Coming off the Head of the Charles weekend, many programs will be looking to redirect their momentum as the fall season nears a conclusion. For some, this involves racing in the Head of the Schuylkill. Held over a 2.5-mile course, the HOTS attracts some of the East Coast’s finest competition.
University of Pennsylvania
Headlining the men’s side will be the championships eights event at 3:45pm on Saturday. The manifest favorite will be the University of Pennsylvania, who’s varsity placed 11th in a hotly contested Championship 8+ race at the Head of the Charles last week and will be looking to stay hot on their home course. The quakers were heavily represented at the U23 world rowing championships this summer, and senior Sam Sullivan, who was recently named US Rowing’s U23 Male athlete of the year, will be looking to finish the fall season strongly with his crew.
Naval Academy
Despite Penn being deserving favorites, many eyes will be on the Naval Academy, who are yet to show their speed at a major regatta under new coach Steve Gladstone. After decades of unprecedented success at other major EARC programs, transforming a Navy team who has cracked the top ten at the IRA only twice in the last ten years will be Gladstone’s biggest challenge yet. With a whopping six boats entered in the event, this Championship 8+ race will give a good indication of the year to come for the Naval Academy.
Other Contenders
Other contenders in the field include fellow Schuylkill residents La Salle University, who are also in form after taking out the Collegiate 8+ title at Head of the Charles. On their heels will be hometown rivals Drexel, Temple and St. Josephs, who struggled to match Lasalle’s pace at Head of the Charles and will have something to prove on Saturday. Columbia university will be racing two crews in the event, who after disappointing showings at the Head of The Housatonic and Head of the Charles, will be looking to bounce back on the Schuylkill.
Other IRA programs entered include Marist, Marietta, Colgate, Fairfield and the Catholic University of America. It is hard to see them matching the pace at the top end of this race but there may be some movement between the crews after some close finishes in the Collegiate 8+ at HOCR.
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