PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Fairfield University men's rowing team raced four boats at the 2022 Dad Vail Regatta and all achieved success on the first day of the regatta. The novice 4, the junior varsity 4, and the lightweight 4 will all race in their respective grand final on Saturday while the heavyweight 4 will compete in their semifinal race in a morning race.

The novice 4 opened things for the Stags and brought home the team's lone first place finish by taking the top spot in their heat. The crew crossed the finish line in 6:47.58 behind the efforts of George Voegele, Zach Rogers, Frank DiNatale, Ryan Wrynn, and coxswain Skye Deraffele. They returned for their semifinal race and posted a second place run with its time of 6:40.27 which sent them to the Grand Final on Saturday at 12:50 pm.

The JV4 registered a pair of third place finishes in both its heat and semifinal which was strong enough to advance to the Grand Final on Saturday at 1:50 pm. The Stags, comprised by Alex Hemmat, Lanyon Henwood, Spencer Chidley, Jake Godwin, and coxswain Tom Flynn, timed out at 6:56.13 in its head which was won by Stetson in 6:36.00. The crew came back with a time of 6:47.07 in its semifinal with Stetson posting the top time of 6:34.92.

The varsity lightweight 4 secured a time of 6:49.57 in its heat which advanced the crew to the Grand Final at 2:50 pm on Saturday. Mercyhurst garnered the winning time of 6:33.77 to pace the grouping. The Stags boat included Will LaMotta, Ryan Borsy, Brendan Martin, Mike McCarthy, and coxswain Angeles Mendoza.

The heavyweight varsity 4 picked up a runner-up placement in its heat with a time of 6:27.68, just two seconds off Embry-Riddle's winning time of 6:25.71. The crew, which consisted of Michael Greene, Mike Pagliaro, Michael Hamilton, Brady Stergion, and coxswain Matt Tarabocchia, will row in its semifinal race on Saturday morning at 8 am.

Saturday's action can be viewed on the Dad Vail Web Stream beginning at 8 am.