HEAD OF THE CHARLES '07: Put Me In, Coach

Over the past seven years, women’s lightweight head coach Cecile Tucker has molded the lightweight crew program into the championship contender it is today.

Upon the birth of her second child, however, Tucker will hand the reins over to coaches Will Stevens, who will direct the varisty, and Seth Davis, who will head the novice and walk-on programs. This represents a major transition for the entire team, especially the upperclassmen who have worked under Tucker.

“It’s definitely going to be a big change,” says sophomore Lizzy Mazjoub, a member of the lightweight varsity eight. “It may be more drastic for upperclassmen, changing to the new coach.”

During Tucker’s tenure as coach, the team rose to national prominence. In the spring of 2004, the Radcliffe lightweight varsity wont its first Sprints title since 1997. From there, the varsity went on to take the silver medal at IRAs and competed in the Henley Women’s Regatta in England that summer. In the fall of 2004, the varsity four won at the Head of the Charles Regatta and the varsity eight finished third at both Eastern Sprints and IRAs.

That success continued in the 2005-2006 season, as the varsity lightweights won the Windermere Regatta and the Knecht Cup with an emphatic win over national lightweight powerhouses Wisconsin and Princeton. In addition, they took home silver and bronze metals at Eastern Sprints and IRAs, respectively.

Tucker’s record speaks for itself. She has shaped the Radcliffe lightweight program into a championship-caliber team, and without her at the helm, the crews must maintain that standard.

Despite the coaching change, the philosophy will be the same—and the goal of a season-ending championship remains the same.

“We’ve met with both coaches a couple of times,” co-captain Amanda Kolb says. “[Stevens] is in favor of sticking with Tucker’s plans. They have somewhat different styles, but they’re going to stick with the overreaching goals.”

Tucker’s Radcliffe crew career began long before her coaching days. Tucker rowed all four years as an undergraduate, racing in the heavyweight varsity eight in the last three. In 1989, she was a member of the undefeated eight that won Eastern Sprints and attained All-Ivy League status in the process.

Tucker has been a staple at Weld Boathouse for years a fundamental force in Radcliffe history as a rower and a coach.

The question now becomes what will happen without her.

Stevens, who is set to replace Tucker until June, is excited and prepared for the task.

“It’s an incredibly strong program,” Stevens says. “I’m very pleased that she has the confidence in me to lead the program until June.”

Stevens comes from an equally impressive rowing background. Stevens rowed at Yale from 1987 to 1991, where he received the August L. Bladgen Award “for representing and enhancing the tradition of rowing at Yale.” For five years, Stevens served as the girls’ varsity coach and program director of Wayland Weston Rowing Association, a non–profit organization dedicated to teaching young people how to row.

Under Stevens, what began as a learn-to-row program became a high school powerhouse, as the coach led his crews to four silver medals at nationals in 2007.

“Stevens seems like a great guy who has done so much, so I’m excited,” Mazjoub says.

And Stevens has already begun to acclimate himself to the lightweight varsity.

“All the Radcliffe coaches are in daily communication with each other,” Stevens says. “I’ve been working with the varsity lightweights, taking some of the boats out for some of the practices.”

Davis will also be filling in during Tucker’s absence.

He was formerly a coach for MIT lightweight men’s crew, and during his time there, the Engineers posted its best finish at Eastern Sprints in 10 years.

But the new coaches will encounter a Black and White crew absent many prominent rowers.

Senior Mariah Evarts, who is also a former member of the Crimson photo board, and junior Rebekah Kharrazi, both members of the varsity eight last year, are away for the semester. In addition, a number of rowers returned from summer vacation with nagging injuries.

Almost a full eight is unable to row at Head of the Charles due to injury. As a result, the team must rely heavily on its stellar freshmen eight of last year, as five sophomores will compete in the varsity eight at this weekend’s regatta. The program has also maintained all of its walk-ons from last year, giving the team much-needed depth to push through the injuries, absences, and challenges that this new season presents.

Nonetheless, one thing remains unchanged—the team’s drive for a championship.

“Absolutely, we expect to have the same success,” Mazjoub says.

The Radcliffe lightweight crew is prepared and focused for this weekend’s race.