BOSTON - The heavyweight and lightweight rowing teams were in action this weekend at the world-renown Head of the Charles Regatta. Taking on a challenging field of collegiate, international and club teams at the 54th edition of the Boston-hosted regatta, Navy had four boats racing on the three-mile Charles River course. All four of the Mids' entries placed in the top-10 of their respective events with the lightweight first varsity boat highlighting the weekend of competition with a fourth-place result in the Men's Lightweight Eights event.
 
Navy's second varsity lightweight boat took to the water first this weekend as the Mids saw action in the Men's Club Eights race on Saturday afternoon. Taking on a field of 36 crews, Navy placed sixth overall, fifth amongst collegiate entrants. The crew of Ben Skinner, Creig Tarrant, Tyler Schatz, Karl Schwarzkopf, Dan Johnston, Chris Greubel, Matthew Pentaleri, Patrick Watler and coxswain Jack Ransick completed the course with a time of 15:08.749. 
 
The first heavyweight crew to compete at the regatta hit the Charles River on Sunday afternoon in the Men's Championship Fours race. One of 18 crews in a field that was littered with highly skilled international and club teams, the Mids place eighth overall, fifth amongst collegiate boats with a time of 18:10.694. Navy's lineup on Sunday consisted of John Lamb, Andrew Knoll, Evan Camp, Martin Duffy and coxswain Kathryn Fung.
 
"Our varsity four had a solid row today in tough conditions," remarked heavyweight head coach Rob Friedrich. "We had hoped to place higher, but a sickness forced us to change the lineup just before the regatta. I thought they handled that adjustment well."
 
Navy's top lightweight crew got its chance to flex its muscle on the water in event 55, the Men's Lightweight Eights. After opening slowly with sixth-best time at both the Riverside and Weld checkpoints, the Mids closed strongly to post the fourth-best time with a 16:10.362 result. Navy was represented in this race by the crew of Clay Jackson, Chandler Washburn, Manriki Gagnon, Duke Brady, Kaden Dohm, John Schoenewolf, Drew Bennett, Max Gelbach and coxswain Pat Urrutia.
 
"I thought the effort on the part of both boats this weekend was solid," exclaimed Shawn Bagnall, head coach of the Navy lightweight team. "As is the case at The Charles, each had their share of obstacles thrown at them that they had to navigate. Hats off to both of our coxswains for maintaining their composure and leading these crews. We are looking forward to being a little more full strength personnel-wise in the coming weeks and closing out the fall season on a positive note."
 
The final event with Midshipmen participation was the Men's Collegiate Eights race. One of 35 boats in the contest, Navy's heavyweight entry was embroiled in a tight battle for positions six through 10. All five boats clocked in within 3.728 seconds of each other with Notre Dame finishing sixth at 16:29.626 and Navy coming in tenth at 16:33.354. The Midshipment crew of Joey Merkel, Dwayne Williams, Owen Firebaugh, Matt Bute, Jacob Klosowski, Harrison Bleckley, Matt Gregory, Aaron Bullis and coxswain Elise Odom was edged by 1.954 seconds by WPI in the fight for ninth place.
 
"Our second boat raced hard against all first varsity boats in the Collegiate event," said Friedrich. "They could have handled the conditions better, but it was a great experience for those guys to race down the course."
 
Navy will split its fleet up with a pair of different competitions next weekend as the heavyweights will compete at the Head of the Schuylkill on Saturday, while the lightweights will see action at the Princeton Chase on Sunday.
 
Results
Saturday, Event 22 – Men's Club Eights (36 in field)
1-Harvard – 14:46.851
5-Boston U. – 15:02.569
6-Navy LWT – 15:08.749
 
Sunday, Event 50 – Men's Championship Fours (18 in field)
1-KNRB – 17:10.194
7-Oregon State – 17:58.316
8-Navy HWT – 18:10.694
 
Sunday, Event 55 – Men's Lightweight Eights (15 in field)
1-Cornell – 15:43.872
3-Yale – 15:52.958
4-Navy LWT – 16:10.362
 
Sunday, Event 56 – Men's Collegiate Eights (35 in field)
1-Michigan – 15:58.108
9-WPI – 16:31.400
10-Navy HWT – 16:33.354