MEN’S NOVICE SHINE AT HEAD OF THE FISH; NAMED CO-BOAT OF THE WEEK
Oct. 26: In the final race of the fall 2008 season, the St. Lawrence University men’s crew team found the novice men leading the way at the 23rd annual Head of the Fish on Sunday in Saratoga Springs, NY, as three novice crews placed in the top three of their respective races to cap off an impressive beginning of the team’s 2008-09 campaign.
In the collegiate men’s 1x race, first year Will Schrade (Slingerlands, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) finished first in the Collegiate Men's 1x race with a time of 13:43.75, more than 20 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. The race kicked off an impressive showing for the novice men, as the men’s novice 4+ crew finished third in a field of 20 crews with a time of 12:21.07, placing just behind Williams’ and Colgate’s A boats. St. Lawrence’s crew included coxswain Colin Loomis (Waddington, NY/Madrid-Waddington), first years Justin Painter (Kattskill Bay, NY/Northwood School), John Williams (Higganum, CT/Kent School), and Mike MacNeil (Milton, MA/Thayer Academy), as well as junior Kyle Dowman (Potsdam, NY/Vermont Academy).
In the Collegiate Men’s Novice 8+, the Saints crossed the finish line second, finishing only behind Cornell’s top crew. The Scarlet and Brown, who clocked in 11:09.47, only five seconds behind Cornell, defeated several crews from the Liberty League including Hobart, Union and Skidmore. In the boat for St. Lawrence was coxswain Mike Ciancia (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Southerland), Painter, Williams, Schrade, Iain Hart (Duluth, MN/East H.S.), Brent Underwood (Slovang, CA/Santa Ynez), Jaime Cook (Madison, CT/The Williams School), McNeil, and Griffin Green (Buffalo, NY/Canisius).
In honor of their performances, the entire men's novice team was named Co-Boat of the Week in the Liberty League.
In the varsity races, the Saints placed 17th overall in the Collegiate Men’s 4+ (12:51.36), and also finished fifth of eight crews in the Lightweight Collegiate Men’s 4+ (12:56.82).
Competing in the Collegiate Men's 4+ for the Saints included coxswain Allison Webster (Lincoln, MA), seniors Julian Holland (Falls Village, CT/Housatonic Valley Regional) and Seth Corliss (Castleton, VT/Fair Haven Union), as well as sophomores David MacClaren (Madison, CT/Stratton Mountain School) and Greg Gotta (Northbridge, MA/St. John's).
In the Lightweight race, St. Lawrence's crew included coxswain Alyssa Halton (Ithaca, NY/Lansing), seniors Matt Sonagere (Auburn, MA/Edward Little) and Andrew Kraus, as well as sophomores Nick Blum (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville East) and Joey Colagrossi (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich).
In the Collegiate 8+ competition, St. Lawrence's crew finished 11th with a time of 11:46.58. The varsity 8+ competitors for St. Lawrence included Webster, Sonagere, Kraus, MacClaren, Corliss, Holland, Colagrossi, sophomore Cam West (New Britain, CT/Avon Old Farms), and Gotta.
The Scarlet and Brown also entered two alumni boats, including an entry in the men’s 8+ that finished 16th overall, and another that was entered in the mixed 8+, which crossed the finish line third in their race.
Competing in the alumni men's 8+ boat was Amy Lichorat '07, John Sharkey '05, Doug Smith '05, Mike Wieneke '07, Tedd Rama '08, Ben Franco '05, Taylor Cuevas '05, Evan Smith '08, and Kyle Emery '08.
Men's Head Coach George Repicky and St. Lawrence Women's Head Coach and Rowing Director Nick Hughes took part in the mixed 8+ boat, which also included Renee Rubin '08, Amanda Dudley '08, Kit Wright '08, Brent Davis '08, Caroline Hannigan '08, Anne Seyse '08, and Heather Mason '07.
The Head of the Fish concludes the Saints’ fall season. They will begin competing again at the end of March 2009.
