The Massachusetts rowing team dealt with heavy rainfall and strong winds on Saturday at the Foot of the Charles Regatta. Three Minutewomen returned from Princeton, N.J. after trying to make the U.S. National Team, something UMass coach Jim Dietz feels is a true measure of the program.

The Massachusetts rowing team isn't going to feature the best rowers, but coach Jim Dietz is still expecting his team to be competitive as the season comes to a close. Three Minutewomen will skip the race to participate in an identification camp in Princeton, N.J.

Sending its novice players to compete, the Massachusetts rowing team finished third overall over the weekend at the Green Monster Regatta.

UMass’ novice boats will take part in the Dartmouth Head Regatta on Saturday, with hopes of gaining more experience for the Foot of the Charles race next week.

The Minutewomen, under coach Jim Dietz, had another strong showing as they took home the top four places in the singles races, first place in the Lightweight 4 and third place in the Varsity 8 races at the Head of Fish Regatta.

A week after competing against the world’s best rowers in steady snowfall, the Massachusetts rowing team feels ready to face the rain forecasted for this weekend as it travels to Saratoga, N.Y., for the Head of the Fish race.

The weather may not have been the most welcoming but the Massachusetts rowing team gained plenty of experience this past weekend in their most acclaimed race of the year, the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta. Rather than facing the wind as their usual obstacle, the Minutewomen rowed through a mixture of rain and snow on Saturday and Sunday.

This weekend, the University of Massachusetts crew team travels 90 miles east on the Massachusetts Turnpike to take part in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, which is the most important race the Minutewomen will compete in this year.

The UMass crew team will open its 2009 season this weekend at the Head of the Housatonic in Ct. before heading to Boston for the Head of the Charles on Oct. 17.