MARIETTA, Ohio — Mother Nature did her best to spoil the 64th annual Marietta/Purdue Challenge Cup, but after not contesting the Challenge Cup the last two years due to COVID, the schools were intent on racing Saturday (March 19).
Originally scheduled as a 2,000-meter race on the Ohio River, the race was moved to the Muskingum and shortened to 1,000-meters ending at the Washington Street Bridge.
"After consulting with the Purdue coaches, we decided to drop the small boats and novices, and race the first and second varsity eights," Marietta head coach
Greg Myhr said. "The swells were just too much for the smaller, lighter boats."
Marietta won the varsity eight race to reclaim the Challenge Cup for the first time since 2017. Purdue won the Cup in 2018 and 2019 and the race was canceled in 2020 and 2021.
The Pioneers crossed the line in 2:16.5, four seconds ahead of the Boilermakers (2:20.9). Marietta got off the line quickly and stretched the lead to boat length. The Pioneers held its lead through the middle of the race and was able to extend it another half-length in the final 200-meters.
"Our guys did a really nice job of not being thrown off by the changing plans," Myhr said. "They attached with a vengeance and stayed composed through monumentally terrible conditions. I am pleased with our guys. We are getting better, and they know it."
In the second varsity race, Marietta edged Purdue at the line to win the race. The Pioneers posted a winning time of 2:25.3 with Purdue less than a half-second behind at 2:25.7, followed by Purdue's freshman crew with a time of 2:27.6.
The race was tight over the entire 1,000-meters with all three crews leading at one point, but by never more than half a deck length. The Pioneers surged ahead in the final strokes to win by half a deck length.
"Even with the marginal conditions and shortened race course, this was an important win for us today against a strong historical rival," Myhr said. "Purdue dominated us the last time we met in 2019 and they also took third at the Dad Vail last year. We'll see them again next weekend in San Diego."
Marietta is back on the water this Saturday and Sunday (March 26-27) at the San Diego Crew Classic in San Diego, California.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
Results
Varsity 8+ — Challenge Cup
1. Marietta (2:16.5), 2. Purdue (2:20.9)
Coxswain:
Duncan Fraser (Cleveland, Ohio/Saint Ignatius), Stroke:
Kade Hennacy (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), 7:
Dylan Dalpedri (Spring, Texas/The Woodlands), 6:
George Riffle (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma), 5:
Drayton Piper (Roswell, Ga./Roswell), 4:
John Saunders (Buffalo, N.Y./Olmsted), 3:
Joseph Madrid (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South), 2:
William Hoffman (Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit), Bow:
Tyler Heldt (Tampa, Fla./Steinbrenner)
Second Varsity 8+
1. Marietta (2:25.3), 2. Purdue (2:25.7), Purdue Frosh (2:27.6)
Coxswain:
Natalia Facchinato-Sitja (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson), Stroke:
Anthony Calandra (Nokomis, Fla.), 7:
Jonathan McWhite (Bellingham, Mass./Bromfield), 6:
Gregorio Puntarelli (Houston, Texas/Memorial), 5:
Liam Sherman (Chicago, Ill.), 4:
Brett McGettigan (Ventnor City, N.J./Holy Spirit), 3:
Adam Sarhan (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.), 2:
Matthew Rought (Mason, Ohio/Mason), Bow:
Edmund Lynch (Marietta, Ga./Walton)
