October 22, 2024 By: J.P. Powers
On a bright and sunny fall day in Boston, there are few activities that can rival the Head of the Charles Regatta for charm, excitement, and celebration. The changing hues of the leaves, the massive crowds of cheering fans, and the legions of rowers decked out in every imaginable matching pattern and color, provide an incredible backdrop for this thrilling race day experience. It is, in a word, magical. As the spectators dodge massive racing shells hauled by robust teams of rowers along the shore, the crews on the water pour their hearts into the races to the delight of the hundreds of thousands who are gathered to watch. On Sunday, Hingham had the immense privilege of sending four boats to compete in this greatest of the annual Boston/Cambridge fall traditions.
The first Hingham boat to take to the water was the stellar young crew composed of coxswain Shayla St. Croix, stroke Bianca Kiley, Rose Lovendale, Annie Sargeant, and bow Stella Gutierrez. These rowers, competing in the under-17 women’s four race, launched into the competition with guts and grace as they powered through the treacherous turns and maneuvered between competing shells. The girls rowed a terrific race as they deftly sped upstream along the challenging three-mile course.
The second Hingham entry, the Women’s Youth 8+ boat, featured coxswain Audrey Smith, stroke Emme Beaudoin, Natalie Shaw, Louisa Orth, Thea Migliaccio, Ava Sugrue, Eliza Powers, Sophia Santarelli, and bow Lynnayah Ryan. The young women got off to a tremendous start, battling head-to-head with opposing shells before running into a bottleneck under one of the bridges. Hingham, who had the right of way, was struck by a boat who crossed into Hingham’s path while attempting to navigate the turn. Both boats were forced to stop and evaluate the damage, while many other competitors raced ahead. Ultimately, both boats were able to continue, but they lost precious time as they had to regain their momentum and speed through the remainder of the course. The girls were massively disadvantaged by this turn of events that were completely out of their control, but the Hingham rowers gamely soldiered on and finished strong. It is a testament to Hingham’s power and skill that they still managed to beat a dozen other boats to the finish line, despite the devastating mishap and delay along the course.
The third Hingham entry was the Women’s Youth 4+, featuring coxswain Emily Gu, stroke Madeline Kittinger, Izzy Wagner, Jane Melia, and bow Maddie Owens. The girls put together a tremendous race, powering past many other entries and showing excellent form and grit. Despite facing many boats with older, more experienced crews, the Hingham boat was tenacious as they fought along every straightaway and through every turn. With an excellent result under their belts, the Hingham rowers have a lot to be proud of.
Girls Head Coach Sydney Blasetti was very enthusiastic about the determination and skill of the team, particularly when battling in unfamiliar conditions in such a high-stakes environment, “I’m incredibly proud of our team today. Racing four boats at the Head of the Charles is no small feat, and it reflects the commitment, depth, and unity of our athletes. Every member, from those rowing to those supporting, played a vital role in making today possible. The teamwork, resilience, and trust we’ve built together showed out there on the water. No matter the results, this experience is about more than just the race – it’s about how we’ve grown stronger as a team. Each stroke pulled today represents months of dedication, and I know this will propel us to even greater heights as we continue this journey together.”
The final Hingham boat to race was the Men’s Youth 8+ with coxswain Lucas Mangili, stroke Hanley Stroka, Walker Bogen, Will Barry, Trevor Steiner, Lachlan Knies, Arlo Maxwell, Slater Fairfield, and bow Nicholas Mangili. The boys simply locked in as they powered their way past many other crews along the course. In the end, the relatively young boys team looked strong, confident, and skilled, as they plied their oars down the river in a testament to the excellent conditioning and technical training the coaches have used to prepare each Hingham rower for success.
Boys head coach Sarah Dewey was impressed with the strong, tactical approach by the boys, “The Head of the Charles is first and foremost a bold and intimidating Coxswains’ race. Our boys varsity coxswain Lucas Mangili went the extra mile to study the course to deliver a performance worthy of any Charles River veteran. Lucas and his crew, led by stroke seat Hanley Stroka, held off several attempts by rival crews to get the inside advantage on the turns and steered the fastest line and thus their fastest time with no extra strokes. The varsity boys rowed the best Head race of the season (so far!) in large part due to his navigation choices and steady, decisive hand on the helm. After an extra challenging week on the ergs, the boys were prepared for every situation and executed a sharp race with ferocity and precision. I am thrilled with their row and look forward to their final race at MPSRAs next weekend.”
Overall, the entire weekend was a wonderful experience for spectators and athletes alike as the large, enthusiastic crowds, incredible fall weather, and excellent food, beverages, and HOTC swag made for an amazing event. Other highlights of the weekend were the opportunity to meet many of the Olympian rowers who recently won hardware in Paris, as well as the chance to meet many of the college athletes who were there to observe the young and promising talent on display. The mingling of high school and college athletes was inspiring, as the young, up-and-coming talent got to see the seasoned collegiate rowers who are operating at the peak of their sport. Hingham once again represented themselves and their community well, as they challenged themselves, pushed against the strong competition, and thoroughly savored every moment of what is for many athletes a bucket-list rowing experience.
