Capital Crew Youth Rowers had a quick trip to Boston last weekend for the Head of The Charles Regatta. Since its inception in 1965, The Head Of The Charles Regatta has attracted hundreds of thousands of rowers to the banks of the Charles river. The Head Of The Charles Regatta is the world’s largest 3-day rowing competition attracting 400,000 spectators,11,000 competitors from 26 counties and 2,400 volunteers. 

The Youth Men’s Four (YM4+),Colin McPhee, Joshua Terner, Benjamin Davids, Dylan Churlo and coxswain Benjamin Hartmen coming off a first place finish at Head of The Port Regatta, faced a challenging field of 90 entries and put in some strong splits while being masterfully guided by coxswain Ben Hartman along the 4,763-meter course to finish 20th with a qualifying entry to return next year.

Youth Men’s Four, racing to the line, Head of the Charles Regatta.

Youth Women’s Eight (W8+), Claire Rosales, Tatum Hall, Eva Anderson, Izzy Delavoye, Sophia Blunk, Mary Anderson, Grace, Torchiana, Maya Reisenger fought off Sarasota Crew who attempted to block Capital and collided with the Capital Boat at the Weeks Bridge battled back on the final 2000m of the race by holding a strong steady rate and carefully piloted by coxswain Alyssa Ramirez advancing to a 17th place finish in a field of 90 entries and automatic bid to return to Boston in 2024.

Youth Women’s ‘s Eight, in the hunt, Head of the Charles Regatta.

Capital’s Grace Torchiana and Maya Reisenger are both Class of 2024 at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills and will participate in National Letter of Intent (NLI) Day on November 8, 2023. Not every school uses the NLI—about 650 NCAA D1 and D2 schools. It’s not mandatory to sign, but every year more than 48,000 student-athletes do.

Torchiana, a 2022 and 2023 US Rowing Olympic Development program member and 2024 Junior National team hopeful, will sign with ACC Women’s Rowing Champions – University of Virginia. Reisenger, will sign with – University of California, San Diego. The Tritons have been recruiting well and Resinger will be join several Capital Crew alums in La Jolla.

Maya Reisenger(l), Grace Torchiana (c), Mary Anderson(r) take a breather during Practice Rounds, Head of the Charles Regatta.

Fun Fact: Capital Crew’s NEW Associate Women’s Coach is none other than Patti Pinkerton, former (1999-2011)legendary UCSD Head coach and who also competed last weekend in Masters Womens Singles event at Head of The Charles Regatta. During her tenure, UCSD gained top 10 rankings for its varsity and lightweight programs, as well as consistently placing athletes on US Rowing and College Rowing Coaches Association All-American and Scholar-Athlete squads. Patti was US Rowing’s Women of the Year in 1984.

With Head of the Charles complete, Capital Crew is grateful for the opportunity to compete on the national stage. The regatta posed some unique challenges and there is room for growth. 

This weekend finds the youth rowers competing back home at the Head of The American Regatta at the Sac State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma. Youth, Collegiate and Masters level athletes will compete with races starting at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.