BUMC Competes at 54th Head of the Charles

The Bison Men and Women joined many other crews in the Nation, and World, in the annual migration to Boston, MA for the 54th Head of the Charles; the largest race that all crews find themselves competing in, from Juniors to Olympians, Parents to Coaches. After last year’s record setting weather conditions, this year proved to be more challenging with cold temperatures affecting the rowers and high wind gusts giving the coxswains even more of a challenging course to deal with. This year, the Bison entered into the Men’s Collegiate 8+ event as bow #22, to see several teams for the first time since battling it out at the ACRA National Championship in May.

This year, the Bison were 22nd in the starting order, with an eye to chase down last year’s victor, and course-record setting team, University of Virginia (UVA).

First-year Coxswain with the Bison, Max Silverman ’22, has been down the Charles River several times and set the 2018 Resolute’s trajectory on a fast line, despite the wind’s battle and not having a lot of experience in bad conditions. As he approached the Elliot bridge, Silverman found himself surrounded by other crews at one point saying “the course was hectic as we passed two boat and got passed by two boats… everyone yielded correctly though.” Bucknell finished with a time of 17:13.9, only 4.3 seconds behind UVA, to put them in 20th place overall.

Also competing this weekend with the Orange and Blue blades was an Alumni 8+ boat consisting of several young alumni. In an event that carries on the collegiate rivalry well beyond the good ‘ol days, the Alumni event sees crews that consist of 9 athletes who all competed, and graduated, from an single institution, regardless of the last time they grabbed an oar. All crews have an advantage over the others with the younger crews having a higher chance of being fit, but the older crews taking handicaps on their final times. Any Crew with an average age over 30 yrs will begin to receive seconds off their raw times to even the playing field. This year’s lineup for the Bison averaged 25 years of age, with almost all members still actively rowing to some degree. Fairing the better weather of the weekend, the Alumni boat was able to practice on Friday afternoon for a simple course check.

Full racing results can be found here as well as an archive of the live broadcast.

 

Varsity 8 – 2018 Resolute
Cox: Max Silverman ’22
Stroke: Thomas Marth ‘ 19
7: Drew Stonnington ‘19
6: Harry Hobart ’22
5: Philip Onffroy ’22
4: John Leasure ’19
3: Gunnar Vorwerk ’19
2: Ryan McSherry ’19
Bow: Bobby Subak ’21

Alumni 8 – Scott Uebele ’00
Cox: Kate Rolfes ’16
8: Billy Tyler ’15
7: Alex Moore ’15
6: Connor Corwen ’14
5: Frank Rosenthal ’07
4: Mike Pallotta ’18
3: Ethan Zubkoff ’14
2: Mike Birosak ’18
Bow: Sam Wiley ’17