Varsity Lightweight Eight wins Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta, takes second at Frostbite

Nov. 14, 2004
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Marietta College men's rowing team sent its Varsity Lightweight Eight to compete at the Frostbite & Braxton Regattas this weekend (Nov. 13-14) on the Schuylkill River. After finishing second in the Frostbite Saturday, then men regrouped to win the Braxton Sunday afternoon.

The Lightweight Eight faced Ithaca (NY) Sunday afternoon for the Bill Braxton Cup. After finishing second to Delaware last year, Marietta put together a great race in 2004, crossing the line in 4:34.15 to defeat Ithaca (4:45.33) and take home the trophy.

"The guys rowed an outstanding race," said assistant coach Adam Thorstad, who traveled with the lighweights this weekend. "This capped off a great fall season, and to have a Marietta boat win the race is special."

The last regatta on the Schuylkill of the fall season, the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta was founded by the Braxton family and friends to honor the memory of Bill Braxton, Jr., a popular and highly motivated lightweight rower attending Marietta College. In 1972, the Marietta lightweight 8+, in which Bill Braxton rowed bow seat, finished an impressive second in the Dad Vail Regatta. The following year, with Braxton rowing seven seat, the Marietta lightweight 8+ went undefeated during the season and won the Dad Vail. Bill, Jr., was killed later that summer in an auto accident.

The Braxton Regatta, originally sponsored by Crescent Boat Club, moved to the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club in the 1980s. The Braxton family and many of Bill Jr.'s friends remain involved in the regatta to this day.

Marietta's lightweight Eight sits from bow, Steve DiPardo (Lansdale, PA/LaSalle), Andy Coniglio (Chattanooga, TN/Chattanooga Christian), Dave Himes (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic), Anthony Monaco (Tampa, FL/Tampa Catholic), Pete Lorenz (Danville, CA/The Gunnery), Eric Dowler (Washington, WV/Parkersburg South), Zach Stimart (Tampa, FL/McLean), stroke Jon Carlon (Winter Park, FL) and coxswain Kristen Sukolsky (Melbourne Beach, FL).

The Pioneers (4:25.04) took second place behind Delaware (4:16.47) Saturday in the Frostbite Regatta. Lehigh took third place (4:41.39) in the event.