The Head of the Charles has also been a source of athletic pride for the Stone family, as Gregg and Lisa both won the singles event in 1977 and their daughter Gevvie took the title last fall.

Radcliffe heavyweight assistant coach Wendy Wilbur exemplifies what it means to be feared as a competitor and beloved as a teacher.

When the Crimson’s top men’s lightweight crew pushes off at this weekend’s Head of the Charles Regatta, it will hold three men who showed up at the boathouse looking to try something new and found a passion that would dictate the course of their college careers.