Ephs perform well at Head of Genesee

Justin Moore's defending NCAA champion Eph rowers got off to a good start in the fall season with the Varsity 1 boat winning the Collegiate DII and DIII 8+ and capturing the Kate Louise Cup.

"This was our first regatta of the season, so we were approaching this as a 'let's see where we are with our training and racing progress," said Moore.

"Overall the weekend was a success," stated Moore.  "Both the 1V and 2V raced aggressively in the morning head race.  The first varsity passed William Smith, last year's winner and the only crew to start in front of us in the morning head race, in the first 1/2 mile.  The remainder of the race was spent working to keep Ithaca, who started just behind us, from moving up."

The Eph 2V boat that competed was young with just one senior and no juniors in the boat and still they were 5th among the Collegiate 8+s and 14th overall.

"In contrast to our senior-laden first boat, our second boat was very young, consisting of one senior from last year's 2V, three sophomores from last year's novice crew and four first-year rowers," noted Moore.  "To finish 14th in a field of 35 with a crew that young is very encouraging."

"It was a bonus that both boats were able to go out in the afternoon sprint race and beat the crews they were paired against:  Western Ontario (the team I guest coached last year) for the 1V and Cornell B in the 2V."

"Our plan now is to use the next two weeks to build on these performances and be better at the Head of the Charles."

Next up for the Ephs is the Head of the Charles, which will take place in Boston on October 20 and 21.