BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Fairfield University rowing teams competed against Iona University, Loyola University Maryland, and host Lehigh University on Saturday. The women's varsity 8 highlighted the day by taking first place while the men's second varsity eight also garnering a first-place run.
The four teams raced each other on two separate runs during the quad meet. On the first flight, the men's varsity 8 opened the day against Iona and Lehigh, taking the third slot with a time of 7:46.03. The Stags entry included
Zalan Kovacs, Sam Elliott,
Eamon Tonna,
Lanyon Henwood,
Ean Ray, Nick Tapinis,
Brian Peknic,
Ryan Wrynn, and coxswain Skye Deraffale.
The women's varsity 8 entered the water next and rowed to a first-place finish with a time of 8:03.79, beating out Lehigh and Iona. The boat was comprised by Arianna Welton, Shawn O'Brien, Kelly Cullen, Zuzanna Janusz, Victoria Conrad, Molly Squire, Emma Szachta, Grace McDonough, and coxswain Lexi Tomlinson.
The men's second varsity 8 included a dual between Lehigh and Fairfield with the Stags coming in second, clocking in at 7:18.97 behind the efforts of Grant Retelny, Braedon Gibbons, Matt Benestad, Vincent DiPalo,
Trevor Buti,
John Blaney,
Anthony Tapinis,
Andrew Herman,
Cedric Wysocki.
The women's second varsity eight also secured silver by completing the course in 8:21.08, just off Lehigh's time of 8:07.99 and ahead of Iona's time of 9:13.66. The Stags crew consisted of Mia Van Mater, Cailey Chechitelli, Miranda Schmidt, Julie Pedrazzi, Nora O'Connell, Ava Bistoff, Megan Rourke, Sarah Wendling, and coxswain Marianna Kalin.
The fours began competing with the men's varsity 4 as Fairfield garnered second place by running the course in 8:04.35 behind Lehigh with
George Voegele,
James Penczak,
Frank DiNatale,
Jack Cartnick, and coxswain Pat Arsenault wearing the Fairfield colors.
The women's varsity 4 race saw Lehigh cross the line first followed by Fairfield which completed the distance in 9:34.25. The Stags entry included Jill Newman, Ainsley Hoekzema, Gia Enderle, Caitlyn Gregitis, and coxswain Alisa Tsavaris.
In the second varsity 4, the men's team straight up against Lehigh and finished in the runner-up position with a time of 9:05.63 behind the efforts of Christian DiGangi,
Ryan Armstrong, Joe Kellers,
Dillon Fall, and coxswain
Alyson Moore.
The women placed two entries in their version of the event with the Fairfield A garnering second (8:54.91) and the Fairfield B securing third (9:15.51). The A boat included Raquel Deleo, Grace Polatsek, Sasha Atencio, Catherine Martin, and coxswain Grace Tyszka. The B boat included Zoey Ames, Molly Cleary, Sadie Eppingere, Cate Quinones, and coxswain Emma Sieger.
The second flight included competition between Fairfield, Iona, and Loyola. The men's varsity 8 collected third in the men's varsity 8 with a time of 7:23.27. The men's lineup had a slight change with Nick Tapinis moving to the stroke seat while
Ryan Wrynn taking the 6 seat. The women's varsity 8 picked up another victory by crossing the line in 7:52.21 in front of Loyola and Iona.
The men's second varsity resulted in a sweep of the top two spots with the second varsity boat clocking in at 7:28.37 followed by the Stags' third varsity boat which finished in 7:56.67. A lineup change put
Owen Marquart in the 1 seat. The women's second varsity eight earned the gold by rowing the distance in 8:23.81 ahead of Loyola, and Iona.
The women's varsity 4 crossed the line first by registering a time of 9:44.96 in front of Loyola and Iona. The women's second varsity 4 also grabbed first place with a time of 9:55.46 and the Stags' B boat earning second in 10:57.11, both ahead of Loyola.
