With this self-proclamation in the back of his head, nine-year Wisconsin crew Head Coach Chris Clark leads his crew to Boston to compete in the annual Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend. The men, who last year finished seventh nationally in the USRowing Collegiate Men's Varsity Eight Poll, row to the regatta with top-ten finishes in last October's race-coming in 10th in the Men's Varsity Eight and ninth in the Men's Collegiate Four.
For the team, comprised of more than 70 men, this season-opening regatta is a chance to start fall competition positively. The team sends 14 athletes total, with eight rowers in one boat, four in another and two alternates. Junior Mike Tupek and senior Mike Lucey competed in the regatta before and lead the young team during the three-mile timed races.
\Now I am the oldest in the boat, not the youngest,"" said Lucey, a Massachusetts native. As the boat's coxswain, he steers the boat and yells out commands.
""It's definitely a change ... and a challenge which I enjoy. We have a lot of young, inexperienced athletes who will learn to step it up. We will get better by the end of the season,"" Lucey continued.
The Head of Charles is a spectacular event to glide into the season. According to Clark, the regatta is a spectacle-the fall equivalent of the Boston Marathon, held in the spring. The regatta, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend, got its name because it is the top-the head-of its class, like the headmaster is the head of an English school. It is the largest two-day rowing event in the world in which 300,000 spectators annually come to see collegiate teams, as well as national squads from all over the globe, compete.
Though the fall season focuses primarily on individual development in men's crew, the regatta is an event in which teams can shift in the national rankings even though it does not affect records.
""The Head of the Charles is like the Daytona 500 in NASCAR. It's the biggest event of the season, but it's at the very beginning,"" said Clark, the 2002 Independent Rowing News College Coach of the Year. ""It's a great way to start the season, even though the fall season isn't as personal as the spring season because the boats are timed, not rowing side by side. But still, it's the Head of the Charles.""
The team won the event two years ago, and Clark said he would like to duplicate this performance. But he realizes his squad is young and any experience will help their development. The athletes enjoy the challenge of being underdogs.
""We have a positive attitude,"" said junior Lawrence Stuart, the six-seat in the varsity eight boat. Stuart, a New York City native, has attended the regatta since he was young and will compete in the event for the first time.
""It's pretty nice to be the underdog because there are no expectations by other teams,"" Stuart added. ""We have very high expectations as a team. We're in the Midwest, rowing with nobody watching. We'll hopefully be a surprise when it's time for the national title in the spring.""
Before the team can spring into full-swing second semester, it must first compete in three other races following the regatta. On Oct. 31, it heads to Iowa City, Iowa for the Head of the Iowa, followed by the American Heritage Regatta and the Marathon Rowing Championships, both in November.
A welcome addition was the return of assistant coach Eric Mueller. Mueller, who was a member of the Badger varsity eight boat from 1991-'93, spent the 1998-'99 season as assistant varsity coach before leaving to train for the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. He is back for his second stint, and Clark already sees his positive impact.
""He's a classic leader-quiet, carries authority,"" Clark said. ""He's a big stud, a two-time Olympian. It's a lot easier to coach when you have an ideal athlete like him in front of you. He raises our level, and I am exceedingly pleased.""
And though the idea of fun for most people is not waking up early six days a week to spend hours on the freezing water, Clark thinks it is worth it for his rowers.
""I joke around with the guys that 'fun' is sitting on a couch watching 'SportsCenter' and eating donuts,"" Clark said. ""But, it's the satisfying things that carry you through.""
However, part of the satisfaction is knowing the chance to continue working on skills and building relationships that continue once the water freezes over.
""I've been rowing for almost nine years now and it's one of the only constants in my life,"" Lucey said. ""Yeah, it's fun.""
