Megunticook Rowing Loonies proved that they are the loudest little club on the Charles River! They had a lot to cheer about during the 60th running of the legendary Head of the Charles Regatta, October 17-19. In the second race of the three-day event, Cathy Kemper of the San Diego Rowing Club, who trains with Megunticook Rowing every summer and just celebrated her 80th birthday won Gold. Cathy serves as an inspiration to all.
On Saturday, Will Schaetzke competed in his first Men’s Master and Senior Master Singles event (30+, 40+). He passed one boat to place 32nd out of 42 boats. Next up was Cabot Adams in the fully loaded Men’s Championship Singles. This race was packed with former Olympians. He did the club proud finishing 19th in a field of 21. To take on this 3-mile course in a single with seven bridges and crazy turns in addition to competitors takes not only fitness and skill but courage! The day heated up with the Directors’ Challenge Mixed Quad, featuring Meredith Currier, Will Schaetzke, Amy Dyer, and Hugh Brock. This team and their boat Lucky Loonie raced hard and clean finishing 16th in a field of 30.
Sunday featured two races for Megunticook Rowing. Polly Saltonstall and Stephanie Lash once again teamed up with Saltonstall’s West Coast friends in the Director’s Challenge Women’s Quad. Though their ranking held steady from last year, their finishing time closed the gap to the leaders. Conditions were challenging—breezy and choppy—and competition fierce, with several former Olympians and national team rowers ahead of them. Reflecting the camaraderie that defines rowing, Saltonstall shared, “Stephanie and I were happy with our finish. All in all, it was a fun race, and I love the chance to partner with my college roommate, who remains one of my very best friends.”
The finale was the Directors’ Challenge Mixed Eight, the very last race of the entire competition. This crew embodies the Megunticook spirit, combining Masters (Mark McAllister), Grand Masters (Amy Mitchell, Marnie Read, Leslie Forand), Juniors (Jake Roux, Robert Wickenden, Grace Doolen), and decorated champion Cabot Adams. The crew was coxed by Kali Brown, one of Megunticook Rowing’s summer coaches.
Wickenden, who rows with the program in the summer, traveled from Deerfield Academy to fill seven seat. Roux and Doolen, both of Megunticook Rowing’s high school program, were in seat five and two respectively. For Mitchell (4) and Read (bow), it was their first time racing in an eight, so plenty of nerves accompanied the excitement. 3-seat Leslie Forand and 5-seat Mark McAllister rounded out the crew with Cabot Adams stroking. Coach Bob van Twyver advised the team “to row fast not hard” as they piled into the temporarily christened Loonie Bin, a hull that had been graciously loaned by Bates College. Since the team had never been in the boat together, the trip downstream to the start provided a warm up and after a couple of circles in the Basin getting up to speed – literally – they were off. And yes they were fast! The crew finished 10th in raw time, 17th in corrected time in a field of 27 boats.
Reflecting on the weekend, Coach Bob van Twyver said, ‘I could not be happier with the results from everyone on this team. They all committed and did the work and it paid off. We’ll be back next year!”
Megunticook Rowing’s presence was felt across the regatta. John F. Romain, former board president, served as starting-line announcer. Alumni and alumnae also made their mark: Maggie Gill, now a sophomore rowing for Bates College, rowed in two seat as her crew finished 10th of 37 in the Women’s Collegiate Eights. Flora Gurdon attended as an alternate for Trinity College, while Trinity alumna Alley Johnson raced for her alma mater in the Alumnae Fours, finishing ninth out of 22 boats.
From seasoned Masters to rising Juniors, Megunticook Rowing represented every generation and experience level at this “Super Bowl of rowing.”