Boathouse Row is all set to be buzzing as the 55th annual Head of the Schuylkill kicks off. An earlier race, the Navy Day Regatta, was cancelled due to inclement weather. As a result, while many of the schools should have already seen each other, they haven’t, and are no doubt eager to get in some great fall racing.
University of Pennsylvania
Penn is entering four eights to this event, just as they did last year, and no doubt the new ladies of the ‘D’ boat are hoping they can repeat their foremothers’ results. Last year, the Quakers finished with their ‘A’ boat in first, their ‘B’ boat in third, and, in an upset, their ‘D’ boat in fifth, while their ‘C’ boat finished eighth. While line-ups have changed, there is no doubt there’s a lot of excitement around the Burk-Bergman boathouse about what upsets could happen this year. Ultimately, I still expect Penn to dominate the standings of this race as a whole, but look out for more internal upsets.
George Washington University
George Washington is entering two boats into this race, with their ‘A’ boat finishing just over a second behind Penn’s winning time last year. While the difference in depth between the two programs is stark -George Washington’s ‘B’ boat finished all the way down in 14th. We’ll see if the ‘B’ boat can improve its performance and if the ‘A’ boat Revolutionaries can pull off the impossible and upset the Quakers.
Villanova University
With only one boat in this category, the Villanova Wildcats will enter their first varsity eight into Saturday’s race with hopes of shrinking the gap to the front group. Last year, they finished fourth, 21 seconds off the podium and just three tenths of a second ahead of Penn’s ‘D’ boat. Coming off the back of a programme-best points total at last spring’s CAA Championships, Pope Leo’s alma mater will be hoping for a miraculous increase in speed to finish in the top three this year.
University of Delaware
Delaware was part of a tight pack last year that saw three crews finish within eight-tenths of a second – remarkably tight across a thirteen-minute head race. The Blue Hens were the third team in that group, finishing sixth overall, and will be hungry to take a step forward. Similarly, coming off the back of a programme-best finish at the CAA Championship and a win on home water at the Head of the Christina, they will be looking to move forward in the field.
Drexel University
The Drexel Dragons have two boats entered into this race, up from just one last year. That result was a seventh-place finish, just a second behind their conference rivals, Delaware. And while they have had the best springs of the local CAA programmes, their results in the fall tend to be more lacking, finishing 24th in the club eights at last weekend’s Head of the Charles. Back on home water and with more depth in the category, we’ll see if the Dragons can buck the trend.
Predictions
Penn dominates the top of the timesheet, with some internal upsets. George Washington fights valiantly but cannot upset the Quakers. Villanova improves but does not get close to those in front. The Blue Hens fall while the Drexel Dragons rise, and Delaware ends up rounding out the top eight.
