MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College men's rowing program had its lone home competition of the fall season when the Pioneers hosted the Head of the Muskingum Saturday (Nov. 7) morning at the Lindamood-Van Voorhis Boathouse. Marietta battled West Virginia University in a series of collegiate races, while local high schools also competed in various events on the Muskingum River. [Result (PDF)]

Highlighting the event was crowning of the House of Wines Pairs Champions. Throughout the fall, the men have competed in the annual House of Wines series and the top four boats raced on Saturday for this year's title. Senior Andrew Hazelrigg (Orlando, Fla., Olympia) and sophomore Matt Newsome (Petersburg, N.J., Ocean City) captured the 2009 championship with a 21-second victory over their nearest competitor. The duo crossed the line in 21:00. Junior Zach McGurk (Alexandria, Va., Bishop O'Connell) and sophomore Steven Williamson (Moon Township, Pa., Central Catholic) placed runner-up with a time of 21:21. Senior Steven Little (Seattle, Wash., Bishop Blanchet) and sophomore Ben Charley (Pittsburgh, Pa., Winchester Thurston) were third, crossing the line in 21:44, while junior Devin Turley (Herndon, Va., Westfield) and sophomore James Smith (Atlantic City, N.J., Holy Spirit) finished fourth with a time of 23:13.

Earlier in the morning, Marietta's Freshmen/Novice 8+ defeated West Virginia in its race. Stroke Andrew Parenti (Vineland, NJ, St. Augustine), Nico Richey (Egg Harbor Township, N.J., St. Augustine), Nicholas Blanzy (Grosse Point Park, MI, Grosse Point), Eric Bruzzo (Newburgh, NY, Newburgh), Nathaniel Porter (Bethesda, Md., Walt Whitman), Will Hamilton (Dublin, Coffman), Chad Rummler (Seaville, NJ, Ocean City), and bow Daniel Clunies (Wexford, PA, North Allegheny Sr.) combined to row a time of 19:32, which enabled them to beat West Virginia to the line by 3:09.

The Pioneers' Freshmen/Novice 4+ also competed against and defeated a pair of West Virginia shells. Marietta, which featured coxswain Rummler, stroke Parenti, Hamilton, Porter and bow Richey, covered the course in 23:00. West Virginia "A" finished in 25:09, while West Virginia "B" crossed the line in 25:46.

Marietta also had three boats, filled with random lineups, compete in the Open 8+ event against 1 West Virginia boat. The Pioneers went 1-2-3 in the race with Marietta "A" taking the win with a time of 19:22. Marietta "B" was right behind with a time of 19:23, while Marietta "C" finished third with a time of 19:32. West Virginia finished fourth with a time of 21:15.

Marietta is back in action this weekend when it competes in a pair of season-ending races. On Saturday (Nov. 14), the Pioneer Navy will race at the Frostbite Regatta and on Sunday (Nov. 15), it will race at the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta. Both events take place on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa.