HAMILTON — Colgate men's rowing opens its 2023 fall season Sunday at the Head of the Charles in Cambridge, Mass.
 
The Raiders returned 16 members from last year's squad and also brought in a group of talented newcomers. Colgate's varsity eight placed 20th at the IRA National Championship Regatta, and the varsity four took 18th overall.
 
"We are excited to start the season this weekend in Boston. The team has been working hard, and the Head of the Charles is always a tough test. You need a group of fit athletes, a skilled coxswain, and luck to place well," said assistant coach Eric Summers.
 
"The coaches are looking forward to seeing the racing on Sunday and finding out where we are as a team and what we will need to do moving forward to continue to improve, always with an eye toward our championship races in the spring."
 
Both the 1V8 and 1V4 also competed at the Henley Royal Regatta in England this past June. The varsity eight won its first race, defeating Imperial College London.
 
Colgate's varsity eight won the SIRA Championship Regatta for the second-straight season, making the Raiders the first team to earn an automatic bid to the IRAs. Additionally, the eights took first at the inaugural Atlantic Sprints and medaled for the second straight year at the Dad Vail Regatta, earning bronze.
 
The Raiders' second varsity eight earned a second-place finish at the Atlantic Sprints and also placed seventh at the Murphy Cup.
 
At last fall's Head of the Charles, the varsity eight took seventh out of 41 boats, while the varsity four finished 13th.
 
Following Sunday's racing, the Raiders will compete two more times in the fall. Colgate will travel to Philadelphia for the Head of the Schuylkill Oct. 28, then compete at the Princeton Chase Nov. 5.