Bucknell Crew Reunion at the Head of the Charles, Oct. 20th-21st

The Head of the Charles is a truly unique Boston experience. Outside of the Boston marathon it is perhaps the largest amateur sporting event in the city. Over the course of the weekend there will be over 300,000 spectators jam packed on top of every bridge and every foot of real estate along the Charles River. Competitors come from all over the world to try their best tackling the Weeks and Eliot arch turns. Needless to say, it is one of the biggest stages to race on!

Last year the Bison competed in the Club 8+ and Club 4+ finishing 13/39 and 29/48 respectively. This year the Bison are returning to compete in both the Men’s Collegiate Eight and the Men’s Club Eight. In 2011 the Bison completed one of their best seasons ever, which was capped off by a silver medal for the Varsity at the ACRA Club National Championship. At the HOCR they’ll be able to see many of the teams they’ll compete against in the spring season as they toe the line with over 40+ crews.

The HOCR will be the second race of the Fall season as they travel to the Head of the Genesee in NY on Oct. 13th and will conclude the season at the Rutgers Fall Classic on Nov. 3rd.

The weekend also serves as a reunion for alumni and friends of Bucknell Men’s Crew. It will be a great opportunity to connect with past friends at reunion village on the banks of the Charles. If you plan to attend please meet us for an informal gathering at reunion village at 11 AM on the Boston side of Weeks footbridge. Following the races we will be meeting at Hong Kong in Harvard Square at approx. 4:30 PM to socialize further. Additionally an alumni 8+ will be representing the Blue and Orange for the second time in school history. The alumni 8+ has participants ranging from recent graduates back to the class of 1996. The competitors in the boat have won ACRA and ECAC medals, won the HOCR and even been on different National Teams. We are incredibly excited to have them back in a boat and competing again for Bucknell Crew.

Meet our Alumni 8 competitors:

Nicky Sirianni, ’96, coxswain
From Newton, MA, Nicky lives with her husband Jim and son Tyler. Her favorite rowing memory is racing the Marist women in pirate outfits and thinking that shaving the back of her head made her look tough! Another highlight for Nicky was winning the Toscanini Cup at Master’s Nationals and celebrating by filling it with ice cream.

Nick Cindrich ‘97
Nick is from Evergreen, CO where there are as many elk as people. One of his best moments with Bucknell Crew came at the end of the last fall water practice when Coach Jimmy King had the other guys in the four set the boat while he alone pulled the boat around in circles. It was cold, it was dark but the moon was bright. That’s when Nick figured out how to row.

Charlie Burckmyer ‘99
From Marblehead, MA. Charlie trains out of Riverside Boat Club.

Mike Katin ‘11
Currently in medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Mike’s best crew moment was Junior year when the V8+ came together in the two weeks following a disappointing semifinal at ECACs to take silver at ACRA Club National Championship. Outside of Bucknell Crew his favorite rowing memory was winning double gold in the pair and straight four representing the USA at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel.

John Kauffman ‘11
John is in Towson, MD working on his master’s degree in teaching. His best crew moments on the crew team were listening to Paul’s verbose rants. His favorite rows were at sunset on the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta.

Tom Bernardi ‘11
From Chicago, IL, Tom cites his favorite Bucknell Crew memory as winning silver at the ACRA Club National Championship his junior year. Other memorable moments include anytime he erged to Third Eye Blind’s “Semi Charmed Life.”

Mike Sena ‘12
Mike is coaching at his former high school Chaminade in Mineola, NY. He is originally from Garden City, NY and his best Bucknell Crew moments were getting 5th in the collegiate 8 event at the HOCR in 2010 and also getting silver at the ACRA Championship in 2012 in Gainesville, GA.

Andy McLaughlin ‘12
From Tarrytown, NY, Andy’s favorite Bucknell Crew memory was when Tom and John (both members of the alumni 8+) flipped in the pair during winter training. He also cites his time as being co-Captain of the team and winning Club Nationals in the Lwt 4+ with NYAC as proud moments in his rowing career.

Veton Celaj ‘12
Coming in from Hartsdale, NY, Veton’s favorite Bucknell Crew moment was getting second at ACRA’s in the Varsity 8+ and being the first Varsity 8+ to beat Michigan!

Bucknell Race Schedule:
Saturday Oct. 20th
11:15 AM Men’s Alumni 8 Bow #31
11:48 AM Men’s Club Single Bow #52 (Andrew Neils ’08)
12:55 PM Women’s Club Four Bow # 30 (Jennifer Shulman ’95)
1:20 PM Men’s Club 8 Bow #11

Sunday Oct. 21st
12:33 PM Men’s Lightweight Singles Bow # 17 (Kyle Lafferty ’10)
3:43 PM Men’s Collegiate Eights Bow #37

We hope to see you at the course! If you have any questions about the weekend’s activities please contact andrew.neils3@gmail.com.

Ray Bucknell!