PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The 2009-10 Marietta College men's rowing program faced its first outside competition on Saturday (Oct. 3) afternoon when the Pioneers participated in the Head of the Ohio. Marietta, who had not competed there since 2003, raced four boats in three total events at the 2.6 mile competition, which was cut short due to high winds late in the day. Highlighting the day for the Pioneers were victories in the Open 8+ and the Freshmen/Novice 4+ races. [Results]

Marietta's Varsity 8+ went head-to-head with 16 different crews, including the team's own Junior Varsity 8+, in its event. The Pioneers' primary boat, which featured coxswain Thomas Dougherty (Lansdowne, Pa., Monsignor Bonner), stroke Steven Williamson (Moon Township, Pa., Central Catholic), Zach McGurk (Alexandria, Va., Bishop O'Connell), Devin Turley (Herndon, Va., Westfield), James Smith (Atlantic City, N.J., Holy Spirit), Steven Little (Seattle, Wash., Bishop Blanchet), Ben Charley (Pittsburgh, Pa., Winchester Thurston), Patrick Cleveland (New Canaan, Conn.) and bow Mike Flanagan (Absecon, N.J., Holy Spirit), cruised to a 57-second victory by crossing the line in 14:28.54. The University of Dayton placed second with a time of 15:24.56, while Marietta's JV8+, which sat coxswain Kendra Canter (Marietta, Marietta), stroke Richie Fredericks (Seaville, N.J., Ocean City), Jim Furl (Marietta, Marietta), Robert Hune-Kalter (Marietta, Marietta), Brian Timlin (Aston, Pa., Sun Valley), John Porter (Bethesda, Md., Walt Whitman), Leo Tannheimer (Lowell, Mass., Lowell), Gregory Clair (Pittsburgh, Pa., Central Catholic) and bow John Chester (Petersburg, N.J., Ocean City), finished third with a time of 15:31.71.

The Pioneers' Varsity Lightweight 8+, which included coxswain Thomas Dougherty (Lansdowne, Pa., Monsignor Bonner), stroke Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla., Olympia), Matt Newsome (Petersburg, N.J., Ocean City), Ethan Shoemaker (Westerville, North), Jim Furl (Marietta, Marietta), Drew Schulte (Parma, St. Ignatius), James Inks (McDonald, Pa., Seton-La Salle), Tim Shields (Seaville, N.J., St. Augustine Prep.) and bow Michael Cute (Philadelphia, Pa., Roman Catholic), placed second in its four-boat race. Mercyhurst won the race in 13:24.82, while Marietta crossed soon after in 13:45.06.

Marietta's Freshmen/Novice 4+ also competed on Saturday and defeated five other crews by rowing a time of 16:22.79. The Pioneers' F/N4+ featured coxswain Chad Rummler (Seaville, NJ, Ocean City), stroke Andrew Parenti (Vineland, NJ, St. Augustine), Connor Walters (Bayvillage, St. Ignatius), Nicholas Blanzy (Grosse Point Park, MI, Grosse Point) and bow Nico Richey (Egg Harbor Township, N.J., St. Augustine).

The Pioneers are back in action on Sunday (Oct. 11) afternoon when they compete at the Head of the Genesee in Rochester, N.Y.