PITTSFIELD, MA -- The 1V boat triumphed over Marist, Ithaca, Coast Guard and Bates in racing Saturday morning. The 2V narrowly lost to Bates, who claimed the newly formed Berkshire Plate by alumni of ’09.
Lake Onota’s surface was like glass for the Men’s 1V race. At 8 o’clock the boats took to their starting positions and sat poised at attention. The flag was dropped and the race was off. Williams had a stable start and stayed just about even with the field.
Williams settled over the first 40 or so strokes into a strong rhythm. Stroke Alex Treco ’12 set a pace that enabled the crew to walk throughout the race. A good middle move enabled the crew to prepare themselves for the finish. The crew finished in a time of 6’06’’ just shy of the course record. Coach Peter Wells '79 thought the crew had "speed with ease; the key has been driving the boat faster therefore working on understanding the speed the bodies must have, as one, to attain this, do it with relaxation (no fight among each other), and repeat it.
The rowers were pleased with their performance. Captain Cameron Skinner ’10 said, “We were able to relax on the slide and settle in to a nice rhythm that didn’t feel too heavy.”
The Williams 2V had one of the most exciting races of the day. Coach Wells saw that "the 2V just could not seem to find a productive work to rest rhythm." Williams was up by a few seats at the thousand meter mark, but were unable to fend off Bates’ final sprint. Williams finished half a length down. Captain Greg Ferris ’10 was satisfied with the race and then remarked, “we now know what we have to work on for the New England Championship next week.”
The Novices placed first in their race while most of the crew returned for the 3V event. The 3V4+ lost to Coast Guard but narrowly beat bates by half a canvas. Coach Wells expressed his praise for the crews: "I was proud of the Frosh and 3V and the V4 who had tough side by side races with other solid crews and did not back down or shy away.....they ACTED as one and were determined to MAKE a result happen even if it wasn't 1st place (the V4). None of those races did we have a lead and we kept at it and demonstrated our fitness as a team to overcome some size-able deficits."
Members of all of the crews gathered for the awards ceremony. Head Coach Peter Wells ’79 delivered the race results and presented the Onota Cup to the winning Williams crew. Class of 2009 alumni Michael Sacks, Andrew Ward, and Robert Buesing presented the inaugural Berkshire Plate to the winning Bates Crew.
The founder and coach of the modern Williams College Men’s Crew Jack Shaw presented the inaugural Founder’s Cup to the winning Varsity Women’s 1V. The Cup was dedicated to Shaw’s friend professor George Marcus, founder of the Women’s Crew. Coach Wells commented highly of the founder: "there are boat members and boat Makers. Our program exists not because of members but by Makers....guys like Jack Shaw who had a dream and decided to "Make" it happen."
Racing returns to Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester for the New England Championships. Williams will face tough competition from Trinity, WPI, and others.
1V 8+
Mike Abrams ’11 – Coxswain
Alex Treco ’12 Stroke
Nathaniel Lim ’11 – 7
Cameron Skinner ’10 – 6
Theo Patsalos-Fox ’12 – 5
Ken Sluis ’11 – 4
Dan Kenefick ‘11 - 3
Joey Kiernan ’11– 2
Dan Costanza ‘11 – Bow
2V 8+
Michelle McRae ’12 - Cox
Noah Schoenholtz ’12 - Stroke
Faust Petkovitch ’12 - 7
Leland Brewster ’11 - 6
Shawn Curley ‘11- 5
Greg Ferris ’10 - 4
Matt Crimp ’12 - 3
Chris Ting ’10 - 2
Crosby Fish ‘10 - Bow
