Pioneer Navy starts well at Dad Vail Rowing Championship
Varsity 4+ places first and Freshmen/Novice 8+ takes second in opening heat

May 9, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Marietta College men’s rowing team had a solid start at the 2008 Dad Vail Rowing Championship, as both of its boats advanced through their heats on Friday (May 9) morning. The Pioneer Navy’s Varsity 4+ won its heat it dominating fashion, while the Freshmen/Novice 8+ shell took second in a close race.

The Varsity 4+, which featured junior stroke Mitch Paskawych (Marietta), sophomore Mike Flanagan (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit), sophomore Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla./Olympia), sophomore bow John Porter (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman) and sophomore coxswain Rita McCoy (Lansdowne, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast), cruised to a 10-second victory over the nearest competitor in its heat. Marietta finished the race in 6:51.125. Duquesne (7:01.600) was second and Delaware (7:03.943) took third. The Pioneers now advance to Saturday’s semifinal with the final to follow later in the day.

The Freshmen/Novice 8+, which included stroke Niklas Von Kuczkowski (Hanover, Germany/Culver Military Academy), Nathan Capers (Orlando, Fla./Edgewater), Devin Turley (Herdon, Va./Westfield), Zach McGurk (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O'Connell), William Charlton (New Vernon, N.J./Berkshire), Daniel Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), Daniel Mills (Fairport, N.Y.), bow Stephen Baranoski (Meriden, Conn./Xavier) and coxswain Thomas Dougherty (Lansdowne, Pa./Monsignor Bonner), went head-to-head with race favorite Delaware in its opening heat. Delaware crossed the line in 5:56.746 and was able to hold on for the two-second victory over the Pioneers, who finished second with a time of 5:58.551. Marietta advances to the semifinals on Saturday, which will once again pit it against Delaware. The finals will also be raced on Saturday afternoon.