WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Maritime men's and women's rowing teams competed this weekend on Saturday and Sunday at two regattas held on Mercer Lake in Southern New Jersey. On Saturday the team took part in the Frostbite Regatta, and followed up with the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta on Sunday.
 
Both the Frostbite and the Braxton were sprint races in contrast to the head races that the Privateers have been a part in throughout the fall semester.
 
At the Frostbite Regatta the Privateers featured three boats in two events, while the Braxton Regatta included five entries in five events.
 
Saturday's conditions were ideal with a slight tailwind that had very little effect on the times throughout the day. However, below-freezing temperatures throughout the day delayed morning racing.
 
The Maritime men's fours started off the abbreviated Braxton Regatta, after the cancellations forced by the frigid temperatures. The first four to go off was the men's second varsity four which showcased a new lineup. The boat was coxed by freshman Ben Ludwig (New City, N.Y./Clarsktown North) and consisted of freshman Liam Sammons (St. Johnsville, N.Y./Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsvile), sophomore Adam Durrua (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach), sophomore James Louer Jr. (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) and freshman Tommy Murray (Paramus, N.J./Bergen Catholic). The boat posted a time of 7:54.110 placing third in their heat of five and 14th out of 22 total.
 
Afterwards the men's first varsity four took to the water in the next heat, also featuring a new lineup. The boat was coxed by junior Christopher Chilelli (Bordentown N.J./Bordentown Regional) and consisted of sophomore John Woods (Worcester, Mass./St. John's), freshman Christian Tanas (Chatham, N.J./St. Peter's Prep), sophomore Zach Woolley (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie) and freshman Roury Higgins (Miami, Fla./Christopher Columbus). The boat finished with a time of 7:29.420 and placed fourth in their heat of five and ninth out of 22 overall.
 
The last race on Saturday was the men's varsity eight as the sun was setting. The eight was coxed by sophomore Spencer Ragonesi (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) and consisted of Murray, Sammons, Durrua, Woods, Woolley, Louer, Tanas and Higgins. The octet managed to post a time of 7:01.590 finishing fifth in their heat of six, edging out Binghamton.
 
On Sunday conditions fared better for all races to go off at the Braxton Regatta.
 
The first race of the day for the Privateers  was the men's varsity four which was coxed by Chilelli and consisted of their lineup Woods, Woolley, freshman Stefano Korkotas (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) and Higgins. This time around they improved four seconds to 7:25.450 placing fourth of five in their heat and sixth overall out of 13.
 
The next race was immediately after the men's team and it was the women's novice four who was competing in their first race of the season. The boat coxed by sophomore Madison Burbol (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) consisted of an all-freshman boat of Ashley Hallaian (Tampa, Fla./Thomas Jefferson), Angelicia Rosario (Bronx, N.Y./Aquinas), Amy Torres (Uniondale, N.Y./Uniondale), and Kelly Guerrero (Bay Shore, N.Y./St. John the Baptist). They closed the race out at an 11:16.58 and finished sixth out of six in their heat.
 
Up next for the Privateers at the regatta was the novice four coxed by Ludwig. The unit consisted of Sammons, Murray, Louer and Tanas in the stroke seat. The privateers could not catch Marietta in the final stages of the race and finished 2.1 seconds behind with a time of 7:37.780.
 
Next was the men's varsity eight with the same lineup as Saturday with the addition of Korkotas in seven seat and Durrua moving to two seat. After a slow start the Privateers reached the 500-meter mark as Ragonesi regained control and passed Binghamton in the process. The Privateers did catch up to Loyola, who had beaten the Privateers by 15 seconds on Saturday, and in the final minute of the race was an all-out sprint with Maritime beating out Loyola by 1.1 seconds with a time of 6:45.20 and finishing third overall.
 
To finish up the day for the team was the men's novice eight. Coxed by Burbol, the crew of freshmen James Onorato (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot), Derek Profit (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot), Jake Wells (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. John the Baptist), Dean Maniscalco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland), Borahan Alpaslan (Istanbul, Turkey/Final Temel Okullari), Joseph Seychell (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside), sophomore Winter Ryan (York, Pa./York Suburban) and Sammons finished with a time of 8:06.60 beating Manhattan and Binghamton in the process.
 
Maritime will use its strong momentum from the fall season and look ahead to the spring half of its schedule. The schedule will be revealed later in the winter months on MaritimeAthletics.com.