Saturday, October 20
Cambridge, MA
2:30 PM
University of Louisville
at
Head of the Charles
Cardinals Prepare for Head of the Charles
October 18, 2018 | Rowing
Louisville will race two boats in prestigious Boston race
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Facing some of the world's top crews, the University of Louisville rowing team opens its 2018 fall season this weekend at the 54th Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. For the second consecutive year, the Cardinals will race their top crew in the championship eights but will expand the roster to include a crew in the women's club eights race.
"We're excited to be able to bring two eights this year and have more of the team experience the Head of the Charles," said associate head coach Sheila Rinozzi. "It's one of the biggest rowing events in the world. For most of the team traveling this weekend, it's nothing they've ever experienced before, so it should be a really memorable weekend of racing."
Over the two days of racing, an estimated 225,000 spectators will watch the regatta from the banks of the Charles River in the heart of downtown Boston, just one mile from Fenway Park. The 2018 event will include approximately 11,000 athletes from 24 countries, as well as representatives from 800 schools, universities and clubs.
Louisville will be one of 27 crews in the women's championship eights race on Sunday at 2:26 p.m., including squads from Virginia, Michigan, Duke and Harvard. On Saturday, the Cards will take part in the women's club eights at 2:33 p.m., featuring Yale, Penn, Syracuse and North Carolina. In last year's championship eight race, the Cards finished 17th out of 36 with a three-mile time of 15:44.42, placing them 12th among collegiate crews. The strong finish allowed for the program to be invited back this year and for the additional crew to join.
"Where we start this year, we earned that last year," said head coach Derek Copeland. "Our goal is to qualify both boats for next year. If you automatically qualify, you don't have to wait for the lottery and the draw."
In addition to the rowers' introduction to the Charles, this will also be the first visit for some of the coaching staff, including assistant coach Ed Oxlade.
"I'm excited to see how we fare against the best," said Oxlade.
On the water, the Charles course is notable for its multiple turns and bridges, giving it the reputation of being a "coxswain's race." For Rinozzi and coxswain Kate Allport, the Charles provides a challenge that is notably different from typical competition.
"Every decision they (the coxswains) make along the course can literally make or break their crew's performance," said Rinozzi. "As the coxswains are steering a curvy Charles River that has a 90-degree turn through a bridge and ends with a full 180-degree turn in the last mile. They also have to navigate the crews around them while trying to take the shortest course possible."
"I think it's awesome because the rowers train pretty much 12 months out of the year, and then, they get that six or seven-minute shot in the spring to show what they're trained for. This is a really good opportunity for coxswains to train our minds, learn the course, and show what we're prepared for," said Allport.
During the training process, the coxswains began with paper maps, plotting out the fastest lines and optimal course to take through the bridges and turns. Following that step, they transitioned to video footage and started practicing potential scenarios on the course. By the end of this run, Allport concluded that her preparation and memories from last year have her ready to envision the entire race.
"We get to a point where we can close our eyes and visually go through it as if we were there," said Allport.
In addition to multiple Louisville rowers returning to the Charles, newcomers such as freshman Emmy Wuensch will provide experience to the crew following her performance in a single boat at last year's regatta.
"In a single, it's all a mental game of trying to figure out ways to navigate because there's no coxswain and it's all about strategy. On top of that, you have to keep yourself going because it's a 5K," said Wuensch. "In college, you have the energy of all the other girls and you have the coxswain to motivate you."
With one year under their belt and a prepared coxswain to guide them, the Cardinals are looking forward to turning in a strong performance in Boston. Following the Charles, they will continue their fall campaign at the Head of the Hooch and Rivanna Romp, a pair of races that closer replicates their spring competition. Nonetheless, Copeland is excited for the chance to give his team a unique opportunity.
"We put this event in because it takes the focus from the team to just one or two boats, which isn't really how we're built," said Copeland. "But a couple of years ago, we realized the team was mature enough to handle that side focus. We're giving the girls a new experience. You can't substitute this experience."
Fans can follow Louisville rowing on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram. Check GoCards.com for information and updates.
"We're excited to be able to bring two eights this year and have more of the team experience the Head of the Charles," said associate head coach Sheila Rinozzi. "It's one of the biggest rowing events in the world. For most of the team traveling this weekend, it's nothing they've ever experienced before, so it should be a really memorable weekend of racing."
Over the two days of racing, an estimated 225,000 spectators will watch the regatta from the banks of the Charles River in the heart of downtown Boston, just one mile from Fenway Park. The 2018 event will include approximately 11,000 athletes from 24 countries, as well as representatives from 800 schools, universities and clubs.
Louisville will be one of 27 crews in the women's championship eights race on Sunday at 2:26 p.m., including squads from Virginia, Michigan, Duke and Harvard. On Saturday, the Cards will take part in the women's club eights at 2:33 p.m., featuring Yale, Penn, Syracuse and North Carolina. In last year's championship eight race, the Cards finished 17th out of 36 with a three-mile time of 15:44.42, placing them 12th among collegiate crews. The strong finish allowed for the program to be invited back this year and for the additional crew to join.
"Where we start this year, we earned that last year," said head coach Derek Copeland. "Our goal is to qualify both boats for next year. If you automatically qualify, you don't have to wait for the lottery and the draw."
In addition to the rowers' introduction to the Charles, this will also be the first visit for some of the coaching staff, including assistant coach Ed Oxlade.
"I'm excited to see how we fare against the best," said Oxlade.
On the water, the Charles course is notable for its multiple turns and bridges, giving it the reputation of being a "coxswain's race." For Rinozzi and coxswain Kate Allport, the Charles provides a challenge that is notably different from typical competition.
"Every decision they (the coxswains) make along the course can literally make or break their crew's performance," said Rinozzi. "As the coxswains are steering a curvy Charles River that has a 90-degree turn through a bridge and ends with a full 180-degree turn in the last mile. They also have to navigate the crews around them while trying to take the shortest course possible."
"I think it's awesome because the rowers train pretty much 12 months out of the year, and then, they get that six or seven-minute shot in the spring to show what they're trained for. This is a really good opportunity for coxswains to train our minds, learn the course, and show what we're prepared for," said Allport.
During the training process, the coxswains began with paper maps, plotting out the fastest lines and optimal course to take through the bridges and turns. Following that step, they transitioned to video footage and started practicing potential scenarios on the course. By the end of this run, Allport concluded that her preparation and memories from last year have her ready to envision the entire race.
"We get to a point where we can close our eyes and visually go through it as if we were there," said Allport.
In addition to multiple Louisville rowers returning to the Charles, newcomers such as freshman Emmy Wuensch will provide experience to the crew following her performance in a single boat at last year's regatta.
"In a single, it's all a mental game of trying to figure out ways to navigate because there's no coxswain and it's all about strategy. On top of that, you have to keep yourself going because it's a 5K," said Wuensch. "In college, you have the energy of all the other girls and you have the coxswain to motivate you."
With one year under their belt and a prepared coxswain to guide them, the Cardinals are looking forward to turning in a strong performance in Boston. Following the Charles, they will continue their fall campaign at the Head of the Hooch and Rivanna Romp, a pair of races that closer replicates their spring competition. Nonetheless, Copeland is excited for the chance to give his team a unique opportunity.
"We put this event in because it takes the focus from the team to just one or two boats, which isn't really how we're built," said Copeland. "But a couple of years ago, we realized the team was mature enough to handle that side focus. We're giving the girls a new experience. You can't substitute this experience."
Fans can follow Louisville rowing on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram. Check GoCards.com for information and updates.
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