April 18, 2024 By Holly Moriarty
The Hingham High School Crew boys team opened the spring season against St. John’s Preparatory School last Sunday morning, winning three of their four races.
The athletes traveled to Chebacco Lake in Essex, Massachusetts for their first matchup of the season. The morning was gusty with a chill in the air, despite the sunshine.
While fall races are typically 5,000 meters, spring is sprint season with athletes competing in races of 2,000 meters or less. The HHS Crew team trained all winter and had just a few practices on the water before the race due to weather.
The boys fourth varsity boat set the pace for the day, winning their race with open water by a commanding 15 seconds. The first time rowing in this lineup, Jack Levy coxed Aqueel Bharmal in stroke seat, Niko Mangili, Brian Magner, Seph Darlington, Owen Lefort, Ryan Potter, Michael Catalfano, and Brent Strauss in bow.
During the final 150 meters of the third varsity race, one of the Hingham rowers’ oars popped out of the oar lock. While he pulled in his oar to prevent it from dragging under the water and screwed his oar lock back into place, his pair partner also stopped rowing to keep an even number of oars on each side, leaving the boat rowing by six instead of eight. Once he was able to get his oar back in place, the pair were able to join in at the end of the sprint.
Despite the setback, Hingham’s 3V never lost their lead over St. John’s Prep, winning the race handily by seven seconds. Owen Franklin rowed as stroke, followed by Cullen Moriarty, Brendan Engel, Oliver McLucas, Owen Cerrato, Jack O’Leary, Will Whitrap, and in bow Zak Robbins, with coxswain Tyler Bastia.
Hingham’s second varsity boat completed the trifecta, crossing the finish line nine seconds, or a full boat length, ahead of St. John’s Prep. Lucas Mangili coxed Slater Fairfield in stroke seat, Jack Burns, Will Cassidy, Arlo Maxwell, Hanley Stroka, Liam Connelly, Lachlan Knies, and Trevor Steiner in bow.
The first varsity boat competed in the last race and made a strong pull at the end, but crossed the finish line just half a second behind St. John’s Prep. Dylan Drew rowed as stroke, followed by James Feeley, Sam Ackerman, Walker Bogen, Alex Doggett, James Barry, Will Barry, and in bow Josh Bradshaw, with coxswain Jack Levy.
The HHS boys and girls teams will compete in the Exeter Invitational this Saturday on Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury against Exeter Academy, Shrewsbury High School, St. John’s High School, Simsbury High School, Boston Latin, and Kent School.
HHS Crew will also host the hometown Salty Bow Sprints on the afternoon of Sunday, April 28 on the Back River in Bare Cove Park. The team’s full schedule of spring races can be found at www.hinghamhighcrew.com.
