PHILADELPHIA (5/07/04) - The Saint Joseph's men's and women's rowing teams both posted big days on the first day of competition at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River, easily advancing all of their crews to Sunday's finals and semifinals respectively. Click for complete race results and for Dad Vail Regatta Information.

The most impressive victory was turned in by the men's Varsity 8. The men's V8 of coxswain Charlie Koob, Adrian Gherca, Dan Fazio, Jon Joyce, Mike Dyczkiewicz, Sean Flynn, Drew Parassio, Matt Mullin and Ray Cawley edged Purdue by just 0.7 tenths of a second, turning in the morning's third fastest time (6:06.2) to advance to Sunday's semifinal without having to row back through the afternoon repechage.

The women's V8 of cox Rachel Fonorow, Brianna Kearns, Brigid Morrison, Martha Limbach, Lauren Gallagher, Marci Armetta, Mary Jameson, Jenn Linck, Megan Nechanicky also advanced directly to Sunday's semifinals with an easy victory in a time of 7:06.11.

The men's Lightweght 8 of cox Courtney Dombroski, Joe Francks, Russ Lampman, Tom Fitzpatrick, Matt Walsh, Devlin Murdock, Lee Bink, Pat McGettigan and Mike Santoro, meanwhile sped through to Sunday's final after placing second to Boston College in its heat (6:22.9).

In the afternoon, SJU both SJU's men's and women's Freshman 8's won their heats easily to advance to Sunday's semifinals.

The Frosh men's 8 boat consisting of Stephanie Gehringer (cox), Alex DiBiasi, Blake Schiller, Wayne Zimmer, Mike Jacob, Dan Lachant, Andrew Friedlander, Dave Naab and Jeff Schaetzle, deliverd the third fastest qualifying time of the day (6:04.1). The women's Frosh 8 of cox Jenn Castillo, Natalie Schuck, Meghan Henry, Susie Beltz, Kristen Greenbaum, Julie Kelenski, Jen Fasy, Meghan McShea and Kate Tarpey, likewise was not tested winning its heat by more than 13 seconds in a time of 7:00.2.

The men's and women's JV 8 both advanced directly to Sunday's finals with the women winning their heat and the men placing second.

The women's boat of 2nd Varsity 8 cox Kate Parry, Laura Hill, Jenn Wilson, Amanda Holland, Rebecca Celotto, Bernice Mc Pherson, Meredith Richter, Maureen Owston and Courtney Cronauer turned in the second quickest time (6:48.9) of the day in an easy win. The men's JV boat of cox John Hayes, Justin marconi, Sean O'Hara, Chris Barrett, Evan Pierce, Mike Leahy, Tom Smith, Justin Jones and Bill Fox, placed second in a hottly contested semifinal with a time of 5:58.8. The men were jus 2.0 seconds behind Army and 0.1 tenths ahead of Minnesota.