PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Fairfield University rowing teams opened their spring season with a trip to Philadelphia for the Jesuit Invitational on the Schuylkill River.

The men's program placed entries in all three eight races including the varsity 8, the second varsity 8, and the third varsity 8. The women's program also competed in their respective varsity 8 and second varsity 8 as well as the varsity and second varsity 4 events.

For the men, the varsity placed third in its final with a time of 7:02.0 behind the efforts of Zalan Kovacs, Sam Elliott, Luca Tarricone, Nicholas Tapinis, Brian Peknic, Ryan Wrinn, Ean Ray, Connor Carroll, and coxswain Skye DeRaffele. The crew advanced to its final race based on its time of 7:39.3.

The second varsity 8 opened its day in time trials, completing the distance in 7:58.3 which was third in the race. The crew came back with a second-place run in its final by crossing the line in 7:06.5. The Stags were represented by James Penczak, Eamon Tonna, Lanyon Henwood, Frank DiNatale, James Casper, Tom McLaughlin, Jack Cartnick, George Voegele, coxswain Angeles Mendoza.

The Stags' novice 8 competed in the third varsity race and took second place by crossing the line in 7:04.1. The boat was comprised by Anthony Tapinis, Andrews Herman, Matt Benestad, Vincent DiPalo, Trevor Buti, Grant Retelny, John Blaney, Braeden Gibbons, and coxswain Cedric Wysocki.

The women's program also performed admirably in their opening event of the spring. The varsity eight collected third place in its race by clocking in at 7:41.4. The shell consisted of Arianna Walton, Shawn O'Brien, Miranda Schmidt, Zuzanna Janusz, Emma Szachta, Molly Squire, Catherine Morrissey, Grace McDonough, and coxswain Marianna Kalin.

The second varsity 8 entry included Mia Van Meter, Cailey Chechitelli, Kelly Cullen, Julie Pedrazzi, Victoria Conrad, Ava Bistoff, Megan Rourke, Sarah Wendling, and coxswain Lexi Tomlinson. The group completed the course in 8:13.6 which was second overall.

The varsity 4 garnered fourth in the time trial by registering a time of 9:16.0 which sent the boat into the petite final. The Stags secured second in that final with its time of 9:03.6 behind the efforts of Sasha Atencio, Grace Polatsek, Gia Enderle, Caity Gregitis, and coxswain Alisa Tsavaris.

The second varsity 4 crossed the finish line in 9:20 in its race, courtesy of Zoey Ames, Sadie Eppinger, Nora O'Connell, Molly Cleary, coxswain Emma Sieger