The Wilson boys and girls crew teams have worked hard all fall, but each met different results at the peak of their season. Practicing five to six times a week and exercising outside of practice, both teams have worked tirelessly. The teams both placed well in their early races but when they got to the Head of the Charles, one of the world’s largest regattas, the girls had a boat place in the top ten and the boys ended in 73rd.

The girls team is having a great year, and according to senior and co-captain Olivia Bock, “This fall season has been the best the Varsity Girls’ team has ever had.” Their V4+ earned first in the Occoquan Chase and in the Head of Occoquan. At the Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, the V4+ got third out of 51, and the second V4+ came in 14th. The V8+ placed first at the Head of Occoquan and third at the Head of the Schuylkill. 

“The team’s biggest strength is our commitment to one another,” said Bock. “Everyone comes to practice every day, ready to get better for both themselves and their teammates.” At the biggest race of the season, the Head of the Charles, they didn’t disappoint. The girls V4+ came in ninth out of 85 boats. “We hope to qualify a few of our boats for nationals,” Bock said. “We want to make it to the finals at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and the SRAA Nationals Regatta.” 

The boy’s team started off strong this year, and at the Sculler’s Head of the Potomac, their V8+s got 5th and 6th out of 23 boats. Next, they moved on to the Occoquan Chase where their 1V8+ got second out of 27. After that regatta, the team traveled to Boston where they took part in the Head of the Charles. During their V8+ race, there was a steering mistake involving another boat and the Tigers ended up crashing. They placed 73rd due to a one-minute penalty leaving the team filled with disappointment. 

Although they took a big hit, the boys crew team doesn’t plan on staying down long. Senior and co-captain Nicholas Antrium said they won’t let this one bad race get them down, “Teams get jazzed up over a few successful fall regattas and then fail when it comes time to perform during the championship season,” said Antrium. “The fall races are behind us and we have to keep moving forward.” Sophomore Grant Gwadz commented on their plans for the spring as well, “suffice to say we have work to do but I know we’ll rise up to the challenge.” The team bounced back and finished off their fall season at the Head of Occoquan with their 1V4+ finishing first, 2V4+ finishing second and their V8+ coming in fourth.