Lakers Dominates Head of the Grand

While Grand Valley’s first Men’s and Women’s 8+ fought against national rowing powers over in Boston, the remainder of the Grand Valley Rowing team awoke early Sunday morning for an hour’s drive to Lansing, bringing the Laker Navy into battle with three major Michigan schools at the Head of the Grand Regatta: the University of Michigan, Michigan Tech, and the hosting school, Michigan State University. In addition to elevating Grand Valley’s second Men’s and Women’s 8+ to first varsity if only for the weekend, the Head of the Grand provided the first bona fide away race experience for GVSU’s multitude of novice rowers.

Both Novice 8+ events were won with ample time by Grand Valley: the two Women’s Novice 8+ placed first and second, the lead boat finishing with a time of 13:07, while the first Men’s Novice 8+ finished at 11:31, ahead of University of Michigan at 11:55, with the second Grand Valley boat coming in close behind.

Grand Valley finished first again in the Women’s Varsity 8+ with a time of 12:27; Michigan State placed second at 13:17. GVSU’s second entry in the Women’s V8+ came in at third at 13:47.

The Men’s Varsity 8+ brought the afternoon to a climax with a victory over the University of Michigan, Grand Valley finishing at 10:57 to Michigan’s 11:09. A second Michigan boat and a Michigan State boat finished third and fourth, with the Grand Valley B boat coming in at fifth, after mid-race equipment breakage, with a time of 11:36.

In addition to the 8+ events Grand Valley also obtained both first and second in both the Men’s and Women’s Varsity 4+ events, as well as a victory in the Lightweight Men’s Varsity 4+. GVSU competed in several other events, such as the Novice 4+, as well.

Over in Boston Grand Valley’s two first varsity 8+ concluded their expedition to the 44th Head of the Charles Regatta, the Men’s Varsity 8+ placing fourth overall and the Women’s Varsity 8+ placing tenth overall.