SHELTON, Conn. – The Fairfield University rowing teams started the fall season at the Head of the Housatonic where the men's varsity 4 highlighted the afternoon with a second place finish in the non-IRA competition.
The Stags finished the race with a time of 15:12.3, less than two seconds off Boston College's winning pace. Fairfield's entry included Will Quentin, Lars Ericsson, John Imor, Casey Fuller, and coxswain Kara Reese. The program also entered a B boat which placed 15th behind the efforts of Seamus O'Brien, Matt Sutter, Mike Clarkson, Jordan Greco, and coxswain Matt Marshall. The shell crossed the finish line in 16:33.6.
Two Fairfield crews also competed in the varsity 8 with one boat in the IRA and non-IRA divisions. In the IRA race, the Stags posted a time of 14:43.6 as Matt Sutter, Mark Soldatic, Nick Greco, Will Quentin, John Imor, Casey Fuller, Lars Ericsson, Seamus O'Brien, and coxswain Tim Valente comprised the crew. In the non-IRA competition, Nick Herringshaw, Chris Connolly, Richard Saganey, Charlie Riordan, Brendan McMahon, Charles Cooper, Mike Clarkson, Jordan Greco, and coxswain Matt Marshall competed for a time of 15:33.7, placing 15th overall.
Fairfield placed three boats in the women's varsity 8 with the A boat coming in first among the three crews. Kelsey Carthew, Laura Miles, Dani McKenna, Amanda McKenna, Nolan Campbell, Chloe Scherpa, Ani Dennen, Lina Foncello, and coxswain Leanne Anderson came in 28th overall with a time of 16:14.6.
The B boat followed by finishing the course in 16:35.5 behind the efforts of Jackie Ozyjowski, Briana Mullaney, Kartina Kirchgaesser, Tina Chalastra, Colleen Sheridan, Maggie O'Donnell, Eileen Keenan, Allison Sloan, and coxswain Katie Clark. The C crew came in just behind their teammates by registering a time of 18:53.1 as Rachel Sansone, Tiffany Iannucci, Nicole Chrysler, Mikayla Goria, Julia Cooper, Mallory Burlington, Claire Lavette, Melissa Iannucci, and coxswain Liz Bouregy competed for the Stags.
The women's varsity 4 race also featured two Stags crew with the B boat taking 17th place in 17:48.4 and the A crew securing 17th in 18:34.9. The B entry included Nolan Campbell, Chloe Scherpa, Dani McKenna, Laura Miles, and coxswain Leanne Anderson. The A crew was comprised by Kelsey Carthew, Amanda McKenna, Ani Dennen, Lina Foncello, and coxswain Katie Unfried.
“We had a lot of freshmen compete in their first collegiate race, and for some it was their first racing experience period,” Head Coach Dave Patterson said. “Both squads are I a bit of hole of where we aspire to be. While no one can ever be guaranteed to cross the line first, one thing consistent at Fairfield is we don't vie up without a fight.”
