June 27, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Expectations can be a heavy burden for an inexperienced team, but for the Dad Vail champion Saint Joseph's men's rowing program its what drives them to even greater success. The Hawks affirmed their status among the nation's elite program's in 2006 by capturing the Dad Vail men's points title for the third time in four years and the Bratten Trophy as the Regatta's overall champion for the second consecutive season.

In addition, SJU qualified five crews for the finals at the IRA National Championships.

With talent, experience and depth throughout the lineup, the Crimson and Gray regularly fielded six crews with the Varsity Lightweight 8 and Freshman 8 proving to be the most decorated, each earning bids to the IRA.

The Varsity Lightweight boat, which usually included Kevin Jacobs, Steve Ramsey, William West, Mike Santoro, Adam Stoll, Marc Malott, Joe D'Amato, Devlin Murdock and John Hayes (cox), advanced to the finals of every spring regatta despite frequently rowing against Varsity heavyweight boats. The crew captured a silver medal at the Dad Vail and finished fourth in the petite at IRAs. It also captured gold medals at the Indianapolis Invitational and Knecht Cups, picked up silver at the Jesuit Invitational and garnered bronze at the Murphy Cup.

The Freshman 8, which typically featured James O'Donoghue, Brett Cavanaugh, Sean King, Larry Maher, Jack Drewniak, Sean Riley, Mike Wingrove, Jon Schneckenburger and Mark DelGuercio (cox), placed first or second in 12 of 16 races. It won gold at the Dad Vail, Indianapolis Invitational and Frostbite Regatta. It was second at the Murphy Cup and Jesuit Invitationals. It also placed second in the third final at IRAs.

The Hawks' Varsity heavyweight crews also posted impressive results. The Varsity 8 of Alex DiBiasi, Andrew Friedlander, Dan Lachant, Mike Leahy, Wayne Zimmer, Adrian Gherca, Dan Fazio, Sean Flynn and Charlie Koob (cox) was in medal contention every time out, but frequently found itself as a bridesmaid. The crew picked up a bronze at the Jesuit Invite and just missed medaling at the Murphy Cup and Indianapolis Invitational. It also reached the petite final at the Dad Vail, Knecht Cup and G.W. Invitational.

The strong performance of the Second Varsity 8 of Bill Fox, Jon Romvary, Gavin Adams, Mike Jacob, Mike Aurillio, Justin Jones, Dave Naab, Jeff Schaetzle and Stephanie Gehringer (cox) further demonstrated SJU's depth. Taking home medals at every spring event they captured silver at the Dad Vail, Indianapolis, Murphy Cup and Jesuit Invitational, as well as bronze at GW and Indianapolis.

Beyond those four crews, SJU also regularly fielded a Freshman Lightweight 8 that included Dan McCann, Mike Morris, Kevin Milazzo, James Thornton, Kevin Connors, Jordan Marwin, Kevin Burrows, Mike Boone and Mario Medori (cox) and a Varsity Lightweight 4 that usually featured Doug Cleveland, Jesse Burns, Craig Hansson, Kevin Burows and Lauren Moran

In addition to the team's success at the Dad Vail, SJU sent five crews to the IRA National Championships on the Cooper River. A fourth place finish in the petite final by the Varsity Lightweight 8 highlighted the teams results. The Hawks' four other boats, including the Varsity 4+, Varsity 4-, Freshman 8 and Varsity Pair all reached third level finals.

The Varsity 4- which featured Schaetzle, Fazio, Leahy and Lachant won its final, topping Ohio State, Syracuse, Minnesota, Boston College and Delaware. The Freshman 8, which was tweaked to include lightweights Jordan Marwin and Kevin Connors along with Schneckenburger, Wingrove, Riley, Drewniak, Maher, King and Mark DelGuercio placed second in its third final.

The Varsity 4+ which included DiBiasi, Flynn, Zimmer, Friedlander and Koob was fourth, while the Varsity Pair of Adrian Gherca and Gavin Adams finished sixth in its final.

The Crimson and Gray cemented their status among the nation's premier programs in 2006 with a third Dad Vail crown in four years and an impressive showing at IRA. With the core of the team's Varsity boats returning along with its Dad Vail champion novice crews back in the fold, SJU will continue to assert itself on the national stage.