Marietta's Varsity and Freshmen/Novice crews advance to semifinals at Dad Vail Rowing Championship
Friday's racing changed to time trials because of weather conditions

May 8, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The 71st annual Dad Vail Rowing Championship got underway Friday (May 8) on the Schuylkill River. Due to weather conditions, officials switched all preliminary races to 1,500-meter time trials. Marietta, one of two schools to bring boats to all 71 races, entered three boats into the championship and advanced two of the three to the semifinals. The Pioneers competed in the Freshman/Novice 8+, the Junior Varsity 8+ and the Varsity 8+, where they are five-time champions. Marietta won the inaugural race in 1934 and had victories in 1963, 1966, 1967 and 2006. [Results]

This weekend’s Varsity 8+ lineup featured sophomore stroke Devin Turley (Herndon, Va./Westfield), junior Mike Flanagan (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit), freshman Steven Williamson (Moon Township, Pa./Central Catholic), sophomore Zach McGurk (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O'Connell), junior Steven Little (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet), sophomore Daniel Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), junior Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla./Olympia), junior bow John Porter (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman) and sophomore coxswain Thomas Dougherty (Lansdowne, Pa./Monsignor Bonner). The Pioneers advanced to Saturday’s semifinals after they finished 16th among the 33 shells. The top 18 crews advanced. Marietta completed its time trial in 4:09.207, which was just six seconds off the time of first-place Michigan, who covered the course in 4:03.003. The Pioneers will row in the first of three semifinals at 7 a.m.

Marietta’s Freshman/Novice 8+ also extended its season by advancing out of its preliminary race with a third place finish. 30 crews entered the event and the top 16 advanced. Stroke Patrick Cleveland (New Canaan, Conn.), Jim Furl (Marietta), Ethan Shoemaker (Westerville/North), Ben Charley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Winchester Thurston), Richie Fredericks (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City), Brian Timlin (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley), Drew Schulte (Parma/St. Ignatius), bow Matt Newsome (Petersburg, N.J./Ocean City) and coxswain Sam Ellis (West Grove, Pa./St. Mark’s) crossed the line in 4:25.587. The Pioneers’ time was just over one second behind first-place Delaware, who finished in 4:24.289. Marietta will row its semifinal at 9:52 a.m.

The Pioneers’ Junior Varsity 8+ had its season end following a 10th place finish in its race, which featured 15 shells. Only the top six crews advanced to Saturday’s final. Freshman stroke Tim Shields (Seaville, N.J./St. Augustine Prep.), sophomore Michael Cute (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), freshman Charles Jordan (Bay Shore, N.J./St. Anthony's), sophomore Zach Mateja (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion), freshman Sean McKenna (Blue Bell, Pa./La Salle), freshman James Inks (McDonald, Pa./Seton-La Salle), sophomore Gregory Clair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), freshman bow John Chester (Petersburg, N.J./Ocean City), and freshman coxswain Tyler Stay (Bethel Park, Pa.) crossed the line in 4:40.079. Marietta was just 10 seconds off the time of first-place Grand Valley State, who finished in 4:29.789.