Complete Results
 
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (May 10, 2014) – The Maritime men's and women's rowing teams competed in their final event of the season this weekend, the Dad Vail Regatta. The Dad Vail is the largest intercollegiate rowing competition in the country and includes rowing programs from all Divisions. The Privateers entered a boat in four different events over the two-day regatta and saw their Men's Novice Four boat finish in second place in the finals to earn a silver medal in the "Lindy Cup Race."
 
A week after winning the New York State Championships under tough race conditions, the Novice Four boat of freshmen Liam Gagliano (Oyster Bay, N.Y./Oyster Bay), Corey Toscano (Union Vale, N.Y./Our Lady Of Lourdes) and Ethan Murray (Guilford, Conn./) and junior Wellington DeLone (with freshman coxswain Rachel DeFroda (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy)) finished the finals race at the Dad Vail with a time of 7:34.233, behind the National Champions from Oklahoma City University, who crossed the finish line in 7:26.540.
 
The Privateers earned a spot in the finals after a second place finish in the qualifying round in 6:47.093 and then posting a 6:55.352 and another second-place finish in the semifinals. Their second place finish overall was out of 42 boats that entered the event nationally.
 
This is the second straight season that the Privateers' Novice Four boat medaled in this event. In 2013, the team of John Howe, Brian Sweeney, Joe Prevete and Albert Merz earned a bronze.
 
Two other boats qualified for the semifinals in their events, the Men's Pair of senior Matt Thomas (Mathews, Va./Mathews) and freshman Ian Thomsen (Watkinsville, Ga./Oconee County) finished in fifth in the semis with a time of 7:54.046, and the Men's Lightweight Four boat of freshman Clay Dundas (Sparta Township, N.J./Blair Academy)/Mike Kane (Lewes, Del./)/sophomore Mark Nash (Buffalo, N.Y./Nichols School)/and Declan Albert (Danville, Ken./Canisius (N.Y.))) (with freshman coxswain Connor Hughes (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep.)), who crossed the finish line in sixth place in the semis in 7:17.149.

(left to right - stroke Declan Albert, Mark Nash, coxswain Connor Hughes, Mike Kane, and Clay Dundas)

The Lightweight boat is practically a Novice Four, but head coach Rick Smith rowed them as a varsity lightweight, which is rare. They rowed well above their level and against teams that have been rowing for four years in college. They will be an incredible boat in the next two years.
 
On the women's side, the pair of junior Ann Boston (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) and sophomore Elizabeth Higley (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) came in fourth place out of six teams in their heat with a time of 8:19.811, but failed to qualify for the semifinals.
 
For the complete results from the Dad Vail National Championship Regatta, click here.