MC enjoys day on the Schuylkill River

Oct. 30, 2004
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Marietta College men's rowing program took on the nation's best for the second straight week, this time at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta Saturday (Oct. 30).

The Pioneers, under the direction of Head Coach John Bancheri, entered six boats in five races in the event, which is the largest one-day regatta in the world.

The Thomas Eakins Head of the Schuylkill Regatta is rowed over a 2.5 mile course on the Schuylkill River. The regatta attracts rowers from all over North America and has become one of the premier fall regattas in the nation, regarded by rowers as the climax of their fall racing season. The course twists and bends its way through some of America’s most beautiful and historic parkland during the peak of the fall foliage. The regatta is hosted by The University Barge Club, No. 7 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia.

Seth Meinzen and Matt Hoffer, both fifth year seniors, led off the regatta for Marietta with a fourth place finish in the Men's Pair w/out Cox-Final. They crossed the line in 16:01:48, just behind two Pennsylvania Athletic Club boats and a Vesper Boat Club boat.

The JV-Eight rowed in the Open Club Eights-Final, with the help of Meinzen and Hoofer, who filled in for Evan Tsourtoulas (Kastoria, Greece) and Mike Sullivan (Dayton/Oakwood High), who were unavailable to race. The guys finished a very fast third place (13:32:08).

"These guys looked as if they had rowed together for the past few weeks," said an impressed Bancheri.

The Open Fours w/ Cox shell captured fifth place in their race with a time of 15:14:16.

The Navy Blue & White had two boats in the Frosh/Novice Eights-Final. Guided by assistant coach Adam Thorstad, the A-boat had an outstanding race, finishing ninth (14:00:03), ahead of traditional Dad Vail medallists St. Joseph's. The B-boat placed 19th (15:03:08).

"The A-boat has a lot of scholastic experience and horsepower," said Bancheri. "Now, over time, when we are able to harness that power into a collective effort these guys are going to put the hammer down."

The Varsity Heavyweight Eight were the next to take the water for the Pioneers. They rowed hard against a fast field to a 15th place finish (13:28:37).

"The direction and intensity of this group has been totally askew this fall," stated Bancheri. "I do not feel we have reached our potential as a result of the surrounding circumstances. Once we refocus, our talent will shine through and the results will speak for themselves."

The Varsity Lightweight Eight closed out the Pioneers' competition on the water with MC's most impressive race of the day. They started two spots behind St. Joseph's and began to pass them in front of a packed Marietta College tent set-up by the MC men's crew parents. Coxswain Kristen Sukolsky (Melbourne Beach, FL/Melbourne) took the inside of the last turn at Girard Avenue and stroke Jon Carlon (Winter Park, FL) opened up the stroke rate for a sprint that reeled in the other earlier starting crews, resulting in a fourth place finish (13:23:42).

The squad will return to competition Saturday (Nov. 13) for the Fall Pairs Championships on the Muskingum River. The Lightweight Eight will return to Philadelphia for the Frostbite/Braxton Regatta that weekend.