winterhalter ’07, Ben Evar ’07, and Kim Davies ’07.
The drab nature of “erg” work can become trying during the winter months, but Carey insists the veteran team remains committed and focused.
“People have done what’s been asked of them over the winter,” he said. “The hard work is going to come in handy as we spend the next few weeks competing for seats in the top boats.”
Competition for the eight spots in the first varsity boat will undoubtedly be fierce with many veteran rowers and a large underclassmen contingent. Carey, Cody, Jeremy Brown ’08, Brian Studwell ’09, Doug Cody ’09, Tom Volgenau ’08, and Alpay Koralturk ’08 composed 2006’s first varsity boat, but with so much depth on this year’s team it appears as though no one’s spot is assured.
The team will escape the winter weather during spring break as they head to Winter Park, Florida to jumpstart the season against Rollins College, Jacksonville University, University of Florida and Stetson University, before undertaking the challenges of the New England spring schedule. Several big weekends will be pivotal to the success of this year’s team, including the Little Three race, the New England Championships, and the ECAC Championships.
“It’s easy to look ahead to the New England Regatta and the ECAC Regatta and make those the goals,” Carey said. “The team will be better served to focus on one race at a time and make sure there are no surprises.”
Relying on experience and depth, 2007 may be the year that the senior class reclaims the New England Championship, a feat they accomplished at the start of their careers in 2004.
A championship would be a fitting end to the collegiate careers of Carey and Cody, who were both members of the boat that accomplished that feat when they were freshmen. Whatever success may come this season it will surely be an exciting campaign.
“Needless to say, we can’t wait to hit the starting line,” Carey said.
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