Boys' Crew Comes Out on Top Against Both St. Paul's Boats

Boys’ varsity crew took to the Turkey Pond in Concord, NH last Saturday to face off against St. Paul’s School. In Big Red’s final race before NEIRAs, the team dominated, with all five boys’ boats finishing at least seven seconds ahead of their opponents. 

“We had a solid race against St. Paul's,” senior and B1 rower Lakin Vitton said. “We executed our strategy and pulled away after 400 meters.”

On what proved to be a beautiful, sunny, 70-degree day with just a slight tail crosswind, PEA’s first boat continued its excellent success against SPS. The boys finished at 4:31.8, 10.2 seconds ahead of St. Paul’s B1. 

“The race really showed us how powerful B1 and B2 are,” senior coxswain Nikhil Chuchra said. “We had a slow start to the race but by 400 meters in, we made our first move and broke free of them by a length. By the end of the race, we had two and a half lengths on them and never looked back.”

While B2 has generally had equally impressive success against St. Paul’s, the boat came into this year’s race seeking revenge after a one-second defeat to St. Paul’s B2 last May. They took it handily, finishing at 4:41.1, just over seven seconds in front of St. Paul’s 4:48.4. 

“It was a great way to go into NEIRA's,” senior and B2 rower Michael Eaton said. “It wasn't as visually exciting a race as our Andover race but it was a strong, consistent race. The crew we have fielded for B2 has incredible endurance, which should bode well for next weekend.”

While both varsity boats have excelled in the sprint, each is looking to improve the initial parts of the race. “Our starts are still our sore spot,” Eaton said. “We came out of our start sequence about a seat ahead, but it could still be better.”

With this victory, Big Red has the attitude it needs heading into the single biggest weekend of the year: The New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championship Regatta, held annually at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA. “We really needed the big win to get our confidence up after a tough loss to Andover, and St. Paul’s did just that,” Chuchra said.

As the defending champions, Big Red will be prepared to have a target on its back. “With such energy, experience and excitement, along with our impressive results in past weeks, we are the team to beat,” Eaton said. “We aren't on the hunt anymore; we are being hunted down by every single boat in the league. Everybody wants to be able to say they beat Exeter this year. But, if we can keep the calm determination that we have excelled at all season, they will have to fight tooth and nail to even come close to us.”

Vitton agreed that the team is ready to go. “NEIRAs is going to be tough, but we have confidence we can put it together for the finale.”