Rowing sends three boats to Head of the Charles
Skidmore College Rowing participated in the Head of the Charles for the first time since 2016. Three Thoroughbred boats hit the water Oct. 22 and 23 — a testament to the program’s growing strength and momentum. Coach Manny Valentin also raced individually as part of an effort to help amplify the voices of BIPOC athletes in the sport.
The Charles is rich in tradition and has become a showcase of top rowing teams and programs. While this isn’t Skidmore’s first appearance, it is an affirming one: Despite a relatively young crew, the strength of the program and the talents of the rowers have placed the Thoroughbreds solidly in the pack of teams to watch.
“It’s a goal that I never expected that I would never be able to reach,” said co-captain Maddie Aho ’25. “I think the team feels that way too. Having this opportunity is incredible and almost surprising if we look at where we were last year and just how far we’ve come.”
A women's eight practices on Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs ahead of their trip to compete in the Head of the Charles
“We’re a lot faster than we used to be,” said co-captain Molly Sullivan ’25. “The Charles will be a good place to show the world that Skidmore Rowing is coming.”
“We’re super excited to make a name for ourselves at this regatta,” added Margaret Brown ’23.
In addition to guiding the team through the weekend, Coach Valentin is also captain of a Mixed 8+ boat of BIPOC athletes sponsored by “Rowing in Color,” a podcast that amplifies voices of color in rowing.
“My rowing career has had its challenges, and many of them stem from it being a predominately white sport,” said Valentin, who identifies as American with Puerto Rican lineage. “Rowing at the Charles is an opportunity to amplify voices like mine. My kids and team will be watching, and it’s important to me that they see that race won’t prohibit them from achieving their goals.”
“Twenty years ago, we didn’t have a ‘Rowing in Color’ boat and hopefully 20 years from now, we don’t have a ‘Rowing in Color’ boat. Rather, we’re just in the sport the same way other athletes are.”
Skidmore College Head Rowing Coach Emanuel Valentin photographed by Stan Hudy for The Daily Gazette
Valentin’s inclusive leadership and transparency about his own challenges set the tone for the team’s supportive culture.
“Coach sets some lofty goals for us, but we keep achieving them, and it’s possible because we’re all supporting each other,” Brown said.
“I feel like we are all really close knit,” added Aho. “The girls on my boat are some of my best friends.”
Sullivan concurred: “We encourage each other instead of competing against each other for boat seats. It’s about helping one another have a positive experience.”
A men's eight practices on Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs ahead of the team's trip to compete in the Head of the Charles
Before the weekend, getting to the Charles was a big goal for the team. What's next?
“Our next goal is winning a national championship. Are we going to do it this year? Not likely. But it’s like pulling up Google Maps: First, you put in the destination and then you see the route to take. The goal dictates where we’ll go together.”
“Coach Manny always tells us, ‘It’s not a matter of if we are going to win, it’s when we are going to win, and being in the race is the first step,” said John Sandberg ’25.
Skidmore had two women’s eights competing — one in the Women’s Club Eights on Saturday, Oct. 22 and one in the Women’s Collegiate Eights on Sunday, Oct. 23. A men’s eight competed in the Men’s Collegiate Eights on Sunday, and Coach Valentin’s Rowing in Color boat was in the Director’s Challenge on Sunday. A recording is available online.
To learn more about the men’s and women’s rowing teams, visit Skidmore Athletics.
