CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Williams College women's crew team saw 23 rowers compete at the 61st annual Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, cheered on by alumni, family and friends despite chilly weather during the largest race in the sport of rowing.
The Williams' varsity 4+ raced at 1:59 p.m. in the women's collegiate 4+ category, led by coxswain
Hannah Shapiro '30, with
Lindsay Gadsden '27 in stroke seat, followed by
Amelia Iorio '30,
Lily Clemens '28 and
Laela Clark '28 in bow seat.
The boat started well and remained steady despite being surrounded by fast crews. As it came toward the John W. Weeks Bridge on the Charles River, the crew made a decisive move and passed Lafayette College, which had started one place ahead of the Ephs. Williams finished third, improving on a strong sixth-place finish last year and earning a coveted HOCR bronze medal with a time of 18:52.769. The Ephs were the top NESCAC team and second in Division III in this category.
Next up were the first varsity and second varsity 8+ boats, racing at 3:01 p.m. in the women's collegiate 8+ category. The first varsity was coxed by
Charis Woo '27, followed by
Anne Moghtader '29,
Vivian Johnson '27,
Courtney FitzMaurice '27,
Madeleine Lasell '29,
Nola Schaenen '30,
Sophia Clavenna '27,
Olivia Thurman '27, and
Miranda Miller '29 in bow seat.
The first varsity charged ahead with a strong line, remaining competitive among the field of fast crews. The unit remained internal and focused on its own race, which was essential given that the Ephs were not surrounded by many crews. Williams placed eighth overall with a time of 17:00.350. The field was stacked, with a little over 12 seconds between second and eighth place.
The second varsity was led by coxswain
Zoe Wallace '30, with
Piper de Grys '30Â in stroke, followed by
Jordan Bose '29,
Caroline Ripsteen '29,
Ellery Germer Mills '30,
Charlotte Ragozin '27,
Megan Finando '29,
Ellery Franceschini '29 and
Isolde Rayman-Moore '28 in bow.
Despite being a relatively young crew, the second varsity set out with a goal of requalifying its boat, which would ensure that all three boats would race again in 2027 for the first time under head coach
Paula Thoms' leadership. Finishing 13th out of 29 with a time of 17:26.428, and passing divisional-rival Trinity, the second varsity smashed its goal, guaranteeing the Ephs three entries at next year's Head of the Charles.
The Head of the Charles concluded Williams' fall racing, and the team now moves into the offseason with determination and confidence in the depth of the team ahead of the spring NCAA season, which begins in March of next year.
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