Last weekend Bucknell competed at the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) Championship where it looked to secure the team points trophy for the second consecutive year. With victories in five of six events, the team successfully went back-to-back for the first time in program history.
Consistent with most MARC Championships of the past, last weekend’s weather was mostly unpleasant; teams hunkered down in their buses as lightning delayed the first 90 minutes of racing and once the regatta begun, rain persisted throughout its entirety.
Not much can be noted about the boats beyond the first varsity eight as each of them won its race in convincing fashion. In its grand final, the second varsity eight established an early cushion that it was able to sit on through the finish line. The same could be said about third varsity eight, tasked with beating just one Villanova boat. The varsity four included three members from the third varsity eight, plus senior Dan Van Syckle, the bow seat of the four that won this same race last year. Rowing the lineup for the first time, these four had no problem adapting to the same rhythm, hence their first place finish by open water. Like the varsity four, the novice four came together without much practice beforehand to win comfortably. Closing out the day, the double used prior high school sculling experience to clean up the field.
The #6-ranked varsity eight faced the biggest challenge, lining up against a hungry #9 Lehigh crew that they had edged by just 0.3 seconds last year. As could be expected, Lehigh sought an early advantage and got one. Dictating the pace from the front of the pack, Lehigh held off Bucknell from wire to wire, winning the race by one length.
Later this month, Bucknell will close out its year in Oak Ridge, TN for the ACRA National Championship. Hoping to improve on last year’s 6th place team finish, Bucknell will enter numerous small boats in addition to the 1v, 2v and 3v.
Varsity 8+
#9 Lehigh – 6:13.5
#6 Bucknell – 6:15.6
Adrian – 6:24.7
Catholic – 6:31.4
St. Mary’s – 6:39.2
Villanova – 6:40.0
2nd Varsity 8+
Bucknell – 6:15.8
Lehigh – 6:22.5
Villanova – 6:44.1
Catholic – 6:53.1
St. Mary’s – 6:56.8
Stockton – 7:16.0
3rd Varsity 8+
Bucknell – 6:40.8
Villanova – 8:17.4
Varsity 4+
Bucknell – 7:13.2
Stockton – 7:26.1
Catholic – 7:29.6
Novice 4+
Bucknell – 7:43.2
MSOE – 7:54.9
Stockton – 7:58.0
2x
Bucknell – 8:23.3
F&M – 8:48.1
Lehigh – 8:55.6
1st Varsity 8+ – 2022 Hudson S8.32 SHARK Super Predator
Coxswain: Izzy Mersky, Jr.
Stroke: Andrew Viola, Jr.
7: Sen Zelov, So.
6: Kevin Carney, Jr.
5: Zach Gerhardt, Jr.
4: Conor McNichols, So.
3: Jack Fiala, Sr.
2: Ryan Genel, Fr.
Bow: Dominic Canale, Jr.
2nd Varsity 8+ – 2022 Hudson S8.32 SHARK Super Predator
Coxswain: Emma Minadeo, Sr.
Stroke: Ryan Spallone, So.
7: Dirk Puleo, So.
6: Andy Thompson, So.
5: Nathan Peot, Jr.
4: Josh Raeter, Fr.
3: Aidan DeWitt, So.
2: Chris Kirby, Fr.
Bow: Luca Arvanitis, So.
3rd Varsity 8+ – Class of 2020
Coxswain: Jack Lieblein, Fr.
Stroke: Mason Cametas, Sr.
7: Oliver Abusharca, Fr.
6: Graham Knox, Jr.
5: Will Blumenthal, Fr.
4: Chris Morale, Fr.
3: Tim Robertson, Fr.
2: Kellen Paulsen, Fr.
Bow: Brent Mankin, Sr.
Varsity 4+
Coxswain: Austin Carroll, Fr.
Stroke: Mason Cametas, Sr.
3: Oliver Abushacra, Fr.
2: Graham Knox, Jr.
Bow: Dan Van Syckle, Sr.
Novice 4+
Coxswain: Josiah Kwok, Fr.
Stroke: Griffin Walsh, Fr.
3: Ethan Jones, Jr.
2: John Kirincich, Fr.
Bow: Brendan Arnold, Jr.
2x
Stroke: Garrett Van Blarcom-DeLuise, Fr.
Bow: Peter Nasto, Fr.