CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Bates men's varsity four turned in the best performance in program history in the Collegiate Fours and the first varsity eight took 11th in the Collegiate Eights race Sunday at the 57th Head of the Charles Regatta.

Led by sophomore coxswain Isabel Beck (Montclair, N.J.), the varsity four navigated the serpentine 4,800-meter course on the Charles River in 16:33.151, good for fifth out of 39 crews. The previous best showing for the men's rowing team in the Collegiate Fours race was a 10th place finish in 2010. Notre Dame won the Collegiate Fours race on Sunday in 16:12.784. 

"The lads did a fantastic job," Men's Assistant Rowing Coach & Recruiting Coordinator Cian Noone said. "They're a young crew competing in a tough field and they managed to move up 10 places to make a top-5 finish. We're very proud of them and excited for what the team will achieve in the spring."

The first varsity eight also impressed on Sunday, with senior coxswain Aidan Braithwaite (Milton, Mass.) leading his crew to 11th place out of 41 boats in the Collegiate Eights race, crossing the finish line in 14:54.842. Drexel University won the race in 14:20.496. The Bobcats finished just ahead of traditional power the University of Michigan, with the Wolverines taking 12th in 14:55.614.

Bates MV8 lineup: Bow: Benjamin MacDonald; 2: George Fauver; 3: Timothy Bates; 4: Isaac Levinger; 5: Luke Desmaison; 6: William Siebert; 7: Charlie Berman; Stroke: Sean Christiansen; c: Aidan Braithwaite

Bates MV4 lineup: Bow: Oliver Firmenich; 2: Benjamin Auerbach; 3: Charles Renvyle; 4: Fletcher Libre; c: Isabel Beck