CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A total of 23 rowers for the Williams women's crew team raced at the 60th annual Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, cheered on by alumni, family, and fans under bright sun for the largest race in the sport of rowing.
Under bow number 20, the Williams Varsity 4+ raced at 1:59 pm in the Women's Collegiate 4+s category, led by coxswain Ariana Oppenheimer '26, with Caroline Ripsteen '29 in stroke seat, followed by Claire McDonald '26, Molly McWeeny '26, and Isolde Rayman-Moore '28 in bow seat.
The crew started strong, rating high and immediately pulling away from all other crews following in the first 500 meters, leaving them behind and preventing any boats from passing them through the entirety of the course.
In the last 1500, the four began to pass RPI, Georgia Tech, Tulane, the University of Chicago, with some other crews failing to yield and causing oars to clash. Despite the chaos, the four maneuvered these challenges under Eliot Bridge, and impressively finished 6th, improving dramatically from a 21st place finish last year and automatically requalifying for the event, with a time of 19:33.674. The Ephs were the top NESCAC team and second in Division III in this category.
Next up were the 1V and 3V, racing at 2:59 pm in the Women's Collegiate 8+s category. The 1V, with bow 3, was coxed by Katie Scott '26, followed by Maya Tait '26, Miranda Miller '29, Carolyn Fortin '26, Madeleine Lasell '29, Betsy Owens '28, Vivian Johnson '27, Audrey Riddle '26, and Anne Moghtader '29 in bow seat. The Ephs also had a strong start, beginning third in the staggered start head race-style and passing fellow NESCAC school Wesleyan's 1V within the first few thousand meters.
The 1V charged ahead with a strong line, managing to stop any crews from catching up with them early. By the 3000 meter mark, it became clear that Williams was not backing down and was prepared to medal. Walking through Wesleyan was the motivation they needed, and they did not back down. The Ephs finished in an incredible second place overall, with a time of 17:04.527. They were 15 seconds behind rival Tufts University, and managed to push away Wesleyan, Trinity, and Tufts' 2V.
The 3V raced under bow 25, led by coxswain Ayanna Keshav '28, with Lindsay Gadsden '27 in stroke, followed by Catherine Farman-Farmaian '26, Grace McLaughlin '28, Laela Clark '28, Ava Lvovich '29, Alexa Hanson '26, Lily Clemens '28, and Jordan Bose '29 in bow. A young crew, with many racing the Charles for the first time, they performed strongly in the competitive category, finishing 28th overall out of 37, with a time of 18:37.921.
The Charles concluded Williams' fall racing, and the team now moves into the offseason ahead of the spring NCAA season which begins in March of next year.
