WORCESTER, Mass. – Wellesley College crew opened the 2015-2016 season in a big way on Saturday, taking first place at the Snake Regatta on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

The Blue's first varsity eight (V8) cruised to the winning time of 15:33.994, topping second place Bates by a margin of 11.56 seconds, to finish first out of the 27 competing varsity boats. Bates first varsity recorded a time of 15:45.555, while Division I Holy Cross finished in third at 15:58.808.

Wellesley's second varsity eight (2V8) also finished in the top-10, taking ninth to finish second among 2V8 entries in the varsity race with a time of 16:42.135. The Blue trailed only the Bates 2V8, as the Bobcats took fourth with a time of 16:10.090.

The Wellesley third varsity eight (3V8) recorded the best time of any 3V8 boat in the field, taking 11^th place overall and first among third varsity competitors. The Blue and the Bobcats continued to dual at 3V8 level, as Bates finished in second among 3V8 entries, 12^th overall, with a time of 17:04.580.

Blue Crew's success continued in the Novice Eight race, as Wellesley top novice boat earned second place with a time of 18:00.810. WPI took first with a time of 17:25.113. Wellesley's second novice eight finished in seventh in 20:10.907. 

The Wellesley varsity eight and second varsity eight return on Sunday, October 18, at the 51^st Annual Head Of The Charles Regatta on the Charles River in Boston. The women's collegiate eight is scheduled for 3:20 PM. The Wellesley V8 will be bow number 3 and the 2V8 will be bow number 22 in the event. 

Lineups:

V8: c- Alessandra Zaldivar-Giuffredi 8- Emilia Ball 7- Katie Livingston 6- Kathryn Barth 5- Lauren Bazley 4- Meg Roberts 3- Olivia Thayer 2- Jocelyn Reahl 1- Anna Hakes

2V8: c- Stephanie Kim 8- Alexandra Rondeau 7- Margaret Babikian 6- Sahar Ibrahim 5- Molly Hoyer  4- Grace Howland 3- Sloane Rice 2- Olivia Duggan 1- Sally Ruderman

3V8: c- Ginger Simms 8- Nina McKee 7- Emily Ahn 6- Kelsey Campbell 5- Alexi Block-Gorman 4- Aggie Rieger  3- Charlotte Weiss 2- Liz Shumway 1-Alexis Lowe

N8: c- Alex Klufas 8- Julia Wainwright 7- Chloey Garza 6- Mia Caglieris 5- Anna Gaskill 4- Sianna Casey 3- Sarah Smith-Tripp 2- Michaela Rhile 1- Becky Rudolph

2N8: c- Molly Quan 8- Alexandra Beem 7- Chelsey Opalenik 6- Isabella McDonald 5- Rachel Kim  4- Noa Weinstein 3- Sophia Eakins 2- Clare Auld-Brokish 1- Alyssa Rivera