Harvard Heavies Hoist Trophies at Head of the Charles

There are few better places to win a crew race than a crisp fall day on the Charles River in front of a home crowd. This weekend, Harvard did just that, finishing second in the Championship Eights and winning the Club Eight event at the Head of the Charles. The sun, apparently a varsity fan, didn’t bother to show up till Saturday — just in time for Harvard to secure the Championship Eights title.

Championship Eights

Harvard’s top boat won the Championship Eights Collegiate Division and placed second overall, finishing one second behind the Dutch National Team in the overall standings. Despite missing out on the win last year, the Crimson was able to beat out its rivals from across the pond, Cambridge University, putting in a dominant show of force on its home water. With a veteran coxswain, junior Natalia Toms, deftly steering the boat down the course, it was no surprise that Harvard was able to put down its domestic rivals, the University of Washington. Only one member besides Toms returned from the 2025 lineup: sophomore Jack Hansen-Knarhoi, who was particularly glad to see the Huskies put to rest by a four-second margin after missing the top spot last year.

In the same category was the second 8+ that narrowly missed out on the junior varsity win. The crew’s solid effort down the course left it falling just short of Yale by a 0.03-second margin. While a loss to the Bulldogs always puts a dent in the spirit, the result puts the boat in good standing for the spring season, but with room to improve as the year continues.

Club Eights

On Saturday, the 3V set a commanding tone for the weekend. Competing against other colleges, alumni boats, and club programs, it brought home a win, finishing seven seconds ahead of the next-fastest crew, Northeastern University. Coxed by freshman Andrew Miller, the 3V crew demonstrated how much of an advantage it is to know the Charles River. Despite only a few weeks of training, Miller was able to steer tight lines through the bridges and bends, where visiting crews often lose time.

Club Fours

The club four had a more difficult outing. With frozen hands due to the chilly conditions, the boat ended up finishing in 16th place. Despite a smooth row over the course, the crew was unable to muster up enough speed to close the gap. If there was any consolation, it was the crew’s impeccable shirt game. No boat on the water came close to touching the “quatro’s” drip.

Looking forward to the rest of the season, the Harvard heavyweights are in a good position heading into the winter training block. This weekend showed impressive depth across the whole squad, from a win in the Championship Eights to the 3V’s commanding row in the Club Eights. If this weekend is anything to go by, an exciting spring awaits the Crimson.

—Staff writer Matilda C. Genieser can be reached at [email protected].