Pioneer Navy goes 0-2 against Purdue at 52nd annual Challenge Cup
Purdue captures cup for first time in six years

March 24, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — For the first time in six seasons, the Marietta College men's rowing team will not be able to showcase the Challenge Cup in the Lindamood / Van Voorhis Boathouse, as rival Purdue reclaimed the title at the 52nd annual Marietta/Purdue Challenge Cup Saturday (March 24) afternoon at Eagle Creek Park, the site of the 1994 World Championships.

There was question early in the morning whether or not racing would even take place as heavy rains had sent debris flowing down stream. Eventually, the decision was made to go ahead with the competition, but the delay may have affected the Pioneers' mind set, as they appeared unfocused on the water, resulting in losses for both the Varsity and Junior Varsity Eights.

"We just didn't look up for racing today," said Head Coach Chris Pucella. "It was a tough week of practice following last weekend's episode. With a shifted lineup in an unfamiliar shell, we were not able to produce the results that we were hoping for today. In addition, Purdue had a strong team and rowed great races. We give them credit for taking it to us this season."

Marietta's Varsity Eight, which was making its season debut after an accident prevented it from competing at last weekend's Governor's Cup in Florida, featured sophomore Austin McIntire (Parkersburg, W. Va./South) at bow, senior Jon Carlon (Winter Park, Fla.) in seat two, senior Chase Graham (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) in seat three, sophomore Mitch Paskawych (Marietta) in seat four, sophomore Andrew Norris (Dublin/Dublin Scioto) in seat five, senior Mike Ross (Fairport, N.Y.) in seat six, senior Eric Dowler (Washington, W.Va./Parkersburg South) in seat seven, senior Chuck Geyer (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) at stroke and sophomore Lydia Easterling (Tallmadge) at coxswain. McIntire was rowing in place of senior Zach Stimart (McLean, Va.), who is still recovering from injuries suffered in the accident. The shell finished the 2,000m race, which had a floating start, in a time of 6:04.9. Purdue was four seconds ahead in 5:59.4 to win the featured race.

Marietta's Junior Varsity Eight included freshman Mike Cress (Ventnor, N.J./Holy Spirit) at bow, sophomore Craig Ripski (Claymont, DE/Concord) in seat two, freshman Steven Little (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet) in seat three, freshman Matt Wilson (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) in seat four, freshman Kevin Wessler (Port Republic, N.J./Holy Spirit) in seat five, freshman John Porter (Potomac, Md./Walk Whitman) in seat six, freshman Mike Flanagan (Absecan, N.J./Holy Spirit) in seat seven, freshman Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) at stroke and freshman Rita McCoy (Lansdowne, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast) at coxswain. The boat finished its race, which featured a Purdue Junior Varsity Eight and Freshman Eight shell, in 6:07.4, narrowly behind the Boilermakers' JV Eight boat, which crossed the line in 6:06.0.

"Hopefully, we will be able to turn things around during the next week as the team prepares for Saturday's Marietta Invitational," said Pucella.

Saturday's (March 31) afternoon's Marietta Invite is expected to draw six men's and four women's teams to the Muskingum River. It will be the 12th time that the Pioneers have hosted the event, which was not held in 2006.