Back
To Main
Established in 1871, rowing was the first organized sport at Marietta College. The purposes were to attract students t o Marietta, since many Eastern colleges were involved in this sport, and to fulfill the need for athletic expression, since there were no organized athletics at the College. In 1930, rowing became a varsity sport at Marietta, in the same year J. Ellis Mac Donald became the first full--time coach. Several others would follow in years to come. However under MacDonald, the Pioneer Navy won its first Dad Vail Championship in 1934, the VailÕs innaugural year. Victory at the Dad Vail did not come again for 29 ye ars. In 1960, Ralph Lindamood became coach and under his supervision and guidance Marietta won 29 championships. His overall winning percentage is 79 percent and his overall record is 1718 wins and only 450 losses. In his 25 years at the helm of the Pione er Navy, Ralph oversaw the expansion of the boathouse and the establishment of womenÕs crew as a varsity sport (1976). He retired in 1984 a legend. Victory at the Dad Vail lives on in the Ō90Õs. Under Coach Tom Stephanik, Marietta MenÕs Crew would win fiv e more championships, including 1994 win in the Varsity Lightweight Eight. In 1990, Under Coach Terry Morris, the Marietta College WomenÕs Crew would realize its first Dad Vail Championship, the Varsity Lightweight Four. The women would win the same event three years later under the superviosion of Richard Parr. To this date Marietta College Crew has won 34 Dad Vail National Championships, 33 of those in the last 35 years.