Keen to tackle the big race before graduating, Ryan VanderLinden, Daniel Anderson and Tom Robertson have played a part in the decision for Damascus to put up its hand and compete in the Head of the Lake feature this year. 

And while victory in the open boys' division one event appears unlikely given the calibre of its rivals, the school's crew is being praised for its courage to take on the best.

"I think it really shows the level of spirit that we have within our club and it's a real nod to the boys and their journey, having started with the rowing program when it first started at the school (2014)," Damascus College head of rowing Sharon Waters said.

"We are fully aware that we are the dark horse and we've probably been written off, but we really do have our eyes set on what we're out there to achieve and all I can ask of the boys is to put in their best performance on the day that it counts."

VanderLinden, Anderson and Robertson are joined in the crew by bow Jake Currie and cox Ellie Hennig, who have another year of schooling to come. 

Waters took over coaching the crew in December last year and said there's more to this journey than winning the race on February 26.

"In an ideal world, I'd love the boys to be in the hunt of it and ideally a top three finish would be just unbelievable," she said.

"But realistically, I think where the boys are at, to finish respectfully and to cross that line knowing that they've rowed their best race is all I can ask of the boys and I'd be very proud of them if that's the key take-away."

VanderLinden, the boys' captain of boats, said it is exciting to be part of one of the regatta's big races.

“It will be the best feeling ever just rowing down in division one for us. I know the boys are all super keen for it," he said.

"Watching (other schools in past years) come down and listening to the cheer of the crowd, it's so awesome."

Damascus has drawn lane five for the race.

By simply racing in the open girls' division one event at the Head of the Lake Regatta, Damascus College's crew is making history.

But coach Simon O'Brien admits the five youngsters are daring to dream bigger than that.

"I've been talking to the girls over the last couple of weeks and it hasn't really hit them as far as they're creating history in that aspect of it - the fact that they are the first open senior crew for Damascus," O'Brien said.

"They have then sort of extended on that to start talk about 'what if we win as well'. It's pretty positive.

"I think the school have jumped on board rather well."

O'Brien, who has switched to Damascus from his role with St Patrick's College's top crew during the past couple of years, says Loreto is the school to beat after getting the wood over his girls in competitive battles throughout the season.

In the recent Wendouree Ballarat Regatta, Loreto clocked a time of 8:49.82min in the final, with Damascus finishing marginally slower in 8:51.11min.

O’Brien’s hoping there's something left in reserve for the big day.

"I think we are feeling nervously confident in the fact that we haven't peaked and we've geared it so we peak at the right time," he said.

"We are running well and we've definitely geared it for peaking in two weeks."

O’Brien said he hadn’t planned to coach a school crew this year, that was until Damascus came calling.

He said there’s a different method that applies to coaching girls as opposed to boys.

“I think the girls are more receptive to directions, where as the boys like to picture things mentally and give it a couple of experiments,” he said.

Damascus College's crew is made up of just one year 12 student - bow Ash Smith - with Phoenix Neil, Erin Gore, Millie Hockey and Maddie Lamb all in year 11.

The girls have drawn lane two for the race, with Loreto out wide in five.

Whatever happens on the waters of Lake Wendouree on February 26, you can be sure the Damascus College rowing program will only benefit from the experience.