Program Notes


Bates Rowing provides an environment in which teamwork thrives and student-athletes dedicate themselves to one of the most rigorous and rewarding sports on campus.  Bates College has taken great strides to support the belief that academic and athletic excellence must coexist as part of a quality liberal-arts education.

The rowing program reflects this notion, by offering dedicated student-athletes an opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognized NCAA Division III varsity program, while receiving a first-rate education.  Bates rowers take athletic competition seriously and pursue it with the same uncompromising energy that they approach their academic and career goals.  The team's dedication to this high standard of performance is the foundation for the continued success of the program.  Our students are excited by the challenges of rowing, thrive on the camaraderie of the team, and desire to compete at the sport’s highest collegiate level.

The Program

At Bates, rowing spans a 19-week season, divided into a seven-week fall segment and a 12-week spring segment.  The team practices on a protected and picturesque stretch of the Androscoggin River, minutes from campus and amidst undisturbed Maine beauty. 

The boathouse, constructed in 1988, provides access to 10 miles of water shared only with the occasional fishermen and wildlife. 

The fall season involves competition at various head-style races such as the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta, while the spring is characterized by sprint racing. Traditionally, Bates has emphasized the New England Rowing Championships (NERC) and qualifying for the ECAC National Invitational Championship. With the advent of a NCAA Division III Women’s Rowing Championship in 2002, the women’s focus has shifted to include this ultimate collegiate championship.  Bates competes throughout New England against some of the best Division III teams in the country, including Williams, Trinity, Tufts, Smith, Colby, WPI, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

The 2007 Fall Season

The Bates College men's and women's rowing teams had an excellent fall 2007 season, with great training and terrific racing success.  The fall marked the return of head coach Andrew Carter, after a year-long leave in New Zealand, as well as the addition of a fresh group of first-years to add to an already solid upper-year roster.

The Bates women's First Varsity Eight gets ready  prior to their victory at the Quinsigamond Snake. (Photo by James Martin)
After four weeks of skills-based preparation, both squads opened at the newly minted Quinsigamond Snake Regatta with first-place performances on both the men's and women's sides.  The "Snake", a new collegiate-only regatta, drew teams from some of New England's finest rowing programs, including five of the NESCAC schools.

With all women's eights running in the same event, the three Bates entries finished first, third and 16th in a 21-boat field that included multiple crews from Colby, Tufts, Connecticut College, Holy Cross, WPI, Clark, and Assumption.  Not to be outdone, the Bates First Varsity Men won the Men's Eights event over runner-up WPI.  Meanwhile the Bobcat Second Varsity finished sixth and the Novice placed 13th overall in a 20-boat field that included multiple crews from Colby, Tufts, Boston College, Holy Cross, Williams, USMMA, and Clark.

The Bates men's First Varsity Eight. (Photo by James Martin)
Three crews represented Bates at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston this fall, with best-ever team results.  The women's squad had two entries selected into the Collegiate Eights division and the results were both terrific and encouraging.  With the "Charles" being the only opportunity to race directly with the nation's best before the all-important spring season, 5th and 13th place overall finishes (3rd and 9th among DIII and 4th and 10th among US crews) for 1V and 2V women was a clear message that the Bobcats are on the hunt.  The men followed in their Collegiate division with a 9th place overall finish (5th among DIII and 7th among US crews).  Another great statement of future intent by the garnet!

The fall season closed with the annual CBB Chase at Colby College.  While the weather was terrible, the racing was terrific for Bates.  The three races contested were swept by the Bobcat crews.  The men's division was won by the 1V, with the 2V finishing third and the Novice 6th overall.  The women's varsity race saw both Bates crews defeat all comers with the top crews from Bowdoin and Colby chasing garnet over the 2.5-mile course.  Finally, the Novice Women's race was won by Bates to cap the season.