Lightweight Rowing Begins 2026 Spring Season Against Boston College

Saturday, March 21

Boston, MA

8 AM

Boston University

Boston College

Photo of a BU Lightweight Rowing eight practicing on the Charles River.

Photo by: Eliza Nuestro

Lightweight Rowing Begins 2026 Spring Season Against Boston College

March 20, 2026 | Women's Lightweight Rowing

Live Results Full Schedule Roster

BOSTON – The 14th spring varsity season for the Boston University lightweight rowing program starts on Saturday (March 21) on the Charles River as BU takes on Boston College's openweight crew. The first race is set for 8 a.m.

The Terriers boast seven total events on its spring slate before the 2026 IRA National Championship Regatta. In last year's IRA Championship, BU once again earned a team bronze medal while repeating its title in the Lightweight Double.

Boston College also ignites its spring schedule with the first of six events prior to the ACC Championships in mid-May. In addition to the Head of the Charles, the Eagles also competed in the Head of the Fish in the fall.

Live results are available on HereNow throughout all races on the Charles River on Saturday morning.

RACE SCHEDULE – MARCH 21

8 a.m. – Varsity 8
8:36 a.m. – Second Varsity 8
9:12 a.m. – Varsity 4

BU VS. BOSTON COLLEGE

The Terriers and Eagles meet annually in what is affectionately coined the Gummy Bear Bowl.
Both teams have competed each spring since 2021.
Last year, BU was victorious in the Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+ by over seven seconds and seven-tenths of a second, respectively.
Boston College's top two Varsity 4+ boats placed first and second ahead of the Terrier crew.

THE ROSTER

BU's spring roster features 32 student-athletes. This includes 23 returning letterwinners and nine newcomers.
Head coach Mary Foster is set for her third spring campaign at the helm while assistant coach Elizabeth Hughes is in her fifth year.
Among the returnees are seniors Kylie Lough and Catherine Clark, who won the Lightweight Double gold medal at the 2025 IRA Championship.
Eleven Terriers are back from the 2025 IRA crews, including five from the Terrier Lightweight 8+: seniors Caroline Burchette and Ela Ersan as well as juniors Hannah Clark, Maya Popper and Mia Seibert.
The roster breakdown includes eight seniors, 12 juniors, three sophomores and nine freshmen.

PRESEASON OUTLOOK

Ersan, entering her fourth season on the Terriers' top eight boat, was named a CRCA Athlete to Watch in February.
Newcomers Ava Kennedy and Harper Mettes were spotlighted in For Stars Network's Annual Watchlist for the preseason.
The first CRCA Coaches Poll will be released on March 23.

THE SCHEDULE

BU hosts two dual races against openweight crews in Boston College (March 21) and MIT (April 4) before its annual pilgrimage to the Knecht Cup (April 11-12).
The Beanpot between the Terriers, Harvard-Radcliffe and MIT is set for April 18.
On April 25, BU will compete at Stanford with other crews in Worcester, Mass. to face Rhode Island and Delaware.
The Eastern Sprints also take place at Lake Quinsigamond on May 3.
The 2026 IRA Championship moves across the country to Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. from May 30-31.

LOOKING AHEAD