Crew wins big at the Dad Vail races in Philadelphia

The Tech rowing team left Philadelphia Sunday, May 14 after its most successful showing of the season at the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the nation.

The men's varsity lightweight 8+ placed first with the men's varsity open 4+ placing second.

"Of all our goals this season we've completed nearly every one." said head coach Rob Canavan.

"We gear our entire season toward Dad Vail's, it's what we practice for," said Canavan.

This year's success in the lightweight 8+ marks the first Tech eight to ever win gold at the Dad Vails'.

The triumph came after an amazing season with only one defeat in the event; an early loss to St. Joe's at Knecht Cup which was vindicated as the Yellow Jackets beat the same boat at Vails in a decisive victory.

After a long rain delay, the lightweight 8+ focused on the race at hand and rowed its fastest sprint race of the season. Tech lightweights sped through the entire race and finished 2.6 seconds ahead of St. Joes.

"It was hands down the best race we had all year," said Theresa Mara, the team's coxswain.

The open 4+'s second place finish came in the last 300 meters of the race with a fast Cal boat just beating Tech.

Nevertheless, the crew is happy with a silver medal.

"We expected more; it wasn't really what I wanted, but somebody has to win silver and we'll take it," said Austin Nichols, a third year Tech rower.

Three of the four will return next year, two of whom will be training in Philadelphia this summer.

Tech crew's varsity women's team has battled intense competition throughout the entire spring season.

The women's varsity pair raced strongly into semifinals where they lost to a strong Saint Thomas crew that went on to win the final event.

Although both the women's open four+ and lightweight 4 + did not continue out of Dad Vail heats this year, optimistic oarswomen will return next year ready as ever to race again.

"Our squad is on the threshold of becoming a very competitive force in southern rowing and we're all very excited," said Elizabeth York, a second-year rower.

New coaching and a variety of new rowers are on the horizon. These changes look to improve next years' team.

Currently, the team is organizing its upcoming trip to the IRA Regatta scheduled for this June.

Last year Tech attended the national regatta with only one boat.

This year, the team will take two boats: a straight four and pair. Intense training will continue in anticipation of the team's trip to Camden N.J.