WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Marietta College men's rowing team entered three shells in the annual Knecht Cup and just missed out on a medal in the grand final of the freshman/novice 4+ race on Sunday (April 12) at Mercer Lake. The Pioneers entered boats in the varsity 8+ and the freshman/novice 8+ races as well.
The Pioneers' freshman/novice 4 crew blew away the field in the morning heats winning by nearly 15 seconds over second place Loyola. In the grand final, Marietta slowed by a few seconds fro it morning time and placed fourth.
Drexel took the gold with a time of 7:06.35 followed by Rhode Island (7:09.02), Connecticut (7:10.88) and Marietta (7:13.99). The Pioneer lineup featured coxswain
Allison Watkins (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg),
Sam Johnson (Mason/William Mason) at stroke,
Chris Japchen (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East),
Martin Hall (Toney, Ala.) and
Aaron Smith (Erie, Pa./McDowell) in the bow.
Marietta's varsity 8+ was the only Pioneer boat on the water on Saturday. MC placed third in its heat to move into Sunday's semifinals. The Pioneers missed qualifying for the grand final by just over two seconds with a fifth place finish in the semis.
The varsity 8+ petite final was a great race with the top five boats finishing in less than a four second span. Rutgers won the final with a time of 6:19.87. George Mason (6:20.97) took second followed by Villanova (6:21.82), St. Joseph (6:22.35) and Marietta (6:23.79).
In the varsity 8+ boat, Marietta sat coxswain
Patrick Specht (Glenview, Ill./New Trier),
Jackson Herd (Lawrence, Kan./Lynbrook (Calif.)) in the stroke seat,
Jack Gleim (West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South),
Matthew Bush (Williamstown, W.Va./Wood County Christian),
Cameron Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic),
Brendan Murphy (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury),
Zach Pope (Mechanicsburg/Mechanicsburg),
Jon Hinson (Rocky River/Rocky River) and
Pat Clary (Bellport, N.Y./St. Anthony's) in the bow.
Marietta's freshman/novice 8+ crew finished fourth in its heat. The Pioneers had the third fastest time in the heat but interfered with the Marist boat. Marist was awarded third place dropping MC to fourth and into the third level final.
Boston College won the final with a time of 6:36.22. Loyola (6:44.10) was second followed by Pittsburgh (6:45.20), Marist (6:52.50) Army "B" (6:57.74) and Marietta (6:58.33).
The Pioneers' lineup included Watkins in the coxswain seat, S. Johnson at stroke, Japchen,
Trey Farley (Bidwell/River Valley),
Tyler Sholl (Johnstown/Big Walnut),
Aaron Dillon (Windham, Conn.),
Gordon O'Brien (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North). Hall and Smith in the bow.
The Pioneers are back on the water Saturday and Sunday (April 18-19) at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter.
