Men’s crew wins three gold medals at SIRA
The men’s crew team wraps up its season after a very successful spring 2006 race season. The team has performed well in each of its five spring races under 11th-year head coach Rob Canavan.
“As far as these races, the whole season has really paid off,” said Cameron Troxel, a third-year rower and civil engineering student from Mableton, Ga. “A lot of guys have stepped up in training so far and it’s really paid off.”
This past weekend the team competed in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship (SIRA) in Oak Ridge, Tenn. This competition had many tough teams from around the nation.
“The SIRA, this past weekend, was like the southeast championship and our men’s teams matched up well,” Troxel said.
The Jackets won gold in the varsity men’s lightweight four, the varsity men’s lightweight eight and the varsity men’s open four.
The Jackets had four previous races this spring, which were the Knecht Cup, the John Hunter Regatta, the Lanier Sprints and the SERCS. Troxel said they performed well in all four races.
The Knecht Cup in Camden, N.J. saw the Jackets face tough northeastern competition. The Jackets fared well as the varsity lightweight four and the varsity lightweight eight all earned silver while the varsity men’s open four earned gold.
At the John Hunter Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tenn. the Jackets saw the varsity men’s eight earn gold and silver, while the varsity men’s four also earned gold and silver.
The Lanier Sprints at Lake Lanier saw the Jackets win three gold, one silver and one bronze medal. The varsity men’s eight finished with a gold and a bronze medal.
The varsity four took gold and silver, and the varsity men’s lightweight four had a gold to finish out the day.
At the Southeastern Regional Collegiate Sprints in Aiken, S.C., the Jackets had four top-three finishes. The varsity eight won a gold and a bronze, while the varsity four won a silver and a bronze.
The Jackets have two big races left before their season is finished, and the team may be peaking at a good time. “We’re looking very strong,” Troxel said.
The next competition for the team comes May 12 and 13 when the Jackets compete in the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, Penn.
“Our next main competition is the Dad Vail, We’ve matched up really good with the southeast schools and we’re really anticipating the Dad Vail Regatta,” Troxel said.
After the Dad Vail Regatta, the Jackets will be competing in the IRA Regatta in Camden, N.J. June 1 through June 3 to finish the 2006 season. The IRA is the national championships for the crew team, as they will be competing against some of the best teams in the nation
After the conclusion of the season in June, the team looks to start recruiting for the fall.
“We’re losing a lot of seniors, so in the fall we’re looking to have a big recruiting class,” Troxel said.
“Anybody can come out-no experience necessary. Just an athletic build and a good dedication are all that’s needed,” Troxel said.
