Jake Zier, Orcas Island High School graduate and senior at the University of Washington, was four seat in the Husky Men’s Varsity crew that won the gold medal in the Men’s Championship 8+ at the Head of the Charles in Boston, Massachusetts on Oct. 23.

Head of the Charles is the largest regatta in the world, featuring over 11,000 participants and attracting the world’s best crews. The Men’s Championship Eight, a 3-mile race on the circuitous Charles River, is considered the premier race of the regatta. The race features the top collegiate crews and two select eights this year filled with Olympic rowers fresh from Rio; the ‘Great Eight’ filled with British gold medalists and Leander crew, a mix of international Rio medalists.

The UW crew, scantly mentioned as a threat in the Men’s Championship 8+, powered past both Olympic boats with ease and finished 12 seconds ahead second place finisher, the Cal Bears.