HPU Rowing team competes in tune-up and the 50th Head of the Charles Regatta
HPU’s club rowing team recently competed at this year’s Head of the Charles Regatta. Photo by: highpoint.edu
By Zack Astran, Sports Editor //
The High Point University rowing team took to the course in a home regatta hosted by the High Point Rowing Club.
The small, local regatta served the panther rowing team well as they prepared for the Head of the Charles in Boston.
On a crisp, sunny afternoon, clubs and universities such as North Carolina State and Wake Forest, came to the triad to participate in a fun, yet competitive regatta.
For HPU, there were three events that head coach Jessica Mahon entered that included a varsity men’s four, (Sam Dempsey, Caleb Spegman, Zack Astran, Drew Bennett) a varsity women’s four, (Kelly Hardesty, Stephanie Berardi, Kylie Flynn, Jaclyn Galbraith), and a men’s pair (Jake Kennington and Ryan Hegedus.)
Each crew was able to take home a gold medal in their perspective events.
The varsity men’s varsity four shattered the rest of the competition finishing in first place by almost 45 seconds and finishing with a 13:56 5k times.
The course was shortened by almost 500 meters for that race due to excessive wind on part of the route.
The woman’s varsity four won their heat by finishing 20 seconds ahead of second place finisher NC State and a time of 15:56.
The men’s varsity pair, which included novice rower Ryan Hegedus, finished in first place with a time of 21:18 and beating their only competitor by almost three minutes.
The HPU rowing team came away from their home invitational holding their heads up high and sporting the confidence needed for their important race that lay ahead of them.
They would use this home regatta as a tune-up for their giant challenge ahead.
The 50th Head of the Charles held in Boston draws teams from all over the country as well as all over the world to come and compete for the championship.
The Panthers decided to send the men’s varsity four to compete in the men’s collegiate event while the women’s varsity four competed in the club four event.
While thousands of spectators lined the beautiful Charles River in downtown Boston, the HPU rowing team sat and waited their turn under the sunny, yet chilly northern sky.
The women’s club four event launched under that sunny Boston sky at 1:38 and cruised down the Charles River up to the start, 5,000 meters from the finish line next to 59 other clubs from across the country.
The women ran a strong race on the calm Boston water, but finished with a result a little off of what they were hoping for. They finished with a time of 20:46, which was good for 40th place.
In a tough heat, the women were able to run a strong race.
The men’s varsity four sat on top of Elliott Bridge cheering on the competitors as they rowed under the old brick bridge, waiting for their race time at approximately 4 P.M.
Four o’clock rolled around and the men’s varsity crew rowed the 5,000 meters up to the starting line under the suddenly cloudy, storm-like clouds.
The High Point men finished in 24th place out of the 51 boats that were entered into the event. Sporting a time of 17:49, the men’s four was able to improve their time by 50 seconds from the previous Head of the Charles.
Both crews were successful at this years 50th Head of the Charles Regatta. As the competition becomes stronger, the HPU rowing team was able to stay strong and prove that they are more than capable of competing with the top teams.
The 50th Head of the Charles signifies the end of the fall season for HPU, as they will now jump into winter training in preparation for spring season.