On October 22nd and 23rd, the 52nd annual Head of the Charles Regatta was held in Boston, Massachusetts. Over 820 athletes from around the world arrived at the two-day regatta for the chance to make the medal podium. Countless clubs and teams competed in this highly selective event, and the Manhasset Crew Team was fortunate enough to send three four-rower boats to this prestigious regatta. Each four boat contains five people – a coxswain and four rowers. Thus, for several weeks, the top rowers from the varsity squads competed for a chance to claim a spot in a boat. In the end, only a few prevailed and had the opportunity to row in the event.

The rowers selected to have a spot in the boat were Doug Dreyer, Lazarus Ziozis, Alexander Hom, Michael Canino, and Bart Voto in the Men’s Varsity four, with Brett Weisberg and Jake Delaney serving as alternates. The ten girls that participated in the Women’s Varsity Four event included Kayla Keriazes, Sophia D’Angelo, Elizabeth Kim, Victoria Papadakos, Ashley Kim, Rose Corcoran, Kelly Fitzsimons, Ashley Panzone, Meghan Lyons, and Lauren Moschitta, with alternate rower Melanie Moreira.  

These top rowers from the Manhasset Crew team had to place in the top half of their category in order for the team to return to the regatta the following  year.  The conditions this year were rough: strong winds and currents tested each rower’s ability to persevere through the race. The rowers’ training and constant support from parents paid off as the Men’s Varsity Four and one of the Women’s Varsity Fours finished in the top half, which allowed them to qualify for the regatta in 2017. Therefore, a new set of rowers will be chosen for the boats to represent Manhasset in the Head of the Charles Regatta in the fall of 2017.