Pioneer Navy heads to Philadelphia for Head of the Schuylkill Regatta

Oct. 27, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio – The 2005 fall racing season continues Saturday (Oct. 29) for the Marietta College men's rowing program, as it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., for the 36th annual Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, 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. It is 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.

Marietta plans to enter four boats — a Varsity Eight, Lightweight Four, Varsity Pair and Freshmen/Novice Eight — into the event.

Head coach Christopher Pucella expects all of the boats to compete for a medal.

"The men have been working hard all fall," said Pucella. "This is another opportunity to compare ourselves to some of the top crews in the nation and I like our chances Saturday."

The Pioneers will face a strong field of competition. The Varsity Eight, which has 24 entries, features the 2004 champion New York Athletic Club, as well as Temple, St. Joseph and RIT. A year ago, Marietta placed 14th in the Heavyweight Championship Eight race, a finish the are hoping to greatly improve upon.
 
The boat line-ups are slated to be as follows:
 
Men’s V8: cox Devin Ohman, Matt Henwood, Evan Tsourtsoulas, Mike Ross, Karl Bierman, Devin Whitney, Chase Graham, Chuck Geyer, and bow, Zach Stimart
 
Men’s V4: cox Tim Rinehart, Jon Carlon, Karl Bierman, Tom Gray and bow Eric Dowler
 
Men’s Pair: stroke Brent Keuch and bow Dave Himes 
 
Men’s F/N 8: cox Lydia Easterling, Mitch Paskawych, Brian Casto, Andrew Norris, Austin McIntire, Craig Ripski, Mark Hirschfeld, Braden Sanner and bow Jon Waldman