Pioneer Navy splits with rival Purdue
Boilermakers retain Challenge Cup with win in the Varsity 8+

March 30, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta Head Coach Chris Pucella knew that coming into Sunday (March 30) afternoon's 53rd annual Challenge Cup that his boats would have to perform well to challenge annual rival Purdue. His team managed to split with the Boilermakers with the Pioneers winning the Novice 8+ and finishing second in the Varsity 8+.

The Novice 8+, coached by assistant JP Sekulich, featured stroke Niklas Von Kuczkowski (Hanover, Germany/Culver Military Academy), Daniel Bratton (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), Devin Turley (Herdon, Va./Westfield), Zach McGurk (Alexandria, Va./Bishop O'Connell), William Charlton (New Vernon, N.J./Berkshire), Zach Burgess (Ashland), Daniel Mills (Fairport, N.Y.), bow Nathan Capers (Orlando, Fla./Edgewater) and coxswain Thomas Dougherty (Lansdowne, Pa./Monsignor Bonner). The shell led the entire 2,000m and crossed the finish line 3.6 seconds before Purdue. Marietta finished in 4:45.41, while Purdue came in with a time of 4:49.04.

The final race of the day was the Varsity 8+. Marietta's shell, which featured bow Capers, sophomore Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla./Olympia), sophomore John Porter (Potomac, Md./Walt Whitman), Charlton, junior Steven Little (Seattle, Wash./Bishop Blanchet), junior Mitch Paskawych (Marietta), sophomore Mike Flanagan (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit), stroke Von Kuczkowski and sophomore coxswain Rita McCoy (Lansdowne, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast), finished 14.22 seconds behind Purdue. The Boilermakers, who retained the Challenge Cup, finished in 5:02.88. Marietta finished in 5:17.1.

The Marietta men will be back in action when they travel to Camden, New Jersey, for the annual Knecht Cup on April 12-13.