Crimson Readies for Spring

The Harvard men’s heavyweight crew team is the last, but certainly not the least, of the Crimson crews to begin competition this spring. Harvard hopes to start the season off right, as the team faces off against fellow Ancient Eight competitor Cornell. Last year, the two schools renewed their rivalry, competing in a dual race for the first time since 1946.

Although Harvard came out on top last spring, the squads are well matched. The schools’ first varsity eights were selected as 2009-10 Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges Co-Crews of the Year, and the two crews battled for dominance on the water throughout the 2009-10 and the fall seasons.

Last year, Harvard beat the Big Red during the dual season and at Eastern Sprints. The Crimson picked up the Compton Cup, the Adams Cup, the Smith Cup, the Rowe Cup, and a win at the Harvard-Yale Regatta along the way to a 7-1 dual record.

At EARC Sprints, Harvard clinched a 2.5 second victory in the Grand Final, earning the program its 26th Eastern Sprints and 26th Ivy League title.

But Cornell had its way at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.

“We ended up beating them in our dual last year and then at sprints,” junior six-seat Nick Jordan said. “But then at IRAs they had a pretty good race in that final and had maybe a little bit favorable lane draw with the winds. They ended up just knitting us at the end which was definitely frustrating for a lot of the guys. So in this race, we’re looking to really have a little payback and to try to make a statement.”

While the Big Red didn’t make the sprints grand final, it managed to beat the Crimson by less than a second at the IRA National Championships. The Crimson finished in fourth place, but the Cornell boat prevented it from medaling.

The Harvard squad recovered in the 2010-2011 fall season. In its first showing at the Head of the Charles, the Crimson came in second, finishing less than two seconds behind Washington. Cornell finished a little over 15 seconds behind to earn the sixth place spot.

While the Crimson handily defeated Cornell in the fall season, the Big Red consistently puts together an impressive boat.

“We beat them at Head of the Charles, but it’s very different race,” Jordan said. “It’s a headrace rather than a side-by-side 2k. And that was a long time ago. So I don’t think we have any expectations or assumptions going into this race. We just have to assume that they’re just as fast as we are, then make our minds up to outrace them.”

Recent Crimson success may have something to do with high membership retention. One rower, captain Blake Pucsek, graduated last spring, and one is injured, but six rowers will be returning. Two sophomores fill the gaps in the boat: three-seat Parker Washburn and bowman James O’Connor.

“Both of them are pretty outstanding rowers and great guys,” junior five-seat Mike DiSanto explained. “They will definitely make a huge positive impact on the boat. You don’t have to worry about either one of the during a race. You just know that they’re going to be giving 110 percent every stroke and pulling as hard as they can all the way down the course.”

These two additions are no strangers to success. Last year, their freshman boat posted an undefeated dual season.

After months of preparation and practice, the Crimson is ready to face some competition. Harvard broke up extensive time on the erg with side-by-side races and sun during a spring break trip in Florida, where the team practiced twice each day. After the break the Crimson returned indoors until March recess when it finally got back on the Charles.

“It’s been a very strong preseason, if you will, leading up to this race,” DiSanto said. “I think it’s probably the strongest team I’ve ever been on.”

In the battle of the burgundies, Harvard will face the Big Red on Saturday morning. As a grudge match and home-opener, this race is sure to make a splash.

“To say that guys are excited for this race is an understatement,” DiSanto said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen on Saturday—[I] can’t predict that—but Cornell’s definitely a very, very fast team and definitely a team to be respected. They’re definitely a worthy crew. It’ll be a great race. We’re going to have to come guns blazing for them.”