Blue crew 'Head'-ing to Boston

Since torrential rains cancelled last year's Head of the Charles Regatta, Michigan's crew team will compete in this storied event for the first time as a varsity program this Sunday in Boston.

The Wolverines kicked off their 1997 campaign two weeks ago in fine style by placing second behind Brown at the Head of the Ohio.

The 33rd-annual Head of the Charles is one of the sport's most famous regattas. More than 300,000 spectators are expected to line the Charles River to watch about 5,000 competitors.

The large crowd should contribute to a festive and raucous atmosphere, which coach Mark Rothstein said will be a motivating factor for the squad.

"It's a big spectacle, and it's a lot of fun," Rothstein said. "But the competition is strong, and we would really like to do well."

Freshman Kate Johnson is looking forward to rowing in front of such a large crowd.

"We have been coming together lately, and I think we are going to have a better race this week," Johnson said. "It pumps you up when there are more people there. It's going to be great."

Junior coxswain Belinda Koo said that although the crowd could be distracting, the team is experienced and knows what its mission is.

"It will be interesting and exciting will all the spectators," Koo said. "But we've rowed in front of big crowds before, and it should be fine. Basically, we have to stay relaxed and focused to have a good row."

The competition will be tough for Michigan as virtually all the top collegiate programs, including Princeton, Brown, Virginia and Massachusetts, should be there.

At the Head of the Ohio, Michigan beat Cornell for the first time ever, and Rothstein said that the squad will again be looking to go after the Ivy League teams.

"The Ivy League has been dominant in rowing for a long time, and things are starting to change," Rothstein said. "It's fun to see that there is a lot of parity developing. "But in five years, there is going to be a shift away from the Ivy Leagues, and obviously we want to be the ones leading that charge."

Johnson said that the thought of knocking off the traditional powerhouses is a motivation for the Wolverines.

"We are coming from behind and the Ivys aren't considering us to be in the race. But we are going to go out and try to make our mark," she said.

In addition to all the collegiate teams in this regatta, there are many other types of programs that will compete, including the U.S. and Canadian national teams.

While Rothstein realizes that the national teams are incredibly challenging, he said that their appearance adds to the spirit of competition.

"The gap between collegiate teams and national teams is getting closer," Rothstein said. "It is fun to race against them and see how you do against them, because you know you're racing against the best."

10-16-97