CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Cal men's rowing team served early notice that it will take its usual perch among the nation's elite programs in 2019-20 with a fifth-place showing in the Men's Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday.

Cal's varsity eight finished the three-mile course in a time of 13:45.085, which ranked second to only defending IRA national champion Yale among collegiate boats entered in the field.

The Head of the Charles was the Bears' first competition of the season, and their only varsity event of the fall.

"I think it was a really good performance for our first race," Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. "Knowing that it's only October and there is still a lot of work left to do, it's still a good first marker of the season for the guys. They can definitely build a lot of confidence around where they are at right now."

Cal's varsity eight Sunday featured three rowers who won the IRA national championship in the second varsity eight last season – senior Will Creedon, junior George Finlayson and sophomore Olav Molenaar. They were joined by two returners from last year's top boat – junior Ollie Maclean and Matthew  Mesman.  Senior Brett Vilk sat in the stroke seat while junior Jack Roberston was on the bow. Freshman Angus Dawson, who helped Australia capture the gold medal in the coxed four at the Under-23 World Championships over the summer, rounded out the boat.

"I think it serves as some validation for us," Frandsen said. "It builds guys' confidence around what we are doing. We still have a lot to work on, but I think everyone leaves this weekend feeling pretty encouraged."
The race featured 30 entries, including 23 college boats. The Bears finished ahead of two crews that placed higher than them at the 2019 IRA national championships – Harvard (7^th) and Washington (9^th).
"This lineup came together really well last week," Frandsen said. "They really gelled and performed well on the day of the race. It's a good result for October."

The Bears will send a freshman crew to next Sunday's Princeton Chase. Cal's next varsity competition isn't until the end of February.