May 9, 2009
WC Fours Advance to Dad Vail Semifinals
Varsity, Novice Fours Lead Shoremen at Regatta

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Washington College men's rowing team closed out its 2008-09 season at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta held in Philadelphia yesterday and today. The Shoremen advanced to the semifinals in both the varsity heavyweight four and the frosh/novice four.

Due to weather conditions, Friday's scheduled heats were changed to 1,500-meter time trials. In the time trials of the varsity heavyweight four, the Shoremen finished 14th of 53 boats with a time of 4:38.701. In the time trials of the frosh/novice four, the Shoremen were 15th of 48 in 4:54.469. The top 18 boats from the trials advanced to the semifinals.

The varsity four finished fifth of six boats in its Saturday semifinal race in 6:57.048. St. Thomas won the race in 6:42.887, Georgia Tech was second on 6:46.467, Stetson was third in 6:50.230, Vermont was fourth in 6:52.513, and Massachusetts was sixth in 7:06.866.

The novice four was sixth of six boats in its Saturday semifinal race in 6:58.869. Army won the semifinal in 6:40.737, Dayton was second in 6:41.803, Michigan was third in 6:42.958, Carnegie Mellon was fourth in 6:51.983, and Northwestern was fifth in 6:55.920.

Junior Springer Harris (Huntingtown, MD/Northern) served as coxswain of the Shoremen's varsity heavyweight four. Junior Brian Gamble (Gibson Island, MD/Holderness School, NH) sat stroke, sophomore Reno Smith (Ocean City, MD/Worcester Prep) sat in the three seat, sophomore Michael Zaborskiy (Novosibirsk City, Russia/American School of Bangkok) was in the two seat, and sophomore Will Herland (Seattle, WA/Lakeside School) was in the bow.

Freshman Isabel Derera (Reisterstown, MD/Franklin) served as coxswain for the Shoremen's frosh/novice four. Sophomore Guy Tawney (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul's School) sat stroke, freshman Sean Harrison (Richmond, VA/Hazleton Area, PA) was in the three seat, freshman Miqdad Annab (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) was in the two seat, and freshman Zack Holocker (Centreville, MD/Queen Anne's County) was the bow.

Junior Kevin Rodriguez (Fort Collins, CO/Fort Collins) and junior Dan Pierce (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) rowed in the men's pair for Washington, finishing 22nd of 25 boats in the time trials in 6:05.409.