May 14, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - Sparked by four boats reaching Saturday afternoon's finals, including gold medal performances by the Freshman Lightweight 8 and the JV Heavyweight 8, the Saint Joseph's men's rowing team captured the title at the 2005 Dad Vail Regatta and combined with the SJU women to capture the overall points crown for the first time since 1971.

The Hawk men totaled 27 points to easily outdistance Purdue (18 points), Temple and Michigan (17 points) to claim the Dr. Thomas Kerr Trophy as the men's champion for the first time since 1999. The men and women combined to score 40 points and bring home the Jack Bratten Trophy indicative of the overall points winners, well ahead of runner-up Purdue (32) and Marietta (24).

The Hawks impressive day kicked off with a victory by the Varsity 8 in the semifinals. The V9 rowed the second fastest time in the morning (6:15.04) to edge Florida Tech and Purdue for a slot in the final.

The Hawks then flexed their muscles again once the afternoon finals began. The Freshman Lightweight 8 rowed a composed race taking an early lead and making it standup throughout the course to take gold and earn the Brendan Lynch Trophy. SJU won in a time of 6:51.61 to defeat runner-up Georgia Tech by a length and third place Purdue.

The gold medal procession continued as the JV 8 caught arch-ruval Temple at the Boathouse and pulled through the finish for the win and the Earnie Bayer Trophy. SJU finished nearly a length ahead of Michigan and Temple in a time of 6:23.36.

The Varsity Lightweights picked up another medal, this time a bronze. SJU finished in 6:37.85. Several lengths behind the winner Boston College and runner-up Ohio State.

In the day's final event, the Hawk Varsity 8, after posting a pair of impresive qualiying wins, placed sixth in a hotly contested final that had all the crews in striking distance down to the wire. SJU finished in 6:26.88. Michigan took first in 6:12.27.