Pioneer Navy's Varsity Eight strikes gold at Dad Vails
Pioneer Navy wins its fifth gold medal at the event and first since 1967

May 13, 2006
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Gold! Yes, after four straight years of finishing with a bronze medal, the Marietta College Varsity Eight captured first place at the Dad Vail Rowing Championships Saturday (May 13) on the Schuylkill River. The Pioneer Navy also won a silver medal in the Varsity Lightweight Four and took sixth in the Varsity Pair at the 68th annual event.

It is the fifth title for Marietta's Varsity Eight. The Pioneers won the inaugural race in 1934 and had victories in 1963, 1966 and 1967.

"The men had an outstanding weekend of racing," said first-year Head Coach Chris Pucella. "To bring back a gold medal from Dad Vails for all of the alumni, family and friends of Pioneer Rowing is something these guys will never forget."

The 2006 shell, which featured bow Zach Stimart (McLean, Va.), Evan Tsourtsoulas (Kastoria, Greece), Chase Graham (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South), Andrew Norris (Dublin/Dublin Scioto), Karl Biermann (Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary), Mike Ross (Fairport, N.Y.), Eric Dowler (Washington, W.Va./Parkersburg South), stroke Chuck Geyer (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) and coxswain Tim Rinehart (Marietta), entered as the top seed and proved worthy of that title by rolling through all three races en route to winning gold.

In the Grand Final, Delaware took an early lead off the line, which was a staggered start. As Marietta took the turn, it held a four-seat advantage on Temple, who was racing on its home course. The Owls pulled even midway through the race, but the Pioneers made their traditional move at the 1,000-meter mark to pull away and had open water between them and the competition with 300 meters remaining. Marietta finished in 5:42.06, over six second ahead of the field. Temple (6:48.69) took second and Colorado (5:51.07) third, while FIT (5:52.81), Delaware (5:53.79) and Army (5:57.21) rounded out the finishers, respectively.

Marietta won it opening heat Friday with a time of 6:02.95 and its semifinal Saturday morning with a time of 5:42.85.

The Varsity Lightweight Four, which included John Carlon (Winter Park, Fla.), Mitch Paskawych (Marietta), Austin McIntire (Parkersburg, W.Va./South), Dave Himes Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) and coxswain Sarah Kozusko (Whitney, Pa./Greater Latrobe), also won its opening heat (7:03.24) and semifinal race (6:35.35) to set up a chance at a gold medal Saturday afternoon. The men gave it all that they could, but were beat out by RIT (6:31.2) for the gold medal. Marietta (6:38.18) took the silver and Fordham (6:39.11) won the bronze.

The Varsity Pair of Justin Callaham (Winter Park, Fla.) and Brent Keuch (Skillman, N.J./Christ Church) followed the Pioneer's theme by winning its opening heat (7:29.21) and advanced to the Grand Final with a second place finish in its semifinal (6:55.50). In the Grand Final, however, the Pioneers found themselves having a tough race and finished sixth (7:15.89).

Marietta also had a Freshman/Novice Four entered into the Championship. The shell, which featured Craig Ripiski (Claymont, Del./Concord), Nick Brown (Cincinnati/St. Xavier), Joe Linke (Woodlyn, Pa./Monsignor Bonner), Brian Casto (Marietta) and coxswain Lydia Easterling (Tallmadge), did not advance out of its opening heat Friday after finishing fourth (7:31.18).

This concludes the 2006 season for the Pioneers, who will look to begin another quest for a gold medal at next year's Dad Vails when they return to racing in the fall.