July 5, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Despite having a senior-laden team, the story of the Saint Joseph's men's rowing season was the performance of the Freshman 8 crew.

The Freshman 8 boat finished no worse than third place in the regattas or invitationals that it participated in 2006-07. The crew posted first-place finishes in the Navy Day Regatta, Frostbite Regatta, and the Jesuit Invitational, while also winning the Bergen Cup.

The Lightweight 8 was also successful in 2006-07, picking up silver medals the SIRA Championships and Dad Vail Regatta. That crew also placed fifth in the Petit Final at the IRA Championship.

In Saint Joseph's first-ever trip to the SIRA Championships in Tennessee, the Hawks had one of their best weekends of the season. The Freshman 8 bested a very competitive field to win gold, while the Lightweight 8 posted a strong second-place finish, just barely an inch behind Mercyhurst. The Varsity 8 finished a solid fourth in the Petit Final, and the JV 8 advanced to the Grand Final to take fourth, both in very competitive races.

SJU has a tradition of success at the Dad Vail Regatta and this year, the Hawks medaled in two races. The Hawks earned silver in the Lightweight 8 for the second year in a row and garnered bronze in the Freshman 8. The Varsity 8 advanced to the Petit Final, finishing second to Lehigh, but ahead of Grand Valley State.

The Varsity 8 took second in the Bergen Cup, finishing behind Drexel. That crew was comprised of seniors Alex DiBiasi, Sean Flynn, Dan Lachant, Andrew Friedlander, and (cox) Stephanie Gehringer, while Gavin Adams, Jack Drewniak, Glenn Griffin and Sean King are members of that boat who will return in 2007-08.