Lightweight Men Jesuit Invitational Regatta Wrap-Up
March 25, 2004
CAMDEN, N.J. - The Georgetown Lightweight Men’s Crew Team began its racing season on Saturday the 20th of March at the Jesuit Invitational Regatta, held in Camden, NJ, on the Cooper River. The last time the Hoya’s varsity eight raced on the Cooper was last year’s IRA National Championship Regatta, where they finished 3rd overall, and on Saturday they were looking to open their 2004 campaign on the same successful note. To do so, they would have to face competition from Boston College, Saint Joseph’s University, Holy Cross, and Loyola.
Arriving in Camden that morning, the Hoyas found the conditions to be quite blustery, with a strong cross-tailwind coming from starboard side. The lightweight freshman were the first to race, and did so in the Men’s 2nd Freshman category, where their first boat (1F) handled the tough conditions admirably with a commanding win of nearly 6 seconds over second place Saint Joseph’s University. The second freshman lightweight eight (2F) came in at 4th place, immediately behind Georgetown’s second freshman heavyweight boat. The line-up, from bow to stern, of the 1F was Paul Elliot (C ‘07), Pierre Maitre (B ‘07), Connor Schillerstrom (F ‘07), Ralph Crowley (C ‘07), John McGroarty (C ’07), Patrick Sheridan (C ‘07), Michael McGrath (F ’07), James Curley (B ‘07), and coxswain Michael Manuccia (B ‘07) and of the 2F was Gregoire Robinson (C ‘07), Jonathan Olbrych (N ‘07), Jonathan Fayer (C ‘07), Patrick Costello (C ‘07), Dominik Peisl (B ‘07), Matt Kamenski (C ‘07), Tom Byrnes (B ‘07), Brendan Sullivan (C ‘07), Christopher Moore (B ‘07).
Next up was the Men’s Varsity Lightweight Eights race, where Georgetown would boat both their varsity and junior varsity boats, expecting stiff competition from Boston College’s lightweight eight. The wind had picked up slightly by the time that the Hoyas reached the starting area, and was by that time a steady 15 miles per hour. With no stakeboats or lane markers, the starting officials were forced to improvise the alignment of the boats as coxswains Nick Marinakis (F ‘06, JV) and Louisa Seferis (F ‘05, V) worked to keep their boats even with the other crews and pointed straight down the course while waiting for the start. In Lane 6, on the far side of the course, was Holy Cross, with Georgetown’s JV in Lane 5, Boston College in Lane 4, Georgetown’s Varsity in Lane 3, and Saint Joseph’s in Lane 2. At the starting commands, all five crews charged hard off the line, with Saint Joseph’s, Georgetown Varsity, and Boston College all putting a few seats on Georgetown JV and Holy Cross. Saint Joseph’s fell off the pace after the first 500 meters, leaving Boston College and Georgetown to battle ahead of the rest of the field. With stroke Cameron Booth (C ‘05) setting a solid rhythm, the Hoyas began to edge away from BC on each stroke. When a move was called near the mid point of the race, the lanky engine room of 5-seat Brad Kuntsher (C ‘05) and 6-seat Andrew Lechleiter (C’04, 2003-2004 Lightweight Captain) stretched out and helped the varsity successfully gap Boston College and begin to open up water between the two boats. The remainder of the race saw Georgetown steadily increase their lead, crossing the line in 5:59.8, with Boston College more than 3 seconds back, a margin greater than last year’s victory over BC at the same race by about half a second. Georgetown’s JV was engaged in a tough dog-fight with Holy Cross for the entire 2000 meters, but managed to accrue a 3 second advantage by the time they reached the line to finish in 4th place. The line-up, from bow to stern, of the Varsity was Jack Pfeiffer (C ‘06), Geoff Mikelsons (B ‘04), James O’Gara (B ‘05), Kyler Willet (C ‘06), Brad Kuntsher (C ‘05), Andrew Lechleiter (C ‘04), Blair Berbert (B ‘05), Cameron Booth (C ‘05), and coxswain Lousia Seferis (F ‘05) while the JV line-up was Dave Hansen (B ‘06), Will Sheridan (C ‘04), Jan Halaska (C ‘06), Chris Fawal (B ‘06), Tony Leotti (C ‘04), Leeds Nudd (C ‘06), Kyle Hatton (C ‘05), John Fenwick (B ‘05), and coxswain Nick Marinakis (F ‘06).
The Hoyas now return to the Potomac River for two solid weeks of preparation for their next race and first meeting with a league rival, the defending Eastern Sprints Varsity Champions of Princeton University. Princeton is coming off of an extremely strong fall season, and though Georgetown bested them by two and a half seconds in 2003, a very exciting and tight race should be expected.
