FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Imagine a competition where you can't really measure your progress until the very end when there is no chance for redemption. Imagine competing against an opponent that you cannot measure. Imagine no game clock or scoreboard.

That's what the Fairfield University varsity 4 faced when it approached the start of the Club 4 at the Head of the Charles last Saturday. The Head of the Charles is a head race where individual boats start one at a time and don't know how they finished until all entries have completed the course and times are posted. Results may not be known for some time when you have more than 20 boats competing in the event.

"The race really doesn't develop as a game would in soccer or basketball," Michael Hamilton said. "Due to the nature of head races, we don't really have any idea how well the other boats are doing until we check the results afterwards. You will pass boats that were started before you and that really helps boost your confidence and mental strength.  But even with that, you still have no idea how well you are doing in terms of everyone."

Well, the crew of Brady Stergion, John Godwin, Ryan Borsy, Hamilton, and coxswain Thomas Flynn did quite well at the Head of the Charles, earning the bronze medal in one of the most competitive rowing events not only in the region but in the nation. The group completed the course in 16:52.01, just a few seconds off the silver medal time of 16:49.15 set by Riverside A.

Flynn served as the coxswain during the race and did all he could to keep his teammates on pace and motivated while steering the boat through some precarious situations.

"Our boat came out fast and then relaxed into a sustainable pace," Flynn said. "Around 1,000 meters into the race, we began to quickly approach about three of four other boats who had started before us. As we closed in on those boats, we bumped up our rate several rates. Due to the adrenaline rushing through our bodies, we were able to hold an incredibly quick pace for the next 1,000 meters. Once we got through the back end of the race, we had to make some tight turns around bridges, pass several other boats and continue to push ourselves to finish the piece at a fast pace. This was most definitely the most exciting and important race that any of us had ever competed in which made our third-place finish that much sweeter."

With some traffic in front and on each side, the Stags needed some communication to keep themselves from veering into the paths of other boats which could certainly impede a team that is trying to navigate without losing strokes or time.

"At one point, one boat was on our left and another on our right and we were threading the needle between them," Stergion said. "We were passing both at the same time and I remember my oar getting within one foot of the bow of the Union boat club crew on our port side. Jake was sitting behind me and told me to bring it up so we could get by those crews quicker. I hiked it up and we got ahead."

Winning a bronze medal in any competition is so meaningful but this one was even more so because of the prestige of the Head of the Charles.

"For rowers, Head of the Charles is the race of the fall season," Borsy said. "It's like the World Series of fall racing. Every rower wants to compete there and the course has a reputation for being the most difficult to steer and earn a medal. Our training for this race doesn't stray too much from other fall races. However, we do spend a lot more time practicing turns because of how sharp they are on the race course."

These student-athletes did not just start training for the Head of the Charles over the last few weeks. This performance was predicated on the work ethic that has been with each individual throughout their time with the rowing program.

"The rowers who not only train hard during practice but also train during the summer, winter and complete second workouts are the ones who see the most promising results," Flynn said. "Each of the members of this Charles lineup have been rowing for at least six or seven years, maybe even longer, so this success was most definitely not the result of only a few weeks of hard work."

With success comes expectation and this quintet certainly understand that. But more importantly, they are ready to carry turn those expectations into results on the water.

"This really helps the program gain footing in the world of rowing," Hamilton said. "Having boats place well at the Charles will bring a lot more attention to your collegiate program in terms of recruiting and general attention. It's funny to say but we are basically thinking to ourselves that we have a reputation we need to uphold now and that will definitely motivate us for future success."

The future includes two more Fall events before the Spring season comes in March. With this result in their collective back pocket, the team hopes to carry that momentum into their future.

"We use this success to motivate us for our spring races and throughout our winter training while aiming toward Dad Vails podium in May," Stergion said. "When the winter training grind gets rough, I will remember how euphoric it felt to place at the Charles."

The impact of this success should also be felt beyond this 2022-23 season as this crew hopes that it will inspire current and future Stag rowers to reach for their own success.

"I think everyone on our team understands what this result means," Borsy said. "Everyone knows this creates a new standard and mindset. Success is contagious. It opens our team to the belief that we can do it. Our years of talk are over. Our time of execution has arrived. This Charles medal only makes our team better. It will push us into a different league of competition and we're ready for it."

A readiness that is spurred by preparation and a little imagination.