The Collegian
Friday, March 29, 2024

Crew races against the best at Head of the Charles

From front to back: Tim McLlarky, '10, David Paolantonio, '09, Tim McIntosh, '10, Brendan McGrath, '11, Gabriela Timoney, '11
From front to back: Tim McLlarky, '10, David Paolantonio, '09, Tim McIntosh, '10, Brendan McGrath, '11, Gabriela Timoney, '11

Collegian Reporter

The crew club spent 24 hours in a car to compete in and watch the Head of the Charles, Oct.18 and 19 in Boston.

"We got our butts kicked, but at least we can say we lost to the best," said President Dave Paolantonio, who rowed in the men's lightweight 4 boat, which placed 14th out of 15. Junior Tim McLlarky, junior Tim McIntosh and sophomore Brendan McGrath also rowed in the boat, with sophomore Gabriela Timoney as the coxswain.

Head of the Charles was the most tiring weekend of the semester, said freshman James McCann, who rows in the men's novice 8 boat. The team went for the experience and to watch the competition, he said.

"For us, it was a really great learning experience, as much as a fun trip to get off campus for a weekend," McCann said.

The men and women novice 8 boats did not compete, but went to watch how a big regatta is done, McCann said. Division 1 schools such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Cornell and Navy competed, he said.

"I was surprised by how easy teams that are good make it look, and deeply surprised by how good some of the teams are," McCann said. "When you see it done well, it can look very simple."

Teams from around the world also competed in the regatta, Paolantonio said. If a team wasn't in the top half of the list of invites, which Richmond wasn't, it had to apply, he said.

It was the first time Richmond competed at the collegiate level race instead of at the club level, Paolantonio said. The differences between club crew and collegiate-sponsored crew are vast, said Tamara Highsmith, a coach who started in the fall.

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The team not only had to compete, but also had to drive the boats through six states, then unload and rig the boats and make sure they were all secure for racing, Highsmith said.

"There were a lot of other factors that our students had to consider before they could get in the boat and row," Highsmith said. "There were a lot of responsibilities they had on their shoulders, so that makes me really proud of them to see them accomplish so much and maintain so many responsibilities.

"It's great to go to places like Occoquan Challenge and win, but it's also good to see what really great teams look like, as well."

Head of the Charles was the team's second race of the season. It has two races coming up in the beginning of November: The Head of Occoquan, Nov. 1, and the Head of the South, Nov. 8.

Many club programs attend Head of the South, Paolantonio said. He said he thought the team could do really well during both races.

"At Head of the South, I don't see why we couldn't come back with a couple of medals," he said.

Highsmith agreed.

"I don't see why they couldn't do a repeat of Occoquan Challenge," she said, in reference to their first and second placement.

This year, the team is more dedicated to improving and is also more close-knit, Paolantonio said. This year, team members hang out often outside of crew, he said.

"I've been quite surprised by how closely the team has grown and how quickly we've come together," McCann said.

Even on its days off, the group does workouts and goes to meals together, he said.

The first regatta during which novices will compete is the Head of the Occoquan, McCann said.

"I want them to get off the water and say 'Hey, that was the best we've rowed together since we started rowing,'" she said. "I'm not really concerned with how they place. I'd really like to see the novices go out and just row a really good race."

A big goal for this season as been to increase the team's competiveness and seriousness, Paolantonio said.

"We're setting precedents so that people get accustomed to what's acceptable and what's not acceptable," he said. "We're focusing on the team as a whole."

Four to six people are out on the water at the same time during practices and most club members practice four to six times a week, he said. Paolantonio has been integral to setting high standards for the team, McCann said.

"Dave lives and breathes crew," he said. "Having him as our coach, as well as the rest of the executive board, has helped push us forward and made us realize that we're passionate about it, too."

The group is hardworking, Highsmith said. "I see a very dedicated group. I see a whole new crop of very hardworking people who say, 'I want to make this work.'"

The team is smaller this year than it was last fall, Paolantonio said. There are just over thirty members, as opposed to nearly 45 last year.

"I haven't really decided if it's a weakness or strength yet because we are pretty close," he said. "We're really focusing our attention on trying to get everyone to come back."

Paolantonio, sophomore Chris Cosgrove, senior Lauren Jones and Timoney are on the executive board and coach the team with the help of Highsmith and Bill McManus, who was a coxswain at the University of Pennsylvania.

A short-term goal for the team is to do really well at the coming races and win medals, Paolantonio said. Winning races is a way to legitimize all of the time and effort the team has put into practicing, he said.

"If there's not a goal to work toward, there's no sense in doing it," he said.

Just seeing the team compete against other teams has been exciting, Highsmith said.

This fall, she said she would really like to see them place and win Head of the South.

"They're in shape and they can do it," Highsmith said. "We need a little more time on the water.

"Focus is an easy word to say, but it's hard to accomplish. They're physically fit and able to do it. Aerobically they have the strength in them, it's just a matter of cleaning up the technique so they get the boat set up and feel the rhythm together."

Highsmith and the other coaches had a team meeting with each boat at the beginning of the season, she said.

"I said: 'I'll coach you to do whatever you want to do. If you guys want to go out there and paddle around and just have fun, I'll coach you for that. Because you can just have fun, it's a great sport. But if we want to go out there and be competitive and win some races, this is what we're going to do.'

"When they got off the water after Occoquan Challenge, they looked at me and said, 'Okay, now we know what we want to do. We want to win Head of the South.' So that's kind of their driving goal"

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