LAKE NOCKAMIXON, Pa. – The Fairfield University men's and women's rowing teams swept the varsity 8 races while the men added first-place finishes in the second and third varsity races as the Stags competed against Lehigh and Iona.
In the first round of competition, the women battled Lehigh University and Iona University. The Stags captured first in the varsity 8 by completing the distance in 6:53.25 while the second and third varsity crews finished second to Lehigh in the two-boat competitions.
The varsity 8 boat included
Sasha Atencio,
Shawn O'Brien,
Kelly Cullen,
Grace McDonough,
Victoria Conrad, Molly Squire,
Audrey DiMarino,
Sophia Savage, and coxswain Lexi Tomlinson.
The second varsity 8 timed out in 7:20.48 which was 10 seconds off Lehigh's winning time of 7:10.79. The Stags' shell included
Lauren Hoppe, Sophie Counts,
Miranda Schmidt,
Cailey Chechitelli,
Nora O'Connell, Julie Pedrazzi,
Mia Van Mater,
Sadie Eppinger, and coxswain
Leah Murphy.
The third varsity 8 crossed the line in 7:21.76 behind Lehigh's time of 6:58.89 with Jill Segel,
Grace Polatsek,
Clair Jennings,
Catherine Martin,
Ava Bistoff, Gia Enderle, Caity Gregitis,
Ainsley Hoekzema, and coxswain
Sydney Harwick.
In the third round of races, the Fairfield women posted the top time of 6:33.29 against Loyola and Iona in the varsity 8 race while the second varsity 8 also recorded the best time by clocking in at 7:02.38 against Loyola only.
The varsity 8 boat included the same crew as earlier in the day with the exception of
Emma Sieger handling the coxswain duties. The second varsity 8 also sent out the same rowers with the addition of
Grace Tyszka as the coxswain.
The men's team swept the competition that included Lehigh and Iona, taking first place in the varsity 8 with a time of 6:04.16, the second varsity 8 with a time of 5:58.26, and the third varsity 8 with a time of 6:28.00. Lehigh was second in all three races, timing out in 6:08.91 in the varsity 8, 6:19.51 in the second varsity 8, and 7:02.95 in the third varsity 8. Iona took third place in the varsity 8 (6:21.96) and the second varsity 8 (7:05.60) but did not race in the third varsity 8 race. The Fairfield varsity 8 also beat out Loyola in its dual race, finishing the course in 5:49.97.
In the races against Lehigh, Iona, and Loyola, the Stags used the same lineup in both the varsity 8 and second varsity 8. Grant Retelny, Will Talay, Luke Youngblood, Sean Rhatigan, Connor Carroll, Nicholas Tapinis, Anthoiny Tapinis, Braeden Gibbons, and coxswain Cedric Wysocki comprised the varsity 8 boat. The second varsity 8 boat was comprised by Cord Catalano, James Penczak, Eamon Tonna, Samuel Elliott, Owen Chandaria, Luca Tarricone, Zalan Kovacs, Luca Mellado, and coxswain Madeline Gross.
The third varsity 8 entry included Thomas McLaughlin, Vincent Dipalo, Matthew Benestad, Charlie Grant, Ean Ray, Maxim Tsavaris, Zachary Siwiec, Tyler Siwiec, and coxswain Max Cona.
