ASL returns to Head of the Charles

“Wow, what a weekend!” Director of Athletics John Farmer ’97’s short and sweet synopsis of the ASL crew team’s recent participation in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October perhaps says it all. This three-day rowing event, the largest of its kind, is considered the capstone crew competition and attracts athletes and spectators from all over the world. For the first time since 2019, ASL sent a delegation of rowers to this seminal race. Ten ASLers competed in four events: the Women’s Youth Singles, the Men’s Youth Coxed Quads, the Men’s Youth Doubles and the Women’s Youth Doubles. Special recognition should be given to Coach Jamie Kirkwood, who threw his hat in the ring (or his oar in the river) for the Men’s Club Singles and placed sixth out of 35. Our school-age rowers braved difficult headwinds and weather conditions and competed admirably. The experience of racing with teammates on the Charles, with nearly 800 boating clubs from 25 countries, gliding under bridges that were heaving with supportive onlookers, was one that these high school students will never forget. 

In addition to the regatta, John Farmer hosted two alumni gatherings for our Eagles in or near Boston. More than 20 members of the Class of 2023 are attending a university in the Boston area, and they were all invited to lunch on Saturday, 21 October. “Spending time with this incredible group of last year’s seniors was such a highlight of my trip to Boston,” John enthused. Another alumni parent who heard about the lunch from her daughter shared how meaningful it was for her. “Bringing them together really helped them feel connected to their ASL community,” she explained.

Later that evening, the connecting continued at a post-regatta, 21+, happy hour at a pub in Cambridge for former ASL students, faculty and families. Special visitors included Alice and Bill Iacuessa (ASL 1979-2000) as well as Eagles who represented the Classes of 1995 through 2018. Wow, what a weekend indeed!