PHILADELPHIA (2/01/04) - On the cusp of a breakout season after capturing the Dad Vail points title for the second time in five years, the Saint Joseph's University men's rowing program has its sights set on becoming a player on the national scene in 2003-04. Head coach Drew Hill graduated only one senior from last year's squad and has strength in his Varsity 8s which are bolstered by members of the team's 2003 Dad Vail Champion Freshman 8s. With so many experienced returnees, competition for seats in the varsity boats will be fierce. The Varsity 8 produced a solid campaign in 2003, but has even higher expectations this year. After reaching the final in every regatta in which it competed, including the Dad Vail, and picking up medals at four events, the V8 which returns Charlie Koob (cox), Matt Mullin, Ray Cawley, Jon Joyce, Chris Barrett, Drew Parassio and Mike Dyczkiewycz are hungry to seize gold this season. The Lightweight crew picked up four medals during the year and also advanced to the Dad Vail final. Among the key returnees are Lee Bink, Justin Marconi, Pat McGettigan, Eric Mushel, Russ Lampman and Joe Francks. As members of the last season's highly decorated Freshman 8s rise into the varsity ranks, competition for seats in the top boats will be heated. The Hawks' Freshman 8 of John Hayes (cox), Devlin Murdock, Dan Fazio, Evan Pierce, Justin Jones, Mike Leahy, Tom Fitzpatrick and Sean O'Hara was a crew to be reckoned with throughout the year. Placing first or second in all but the IRAs, the Freshman 8 had few peers during the spring, sweeping to gold medals at the Knecht and Murphy Cups. In addition this crew became the first freshman Heavyweight 8 in Saint Joseph's history to win the big prize, the Dad Vail Championship. Even more impressive, this crew set a new event record time of 5:54.70 in winning gold. The Frosh Lightweights, which return Courtney Dombroski (cox), Michael Santoro, Matt Walsh, Joe Kenney, 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 . Loaded with talent from an exceptional recruiting year, this year's Heavyweight and Lightweight Freshman 8s will not disappoint. The freshman squad boasts oarsmen from many of the top boats from many of the top high schools in the nation, including Saint Joseph's Prep, La Salle, Mainland, TC Williams, St. John's Jesuit, and Monsignor Bonner and includes Junior National Team Member Adrian Gherca. Tested during the fall, the men boated both a College 8 and Youth 8 at the Head of the Charles in Boston, placing fourth and 14th, respectively, and setting the tone for a successful spring. Displaying strength in numbers, the Hawks anticipate boating six eights of oarsmen. The men, who returned to campus in fantastic shape and enthusiastic about the season, have set high goals and possess the energy and athleticism to make 2003-04 a year to remember.