Nine Middlesex alumnae from three different decades came together in Boston to compete at the 52nd Head of the Charles, one of the largest rowing regattas in the world. In the Women’s Alumni Eights event, almost entirely dominated by collegiate alumni crews, the Middlesex boat stood out as the only high school alumni entry. The Alumni Eights event has grown in competitiveness since its addition to the regatta less than a decade ago, and this year former Olympic and US National Team rowers competed for their colleges. Coxswain Laura Rothman ’96 steered an expert course, leading Kathy Smithwick ’08, Maddie Berky ’06, Louisa Berky ’04, Charlotte Silk ’14, Jane McClellan ’08, Ashley Fish, ’06, Erika Ferlins Mills ’99, and Kate Erickson ’07 to a 29th place finish in a field of 45 crews, ahead of Columbia, Wesleyan, Williams, and MIT, among others.
Kate Erickson ’07 raced the course twice on Saturday, competing a second time in the Parent/Child Doubles event with her father, Middlesex science teacher Dr. Erickson, who started rowing just a few years ago. The pair distinguished themselves with a 16th place finish out of 46 entries.
Other Middlesex alumni competing at the Head of the Charles include Miranda Gish ’14 for Dartmouth, Emily Garvin ’11 for Wesleyan Women’s Alumni, Yih-Jen Ku ’12 for Columbia Men’s Alumni, Paul Slye ’80, and Lawrence Terry ’64 (for his 45th year!) in the Senior Veteran Singles.