Harvard Rowing Sweeps EARC Postseason Awards
CENTERVILLE, Mass. – The Harvard University crew program swept all four postseason awards for the 2011 Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) season, as announced by Eastern College Athletic Conference commissioner Rudy Keeling and ECAC director of rowing Gary Caldwell.
In balloting by his peers, Harry Parker was voted the EARC Heavyweight Coach of the Year while the Crimson easily outdistanced Wisconsin, 9-1, for the top heavyweight boat.
Parker, who is entering his 50th season at the helm, led Harvard to victories in the top three races as well as the Rowe Cup team competition. The Rowe Cup win was the Crimson's seventh in 10 years and 31st overall, scoring the highest total points in the varsity, second varsity and freshman races. It was only the ninth top-three heavyweight sweep by any school in the 65-year history of the Sprints. It was Harvard’s 27th Eastern Sprints title in school history.
The Harvard varsity eight was an overwhelming favorite in its event and defended that No. 1 seed to win handily over the field on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester. In the grand final, Harvard (5:40.38) defeated Princeton (5:42.37) and Wisconsin (5:42.5) by two seconds in a back-and-forth race.
On the lightweight side, Harvard coach Charley Butt edged Dan Roock of Dartmouth College and Yale University’s Andy Card for the EARC Lightweight Coach of the Year. Butt received three votes followed by Roock and Card with two and one, respectively.
In his 26th season, Butt directed the Crimson to its 25th EARC varsity and 27th second varsity crowns, both for the first time since 2005. The school also took home the Jope Cup team title for its second in three years, fourth in eight and 21st overall, scoring the most points in a scoring formula that takes into account results of the varsity, second varsity and freshman races.
Harvard’s lightweight varsity eight entered the 2011 EARC Sprints with a perfect record for the season straight season, including a win over Yale in its heat. Then in the grand final, the favored Crimson (5:45.35) came from behind to edge Dartmouth (5:46.84) and Yale (5:46.95) as well as defending champion Princeton.
All told, Harvard captured gold in both the heavy- and lightweight finals for the 13th time. The Crimson won six grand finals on the day, including five of the six divisions that count toward the team competitions. The winners were the heavyweight and lightweight varsity eights, heavyweight and lightweight second varsity eights, heavyweight freshman eight and heavyweight fourth varsity eight.
(Editor's Note: Photo used via permission of Harvard Athletic Communications)
