THE SPORT OF ROWING from all the rest: Altekruse and Bouscaren, bow-pair in the 1983 U.S. Quad, both among the top eight single scullers at the Trials, both perceived as members of Harry’s inner circle. Altekruse: “We spent a month getting selected [actually Tuesday, May 15 to Sunday, May 27]. We did two or three weeks of almost pure doubles 2,000-meter races. Joe and I beat every combination, including Enquist and Lewis, over those weeks.”7275 Enquist: “Brad’s head was still screwed up from the Singles Trials, and I had pulled some sort of muscle in my forearm [gestures] and felt I could barely hold on to my oar in the last few hundred meters of each piece. “Tiff and I were paired together on Sunday afternoon, May 20. Over two six minute pieces, we lost to Charlie and Joe by about one seat in each piece after giving away open water in the first two minutes. “Brad and I were paired together on Monday morning, May 21. We lost to Charlie and Joe by about a length in the first six minute piece after giving open water to them in the first minute. We lost the second piece by about half a length after giving up open water in the first minute again. Harry stopped the second piece at four minutes for an unknown reason, but we were moving back strongly. That told me that we wouldn’t have to get a lot faster and we’d beat those guys.”7276 Lewis: “Paul and I started slowly in each of the two races. We struggled to within striking range of Charlie and Joe at the finish, gaining on them with each stroke, climbing up their stern, hauling them down, but each time we finished a half-boat behind. “‘A loss is a loss,’ Charlie reminded us as we paddled back to the boathouse.”7277 Enquist: “Sunday morning, May 27, Sean and Ridgley did beat Joe and Charlie. Joe and Charlie were named the double later that day.”7278 Colgan: “Charlie and Joe did lose one day. ’Happy’7279 stuck me with Ridgely Johnson, and we won. Harry would not let us continue. He wanted me in the quad to stabilize the crew, like I had done with his eight in 1980. I did not like the decision, but that is the system. I was enjoying myself. It was always fun to watch all the Harvard and Yale guys constantly trying to outthink a simple system. If they had spent less time on mind games and more time just racing, they might have done better.”7280 The atmosphere continued to be extremely stressful for many during the entire Camp. Biglow: “I had two really hard decisions that followed winning the Singles Trials. One was that if I accepted the single position at the end of the Trials, then I couldn’t row the double with Paul . . . and we were the fastest double. “The next decision came after I went up to Hanover to start training in the single at Harry’s Sculling Camp. Harry approached me and said, ‘How about if Brad rows the single because he’s really hard to coach? Would you be willing to row in the double?’ “Joe and Charlie had quickly become the fastest double in the Camp, and for them it was obvious that I was crossing the line by even considering Harry’s suggestion. It was very tense for a while. “Helping me decide was getting on the phone with Charlie McIntyre and Frank 7277 Lewis, op. cit., p. 55 7278 Enquist, op. cit., 2010 7279 “Happy Harry,” a nickname for Harry Parker 7275 Altekruse, op. cit. 7276 Enquist, op. cit., 2008 and 2010 used by some (non-Harvard) rowers. 7280 Colgan, op. cit. 2028
