CHERRY HILL, N.J. — The Marietta College men's rowing team had four entries in the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championships Saturday (May 2) and all four earned medals. The Pioneers came away with one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
 
"It was a great afternoon of racing today," Marietta head coach Greg Myhr aid. "Today was a clear step forward from where this team was at this same race last year. That's a direct reflection of the hard work this group has put in all season. We are looking forward to next week back in Cherry Hill for the Dad Vail."
 
The Marietta duo of Connor Cuviello (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) and Ryan Doyle (Perrysburg, Ohio/Saint John's Jesuit) started the afternoon session with a third-place finish in the pairs. Then the Pioneers' varsity 4+ crew took silver in a solid race against Bucknell.
 
After posting the fastest time in the morning heats, Marietta's second varsity 8+ crew knocked off four-time defending MARC Champion Bucknell to claim the gold medal. Bucknell had a three-seat lead on the Pioneers in the first 500 meters. Marietta made a move around the 750-meter mark and led the rest of the way edging Bucknell and finishing with open water on Delaware.
 
"All three of the leaders got off to good starts and were very tight through the first part of the race," Myhr said. "We were able to seize control of the race in the middle 1,000 meters for the win. It was a really strong race from a crew that has found a great rhythm in recent weeks."
 
By virtue of its win in the varsity 8+ Division III morning heat, Marietta earned the MARC's automatic bid for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships in California the end of May. This is the second straight year Marietta has qualified its full team for the IRA's.
 
The varsity 8+ final was Marietta's toughest test of the day. Marietta, Bucknell, Delaware, and George Washington all put strong crews on the water. By the 1,000-meter mark, the Pioneers and Bucknell managed to separate from the rest of the field. Bucknell, the No. 2 ranked club team in the country, led by as many as six seats, but Marietta was able to draw even with the Bison and was bow ball for bow ball at the finish line. Bucknell eked out the win by five-tenths of a second.
 
"This was a really strong race from our varsity crew," Myhr said. "It took a lot of resolve for them to stick with nationally ranked Bucknell and even more to throw it all on the line to go for the win."
 
In addition to the racing medals, several Pioneers earned individual accolades at the Championship. Ben Harper and Michael Swale (Vienna, Va./James Madison) were named first team All-MARC. Rowan Schilde was named second team, while Jackson Roca (Jacksonville, Fla./Global Leadership Academy) earned a spot on the novice team.
 
Six Pioneers were named Academic All-MARC. Thomas Hart (Dayton, Ohio/Stebbins), Nicolas Invernizzi (Lambare, Paraguay/Colegio Cristo Rey), Zach Kirla (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional), Nicholas Pachete (Monroeville, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic), Nikolas Passarella (Leesburg, Va./Riverside), and Kyle Rucker (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) were all honored for their academic achievements.
 
Marietta is back on the water for the Dad Vail Regatta on Friday and Saturday (May 8-9) in Cherry Hill, N.J.
 
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 X and Instagram.
 
Results
Varsity 8+
Heat: 1. Marietta (6:08.550), 2. MSOE (6:21.088), 3. Washington College (6:22.466), 4. Franklin and Marshall (6:26.00), 5. Catholic (6:34.562), 6. St. Mary's (6:39.970)
 
Final: 1. Bucknell (5:53.388), 2. Marietta (5:53.900), 3. Delaware (6:00.666), 4. George Washington 96:02.944), 5. Lehigh (6:06.086), 6. MSOE (6:27.570)
 
Marietta: Coxswain: Bryce West (Zanesville, Ohio/West Muskingum), Stroke: Nicholas Pachete (Monroeville, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic), 7: Benjamin Harper (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South), 6: Michael Swale (Vienna, Va./James Madison), 5: Rowan Schulde (Litchfield, Conn./Litchfield), 4: Kyle Rucker (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman), 3: Nicolas Invernizzi (Lambare, Paraguay/Colegio Cristo Rey), 2: Alexander Cathcart (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack), Bow: Nicholas Sarno (Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit)
 
Second Varsity 8+
Heat: 1. Marietta (6:11.476), 2. Delaware (6:16.534), 3. MSOE (6:55.676), 4. Catholic (7:16.960)
 
Final: 1. Marietta (6:09.406), 2. Bucknell (6:11.862), 3. Delaware (6:13.104), 4. George Washington (6:23.454), 5. Lehigh (6:25.728), 6. MSOE (7:02.428), 7. Catholic (7:17.406)
 
Marietta: Coxswain: Connor Rothandler (Burke, Va./Robinson), Stroke: Nikolas Passarella (Leesburg, Va./Riverside), 7: Jackson Roca (Jacksonville, Fla./Global Leadership Academy), 6: Jacob Salvo (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), 5: Ryan Campbell (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jat), 4: Thomas Hart (Dayton, Ohio/Stebbins), 3: Aiden Gatland (Xenia, Ohio/Dayton Regional STEM), 2: Graysen Brady (Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson), Bow: Nik Simone (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City)
 
Varsity 4+
Heat: 1. Marietta (7:14.547), 2. George Washington (7:24.307), 3. Stockton (7:47.163), 4. Washington College (8:33.973)
 
Final: 1. Bucknell (7:04.491), 2. Marietta (7:13.753), 3. George Washington (7:17.487), 4. Lehigh (7:33.559), 5. Stockton (7:52.859), 6. Delaware (8:22.859)
 
Marietta: Coxswain: Bryce West (Zanesville, Ohio/West Muskingum), Stroke: Rowan Streaker (Kensington, Md./Walter Johnson), 3: Story Rufener (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day), 2: Mason Brewer (Bowling Green, Ohio/Saint John's Jesuit), Bow: Zach Kirla (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional)
 
Men's 2X
Final: 1. Bucknell (7:31.410), 2. Bucknell (7:53.500), 3. Marietta (7:57.340), 4. St. Mary's (8:22.110), 5. Delaware (8:24.870), 6. Stockton (8:46.740)
 
Marietta: Connor Cuviello (Galloway, N.J./Absegami), Ryan Doyle (Perrysburg, Ohio/Saint John's Jesuit)