Waterville, Maine - The Colby College Men's and Women's Crew teams are headed off to Worcester, Mass. tomorrow to begin the 2024-25 campaign at the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta. This will mark the third straight year the Mules have kicked off the fall racing season at this historic location with competitive rowing dating back to 1857. 

Head Colby Crew Coach Stew Stokes, who led the 2003 women's crew program to a NCAA Championship title, enters his 25th season with the Mules. Just two weeks ago, the 2003 championship banner was raised to the rafters inside the main lobby of the Harold Alfond Atheltics and Recreation Center alongside the original shell that the team raced in now named Jean's Grace. With this noteworthy accomplishment backed behind this years Colby Crew teams they look to start this season off strong. 

"We are incredibly excited to get the fall racing season underway this weekend," stated Stokes. "The energy, focus and spirit from the teams has been exceptional through these first few weeks of the season. Both squads are deeper, fitter and faster than a year ago and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against the other teams."

Among the two rosters combined Colby Crew has added a total of 20 first-years while only losing five due to graduation last spring. This year the women's team will be led by three seniors; Ainsley Bonang, Isabel Grimes and Kirsten Ishii while the men are led by four; Charlie Anderson, Elliot Do, Evan Goggin and Alyssa West. 

Stokes is assisted by Abbey Moore-Kneipp and Tilghman Moyer who both enter their second season with the team after joining the program last year. 

All crews will launch out of the Donahue Rowing Center on Lake Quinsigamond Saturday with events starting at 8:30am and ending with the Men's Collegiate Eight scheduled for a 10:21am start time. For more information on the 4000m races, fans can check out the snake.qsra.org website as well as see the final results following the conclusion of Saturday's action.