March 14, 2008

An experienced core of upperclassmen will mesh with last year's sucessful freshmen squad to make what could be one of Saint Joseph's finest years on the river.

Leading the Hawks in his sixth season is head coach Drew Hill. He has brought the SJU men's rowing program to unprecedented levels since his arrival in 2002 and will look to continue the high-level of oarsmanship heading into the main stretch of the schedule in 2008.

Hill will rely in his senior tri-captains Kevin Connors, Marc Malott, and Adam Stoll. All three were instrumental in capturing the Jesuit Invitational Varsity Lightweight 8 last season as well as the prestigeous Dad Vail Freshman Lightweight 8 crown in 2005.

Joining the seniors that were on the Varsity Lightweight 8 squad were juniors Kevin Burrows and Jordan Marwin. In total, those five also helped stroke the squad to second place finishes at Dad Vails and the SIRA Championship.

Two other Varsity Eight members who look to lead the Hawks in the scull are juniors John Drewniak and Sean King. The duo were important members that took home goal in the 2006 Dad Vail Freshman 8, as well as being victorious in the Frostbite Regatta and Indianapolis Invitational thier freshman season. Additionally, junior Mike Wingrove will provide valuable experience to the Junior Varsity 8 squad.

Joining the upperclassmen on the varsity roster are sophomores Brendan Blessington, Luke Dentino, Mark Fanelli, Chris Garofalo, Glenn Griffin, Ryan Huck, Adam Iaccio, David Lemmon, Conor Malone, Max Schipper, and Tim Strybuc.

Most earned experience on the river, stroking the Freshman 8, while others such as Blessington and Garafolo manned the Junior Varsity 8.

Sophomores Sarah Jost and Stacey Gorin were Hawks coxswains last year and are an important asset to the squad in 2008. Jost coxswained the Junior Varsity 8 at Dad Vails and Gorin the Varsity 4 dual race against Delaware.

There are 16 newcomers that will boster the SJU lineup, headlined by future-Olympian, Ryan Pawling. Pawling coxswained the 2007 Adaptive Mixed 4 rowing squad that finished fifth in the World Championships in September. He will join the squad in Beijing in this summer's Olympics.

The Novice roster is rounded out by Rich Appell, Matt Carroll, Rick DeFino, Steve Dutcher, Michael Gallagher, Michael Gibel, Billy Huzar, Grifin Kelly, Michael Lavin, Paul Leggieri, Bill Mecca, Nick Meliti, Austin Moench, Steve Olenik and Chase Powell.

SJU's spring schedule kicks off March 15 at the Jesuit Invitational in near-by Pennsauken, N.J. and is followed up by a tri-meet with Penn and George Washington March 29 on the Schuylkill River.

The Hawks will then travel north for a dual meet with Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. on April 12 before travelling to Oak Ridge, Tenn. for the SIRA Championships on April 19. Saint Joseph's completes its 2008 campaign wtih its annual competitions in the Bergen Cup April 29 and the Dad Vail Regatta on May 9.