Veteran Crew Team Aiming to Repeat as Top Boat in WCC

After one of the most successful seasons in the history of Santa Clara University men's crew, the team has returned to the Mission Campus this fall for its pre-dawn rows and double-day schedule in preparation for the upcoming racing seasons.

Veteran leadership has set the tone for the new year. SCU returns five rowers - Jake Carrigan, Wills Fallon, Chris Freeburg, Chris Macko, and Adam Noble - who were members of the Varsity 8+ that out-rowed all West Coast Conference boats and placed third at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships. The roster also includes nine seniors.

For the fall racing season, where events are generally longer distances (totaling between 4,000 to 6,000 meters), the team will be traveling up and down California to compete in 'Head Races,' with the goal to chase down as many boats as possible from a staggered start. Racing against many top crews on the West Coast, these races provide the opportunity to work on many different lineup combinations to maximize boat speed. The program will be rowing mixed boats throughout the fall.

The team recognizes it is a long time towards the 2011 WIRA Championships next May, but have been laying the groundwork through the fall to hit top speed and repeat as WCC Champions again come the spring.

"This fall we have been working hard in small boats and mixed boats to reemphasize the technique and power that was instrumental to our success last year," said returning letterman Wills Fallon. "As a senior class, we want to repeat as WCC Champions and improve upon our finish at WIRA's to prove that last year was no fluke. We are looking forward to the competition these head races provide and to see where we stand at this point in the season."