CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – After weeks of preparation and training, it is finally time to race! The Cal men's rowing team officially begins its fall campaign this weekend, sending two boats to the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. Both Golden Bear boats will be racing on Sunday, with the championship four slated to race at 1:27 p.m. ET/ 10:27 a.m. PT and the championship eight at 1:55 p.m. PT/10:55 a.m. PT.

More information on the regatta, as well as live results and a webcast can be found at http://www.hocr.org/.

"The entire squad is off to a good start with training and the energy of the group is really positive," said Cal head coach Scott Frandsen. "The guys are excited to race in Boston but the focus is squarely on the spring season and building towards those races. The Charles will be a good indication of where we are at right now and serve as motivation to build off of over the next few months."

The Head of the Charles also marks the first official competition for the Bears under Frandsen, who replaced Mike Teti as head coach following the 2018 IRA National Championship Regatta. A 2002 Cal graduate and member of the Bears' coaching staff since 2012, Frandsen helped coach the Bears to a record-setting performance at Head of the Charles last fall. Cal's championship eight won the three-mile race and set a new course record in the process, while the championship four was also the top collegiate finisher in its event.

Six members of last year's eight will be racing for the Bears on Sunday in Boston: coxswain John Amorosana, Jack Gosden-Kaye, Maarten Hurkmans, Ferdinand Querfeld, Christoph Seifriedsberger, and Joachim Sutton. George Finlayson, Hunter Hodges, and Elliot Rogers will be joining them in the eight, while Will Creedon, Ethan McCoach, Cameron Smith, Jonathan Smith, and coxswain Brett Cataldo will represent the Bears in the championship four.

While Sunday's race marks the beginning of fall competition, the Bears have already been hard at work, both on the water and in the classroom. Earlier this fall, the Cal men's rowing team was presented with the Newmark Award, presented annually to the Cal Athletic programs with the highest cumulative grade point average in their respective categories over the last year. Men's rowing was the recipient in the men's large team category, with a team GPA of 3.119 during the 2017-18 school year.

"I am really proud of the team for continuing our strong academic performance," said Frandsen. "Winning the award for highest GPA for a large men's team is great recognition that the guys are serious about their work on the water and in the classroom and are excelling at both."

For results and more information on the Bears throughout the season, follow the team on Twitter (@CalMRowing), Instagram (@CalMRowing), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalMRowing).