The Raider crew teams both had landmark seasons, notching top finishes throughout the fall racing season. The final weeks of racing were no different, as top five finishes abounded and the Colgate rowers continued to show the rest of the rowing community their tremendous talent.

The men’s team had an especially fruitful season, which included an impressive and historic victory at the Head of the Charles Regatta in late October. This season, which was initially marked by some as a developmental year for the young team, was indeed impressive. It points to a very bright future for the squad, comprising mostly sophomores. The Varsity eight consistently finished in the top 10 of every field it entered throughout the season.

Last weekend, the men traveled to the Syracuse Fall Invitational, where they took on Cornell, the University of Rochester, Mercyhurst College and the event’s host, Syracuse. The team fielded one Novice eight and three Varsity four teams; Colgate earned top-five placements in both events. The Colgate A four placed best of all of the Colgate entries, finishing third behind two Syracuse boats, but in front of a strong Rochester crew and all of the perennially powerful Cornell fours. The Novice boat finished as expected, in fourth position, behind recruit- and scholarship-laden eight-oared shells from Syracuse and Cornell. This is, in reality, a fine turnout for a team of rowers that is competing in its first season of rowing.

At the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, held in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 29, the men’s Varsity eight entered the Championship Eight category and finished tenth behind top crews, many of whom also competed on the Charles a few weeks earlier. The second Varsity eight raced in the Club Eight category and finished fourth behind St. Joseph’s University, whose teams were rowing on their home course.

The very same day, the novice men took to the waters of Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs for the Head of the Fish Regatta. The top eight novice men finished in an impressive second place, earning the first medal of their rowing careers. The men fell narrowly to Union College, but triumphed over the University of Massachusetts, arch-rival Hobart College and St. Lawrence College.

The women’s team also raced at the Head of the Fish, where the women ended their season. The women fielded a veritable armada of crews at the regatta, including an Open eight, Open JV eight, two boats in the Open four, two in the Novice eight, a Novice four and a Lightweight single.

The finishes were strong in all events, as the Raiders notched medal finishes in four of them. The Varsity eight, which raced in the Open category, placed third behind Williams and Buffalo, both of whom have been strong all season. The JV eight had the best showing on the day, earning a silver medal for its performance, coming in behind yet another strong Williams boat. The Novice four and Lightweight single both earned bronze medals despite racing against very tough competition.

The Raider rowing teams will continue training on Lake Moraine until it freezes for the winter, pushing harder to improve their ability and conditioning. Later this month, the focus will turn indoors, to the winter training season. The crew members will then hit the gym, building themselves up for the spring season.