Marietta duo preparing for 2005 IRA National Championships

May 31, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – Two members of this year’s Dad Vail bronze medal Varsity Eight boat will team up to race as a pair in the 2005 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, held June 2-4 in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Pioneer Navy seniors Chuck Gowdy (Atlantic City, NJ/Holy Spirit) and Rob Johnson (Margate, NJ/Atlantic City) will close out their collegiate racing careers at the event, which is raced on the Cooper River. The pair will be one of 18 shells competing for the title.

“Chuck and Rob have both had great careers here at Marietta College,” said head coach Jon Bancheri. “Both athletes have been mainstays in our varsity eight (Chuck 4 years and Rob 3 years) and have medaled for the past 4 years at the Dad Vail in the Heavyweight Eights. That is rare, and their contribution to the development of the program will be missed. Both Rob and Chuck have been integral parts of our success and it is fitting to see them row at the IRA National Championship one last time as out going seniors.”

Gowdy and Johnson earned the right to participate in the event because the Varsity Eight placed third at Dad Vails (May 14).

“I have high hopes for these guys,” added Bancheri. “They are our fastest pair at the college and I believe they can win a national championship.”

The Varsity Eight took home three titles in 2005, capturing first place at the Purdue Challenge Cup, MC Invite and MACRAs. Overall, the Varsity Eight, which included bow Kyle Fitzgerald, Matt Henwood, Karl Biermann, Evan Tsourtsoulas, Mark Dolson, Mike Ross, Johnson, stroke Gowdy and coxswain Devin Ohman, finished the spring with an overall record of 35-7.