Oakland Strokes Men 2nd and Women 4th at 2015 Head of the Charles

The Oakland Strokes once again excelled, this time at the 2015 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA. On October 18th, the Varsity Men took home 2nd place in the Youth 8+ while the Varsity Women improved three places off of last year to claim 4th, both against strong international fields of 85 entries. The Strokes Men opened the time-trial style event at bow #1, and had yet another great duel with Bay Area rival Marin, eventually falling back to claim 2nd in a reversal of last year's top two finishers. CRI from Boston, St. Paul's School of the UK, and Scotch College of Australia were 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively, demonstrating both how international the field was, as well as the strength of Californian Rowing.

The women held an impressive pace on the narrow and winding course, passing the southern Californian crew of Marina Aquatic Center en route to a 4th place finish, less than two seconds out of 3rd. For the second year in a row, Saugatuck Rowing Club out of Westport, CT claimed the victory; Strokes closed on them by 18 seconds from last year. 

This year's Head of the Charles brought classic New England weather, with a gusty head wind and clear but chilly days--most of the racing was in the mid-40s. The Head of the Charles is the largest rowing regatta in the world, and this year had over 11,000 athletes competing and a nearly-unbelievable 400,000 spectators lining the banks. 

Pictured above, from left to right: Anita Sarrett (Women's Varsity Assistant Coach), Riley Eversole (3 Seat, Miramonte HS), Quincey Mulligan (6 Seat, Head Royce), Caroline Ricksen (Coxswain, Miramonte HS), Maryse Suppiger (7 Seat, Piedmont HS),  Jillian Lundstrom (Stroke, Miramonte HS), Jenny Hosler (3 Seat, Piedmont HS), Megan Cvitanovic (5 Seat, Alameda HS), Rileigh Long (2 Seat, Alameda, HS), Limor Dubrovsky (Bow, Acalanes HS), Allison Ray (Women's Varsity Head Coach).

Pictured above, from left to right: Nikita Lilichenko (4 Seat, Miramonte HS), Luke Lawler (5 Seat, Las Lomas HS), Spencer Dettlinger (Stroke, San Ramon Valley HS), Michael Cueller (4 Seat, St. Joseph's Notre Dame HS), Ben Garrison (Coxswain, Burlingame HS), Connor Olson (7 Seat, Granada HS), Cole Ortiz (3 Seat, Campolindo HS), Rhys Daniel (2 Seat, Piedmont HS), Brendan Purtill (Bow, Miramonte HS). Not pictured, Men's Varsity Coach, Brian de Regt.

For more information, please contact:

Women’s Coach: Allison Dobb Ray
h.allisonray@gmail.com

Men’s Coach: Brian DeRegt
coachderegt@yahoo.com