Homecoming weekend memorable for Pioneer Navy

Written by Christopher Pucella and John Haumesser
Oct. 23, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – The past met the present and the future at the Lindamood-VanVoorhis Boathouse as Marietta College Crew welcomed their alumni back as part of the annual Homecoming weekend (Oct. 21-23).

It was a special event, as the former MC rowers had the opportunity to come home to rekindle old friendships and relive some of their days of glory as members of Marietta Crew. The current members of the team were given the chance to meet and talk to some of the faces that line the walls of the Vails Room, and get a sense of their own place in the proud tradition of the program.

Saturday morning, while members of this year’s varsity program strolled in, the freshmen and alumni prepared for their annual showdown on the Muskingum River. This was the first test for the Marietta College freshmen, as most of the team had never touched an oar up until a few weeks ago. The Alumni crew had a decisive advantage with experience, and was well represented with several members of the class of ’85. The crews launched after the Freshmen were told to bring the Alumni’s boat and blades down to the dock, and then headed up the river towards the Washington St. Bridge. After the warm-up row to the start, the crews turned themselves around and lined up for the run down to the finish line.

From the start, the Alumni and Freshmen battled it out down the course, as the Alumni 8 rowed a smooth and powerful race. However, the Men’s Freshmen crew caught the upper hand in the final stages of the race, crossing the finish line just ahead of the Alumni. However, upon returning to the docks, it was discovered that the Men’s Freshman Crew had raced with a non-frosh in the 2 seat, but instead a novice senior and the crew was officially disqualified. This awarded the championship title to the Alumni to keep for another year. 

Among the alum that joined us for the race (please excuse me if I forget anyone) were Jim “Fuzzy” Zeller, Tim Bennett, Dick Ford, Matt Hoffer, Mark Patterson, Kurt Brown, Rick Flanagan, David Schultz, Jack Hartnell, Norm Lindamood, Ken Cook, and Art Jankulow.

Once the racing was complete and the competitors were given several hours to “recover”, the Pioneer Navy Alumni met at the Lafayette Hotel for an evening of conversation and refreshments with old teammates and the present coaching staff of Marietta Crew.

Sunday morning was all business however for the Marietta College Varsity and Freshmen teams as they prepared to race in the Head of the Muskingum Regatta against Duquesne University and Ohio University. The Men’s Varsity and Freshmen were dominant, winning their events by large margins, with the Marietta Freshmen even putting up a faster time than the Ohio University Varsity.

It was certainly a tremendous weekend for all involved, as MC Crew’s extended family came together for two days of fun and tradition. The present athletes and coaching staff of Marietta Crew would like to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to the Alumni for all of their generous support that makes this program possible and affords today’s athletes the ability to write their own chapter and carry on the proud history of Marietta Crew.
 
The boat line-ups were as follows:
 
Men’s V8+ 1st place - cox, Devin Ohman, Matt Henwood, Evan Tsourtsoulas, Mike Ross, Karl Bierman, Devin Whitney, Chase Graham, Chuck Geyer, and bow, Zach Stimart
 
Men’s V4+ 1st Place – cox, Devin Ohman, Karl Bierman, Mike Ross, Brent Keuch, and bow, Devin Whitney
                        2nd Place – cox, Tim Rinehart, Jon Carlon, Eric Dowler, Tom Gray, and bow, Dave Himes
 
Men’s 2- 1st Place – stroke Matt Henwwood, bow Evan Tsourtsoulas
            2nd Place – stroke Chuck Geyer, bow Chase Graham 
 
Men’s F/N 8+ 1st Place – cox, Lydia Easterling, Mitch Paskawych, Brian Casto, Andrew Norris, Austin McIntire, Craig Ripski, Mark Hirschfeld, Braden Sanner, and bow Jon Waldman