The Macalester men’s and women’s crew teams will compete this Saturday in University of Minnesota’s Head of the Mississippi Regatta competition. The five kilometer race is on the Mississippi River from the Lake Street Bridge to River Flats. The event includes college teams such as St. Thomas and St. John’s and several local rowing clubs. Races begin at the Lake Street Bridge, with the novices at 10:30 a.m., followed by experienced rowers at 12:30 p.m.

This race is the most important event of the season for the Macalester teams. While many of the experienced rowers have already competed in a 18-mile race in Duluth, Saturday’s regatta will be the first for the team’s novices.

“We have a lot of young guys we’re trying to work in,” said Jake Odland ’05, president of the Macalester Crew club.

The men’s team, captained by Ken Cozine ’04, has been hit hard by the traditional Macalester athletics-killer: academics.

“A lot of experienced rowers are not rowing this semester,” Odland said.

Despite these losses, Macalester posted a solid showing in Duluth. “It’s really more of a fun race,” Odland said. “Everyone rowed well and everyone finished.”

The women’s team, led by captains Gillian Lavik ’04 and Jenny Sumner ’04, looks stronger than it has been in years. “They’re getting to be a lot more competitive than they’ve been in the past,” Odland said.

School policy has also held back the crew teams. They are not allowed to trailer their own boats, so they must join up with other schools such as St. Thomas in order to travel to regattas. “We really don’t have as much freedom as we need,” Odland said.

After their weekend race, the next scheduled regatta for the Macalester teams will be in Iowa over Fall Break.