CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Washington men's rowing program will begin the 2016-2017 season this weekend in Cambridge, Mass., at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta. The Head of the Charles Regatta is the world's largest two-day rowing competition. This weekend is the 52^nd annual running of the Charles, a regatta that features a variety of races for U.S. and international rowers of all ages and abilities. The Regatta is expected to attract tens of thousands of spectators and over 11,000 competitors. 
 
Washington will be featured in the men's championship eight race held on Sunday, October 23 at 11:20 AM PT.  The Washington 8+ lineup was selected through a 6k coxless pair race with the top four pair finishers earning a spot in the boat.
 
The Huskies championship eight features five men who were part of the varsity eight that competed at the 2016 IRA Championships. At last year's Head of the Charles, the Huskies took fourth in the championship eights.  The Huskies won the championship eights event in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
 
"This group and the team as a whole has done some good work so far and we're excited about the opportunity to show it.  We have a more mature team this year.  We're hungry and we have something to prove." said head coach Michael Callahan.

Two members of the Head of the Charles lineup, Stuart Sim and Ben Davison, return to Washington after having taken the 2016 season off to train for the Olympics with the Australian and US national teams respectively.  The University of Washington had more rowing Olympians and more American rowing Olympians than any other university in Rio, London, and Beijing.  
 
"I'm excited to be back at Washington and I'm grateful for Michael's and my teammate's support of my Olympic dream." said returning Husky Stuart Sim

Washington will also feature an alumni crew for the second time at the Head of the Charles, set to compete in the Alumni Eight race Saturday, October 22^nd at 9:12 PT. UW's alumni crew will feature four Olympians (Conlin McCabe 13', Robert Munn 12', Ante Kusurin 06', Tom Lehmann 12') including one Olympic Medalist (Conlin McCabe, Silver Medal, 2012 Olympics) that comprise a group of experienced, world-class rowers. All nine rowers in the Alumni Eight were IRA champions at Washington, with five of them having previously won championships at the Head of the Charles.

"It's very exciting to have this group of guys representing Washington Rowing in the Alumni Eight race.  They're a group that embodies who we are and what we're all about." said Callahan

The Huskies can be seen at the Head of the Charles via live stream on the Regatta's official website.

Washington rowing will host a complimentary Husky Hospitality Tent just upstream from the Eliot Bridge Enclosure on the Boston side of the river. The tent will be marked by the white blades of Washington and a UW flag. It is not part of the Reunion Village.

The Head of the Charles Regatta is free and open to the public. In addition to exhilarating rowing action on the challenging three-mile course – beginning at Boston University's DeWolfe Boathouse and finishing at Artesani Park in Brighton – the Regatta offers a number of family-friendly activities for all ages.

UW men's rowing will co-host the Head of Lake regatta on Nov. 6 on the Montlake Cut, the Huskies' only other competition in the fall before beginning the spring season on Saturday, March 25, with the Class Day Regatta.

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