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Men’s Rowing impresses at 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta

OSU Men's Rowing practices in Fall 2019 for their fall season. The team's spring season was cut short due to COVID-19. 
OSU Men’s Rowing practices in Fall 2019 for their fall season. The team’s spring season was cut short due to COVID-19. 
Courtesy of Oregon State Athletics

Oregon State University’s men’s rowing delivered a strong 10th-place performance at the 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta, competing against elite crews and showcasing their talent in one of the sport’s premier events.

The Head of the Charles Regatta, established in 1965, is the world’s largest two-day rowing event, drawing thousands of competitors and thousands of spectators.

Held on Boston’s Charles River, the challenging 4,800-meter course, with narrow bridges and fast turns, tests crews from across the globe, including collegiate, international, masters, and club teams. 

The regatta is not just about racing strong teams — but about building a legacy and resilience.

Isaac Beaman, a senior rower on the OSU men’s team, spoke on the depth of the program and how he felt about the race in Boston.

“I am surrounded by a great group of people who are consistently working to better themselves and the team here at Oregon State,” Beaman explains, “Being able to represent Oregon State as a Division I athlete is something I dreamed of as a kid.

The Beavers have been steadily gaining momentum in recent years, and this event gave them the opportunity to test themselves against elite competition. 

Teams from schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Washington were also in attendance to challenge the Beavers. 

The boat, led by senior coxswain Lidya Acar, along with senior Isaac Beaman, senior Miles Cochran, sophomore Jake Edelstein, and senior Jackson Mastorilli, took on the 3.1-mile course on Sunday. 

Being able to have a good coxswain like Lidya Acar set us up on a good line was extremely memorable, this led us to hunt down the FIU boat and forced them to yield over the last 1k of the race,” Beaman says, “This was a super memorable and high-intensity event.

These rowers represent some of the key contributors to the team: a strong component of OSU’s success lies in the development of walk-ons. 

Beaman, coming on as a walk-on his freshman year, responded to what being a part of the team has been like for him. 

“It means a great deal to me to be a part of this team. Rowing has amplified my life x100 after walking onto the team,” Beaman says.

Walk-ons play a crucial role, oftentimes bringing raw athleticism and strong work ethics, without any prior rowing experience. 

The development of these athletes enhances the team culture and demonstrates the adaptability and resilience that athletes have in rowing. 

The Beaver’s performance sets a positive tone for the remainder of their fall season and the upcoming spring championship races. 

“Our result is extremely positive, beating some fast teams like Cornell, Princeton, and BU (Boston University),” Beaman says, “We look forward to training through the fall and winter and competing with the intention of winning again in the spring.”

With several key races coming up, including the PAC-12 championships and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Nationals, the team is confident that their showing in Boston will be the momentum toward continued success. 

For now, the Beavers can celebrate a successful trip to Boston, knowing that their hard work is paying off and the best is only yet to come. 

OSU Men’s Crew Finish: 

  • Event: Men’s Collegiate Fours
  • Final Placement: 10th
  • Time: 16:28.63

Up next for OSU men’s rowing is the Portland Fall Classic in Vancouver, WA on Oct. 31. 

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