Husky Power

Michael Callahan and the University of Washington

WORDS SEB BENZECRY

PHOTOGRAPHY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

It was all to be decided on Lake Mercer. The faintest hint of a crosswind played delicately on the water as the sun watched, suffocated by a white sky. Six boats sat out on the water, dwarfed not only by the setting but by the magnitude of the challenge ahead of them. They readied their oars, whispering time-worn murmurs of encouragement. As the starter blared out the names of the competing Universities, the contrast between the dispassion of the announcer and the gravity of the event was at once evident. Attention. A sharp intake of breath; silence from the coxswains. It was all to be decided on Lake Mercer.

No crew in the history of the IRA regatta has won the Varsity Eight title, the premier event of the regatta, five times in a row. This is perhaps testament to the intensely competitive nature of the collegiate rowing system – it’s rare to see one University show total domination for more than a couple of years at a time.

This is, however exactly the feat that the University of Washington’s Crew – the ‘Huskies’ – set out to achieve at the start of this year. The nickname conjures images of ferocity, intensity and → deep loyalty – the strength of the pack. It is perhaps these qualities that have allowed the Huskies to become the force they are today; IRA champions four consecutive times since 2011, Pac-12 champions five consecutive times, and holders of various team cups at regattas across the country. Chasing a fifth consecutive IRA title requires incredible strength in depth, a facet of quality that the Huskies possess in abundance.