PHILADELPHIA (7/01/03) - Eye opening fall results, that included a third place finish by the Dad Vail 8 at the prestigious Head of the Charles in Boston, and the energy of new head coach Drew Hill set the Saint Joseph's University men's rowing team on course for a record setting spring season that reaffirmed its status as one of the East's premier programs in 2002-03. A pair of experienced varsity crews coupled with arguably the region's most talented collection of novice rowers provided SJU with the depth necessary to claim the Dad Vail point trophy for the first time since 1999. A gold medal at the Navy Day Regatta, followed by a silver medal at the prestigious Head of the Schuylkill proved that the Hawks' Freshman 8 of John Hayes (cox), Devlin Murdock, David Fazio, Mike Leahy, Evan Pierce, Justin Jones, George Gantner, Tom Fitzpatrick and Sean O'Hara would be a crew to be reckoned with throughout the year. Placing first or second in all but three races, the Freshman 8 had few peers during the spring, sweeping to gold medals at the Knecht and Murphy Cups, as well as the Dad Vail. The Frosh Lightweights, which included Courtney Dombroski (cox), Joe D'Amato, Jesse Burns, Michael Santoro, Matt Walsh, Bradford Pearson, Joe Kenney, Chris Leary and Marty Quinn, were equally impressive during the spring. That crew reached the finals in all five regattas, claiming gold at both the Knecht Cup and the Dad Vail. At the Dad, SJU topped a final field that featured Minnesota, North Carolina, Purdue and Delaware in a time of 6:08.60 . Like its underclass counterparts, the Varsity 8 and Lightweight 8 both produced solid campaigns. The V8 of Charlie Koob, Matt Mullin, Ray Cawley, Jon Joyce, Chris Rountree, Chris Barrett, Drew Parassio, Matt Gantner and Mike Dyczkiewycz, reached the final in every regatta in which it competed and picked up medals at four events. Poised for a splash at the Dad Vail, the Varsity 8 easily advanced to the final, where SJU placed sixth in a talented heat that featured Temple, Dowling, Marietta, Minnesota and Purdue. The Lightweight crew that included Heather Alba (cox), Lee Bink, Justin Marconi, Pat McGettigan, Eric Mushel, Jason Bansch, Kevin McHale, Russ Lampman and Joe Francks, placed also produced strong spring results. They picked up four medals during the year and also advanced to the Dad Vail final with little trouble. In the final, however, SJU finished fifth (6:07.7) behind Delaware, Boston College, Purdue and Fordham, but ahead of Minnesota.