Marietta College rowers find summer success on the water
Pioneer Navy past and present represent programs well on national and international stages

Aug. 14, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — While most Marietta College senior student-athletes dispersed after graduation, Pioneer rowers Chuck Geyer '07and Chase Graham '07 remained on campus. Under the guidance of Head Coach Chris Pucella, the duo extended their training in order to compete in both the 2007 USRowing Club National Championships and the 125th Royal Canadian Henley. The regattas are two of the largest events in North America during the summer.

Geyer and Graham, champions of Marietta's 2006 House of Wines Pair Championship, first entered the Men's Intermediate 2- competition at the USRowing Club National Championships July 18-21 on the Copper River in Camden, N.J. The former Pioneers swept the event, winning its opening heat (7:03.80), semifinal (6:55.20) and final (6:48.72) to capture the gold medal.

The pair took that momentum into the Senior B Men's Pair event at the Royal Canadian Henley, which took place in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Aug. 7-12. Geyer and Graham overcame a third place finish in their opening heat (7:17.00) to win one of three semifinal heats (7:16.49) and make the six-boat final. In the final, the pair finished third behind the University of British Columbia Rowing Club and Camp Randall Juniors from Madison, Wis., respectively.

"Chuck and Chase should really be proud of their accomplishments this summer," said Pucella. "Despite being outsized across the board, they showed their talent and dedication by out-racing the larger crews."

Geyer and Graham were just two of a handful of past and present Pioneer rowers that competed at the marquee events this summer. Andrew Bolton '02 helped the United States of America win a silver medal in the Lightweight Men's 4 (LM4-) at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 19. As a result, Bolton and his three teammates qualified for the upcoming World Championships in Munich, Germany, which will take place Aug. 26-Sept. 2.

Joining Bolton in representing Marietta College at the World Championships will be Evan Tsourtsoulas '07, who will row for Greece in the BLM4- after winning gold at the Under 23 World Championships in Strathclyde, Scotland July 29. In addition, Luke Agnini '02 will give the Pioneer Navy a third representative at the World Championships; he will be coaching the USA's Men's Coxed Pair (M2+).

Zach Stimart '07 and Mitch Paskawych '09 also medaled at the USRowing Club National Championships. The duo, which competed in the Men's Intermediate Lightweight 2-, took the silver medal.

Mike Ross '07 helped the Vesper Boat Club win a medal at the USRowing National Championships. Ross rowed two seat for the gold medal winning Men's Senior 8+ shell. He will continue to train year round at Vesper with the goal of making the national team.

Matt Henwood '05 helped the Fairmount Rowing Association win a bronze medal in the Men's Senior 4x at the USRowing National Championships. He has now turned his attention to training at the lightweight level in hopes of securing a spot on a future national team.

A pair of incoming freshmen also made their mark on the junior rowing circuit this summer. Dan Bratton '11 won a gold medal in the Junior A 4x with the Crescent Boat Club at the USRowing Club National Championships. He also competed in the Intermediate 4x at the regatta, as well as in the Senior B Men Double at the Royal Canadian Henley. In addition, Michael Cute '11 rowed for the Fairmont Rowing Association and made the semifinals of the Junior A 4x. Cute also helped his club take fifth in the Junior Men's Quad at the Royal Canadian Henley.

Lindsay Letterle '06 and Kim Becker '08 gave the women's team representation at the USRowing Club National Championships as well this summer. Letterle competed in three events with the New York Athletic Club. She helped her club take third place in the Women's Senior 8+ and fourth place in both the Women's Intermediate 4x and Women's Intermediate 8+. She also rowed in three New York Athletic Club boats at the Royal Canadian Henley, winning the silver medal in the Women's Eight Dash and Senior Women's 8+ while taking fifth in the Senior Women's 4-.