May 31, 2003

CAMDEN, N.J.--Hobart won the gold medal in the freshman four event at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships this afternoon. John Michael Chadonic (The Lawrenceville School/New York, N.Y.), Tim Faxon (Salsbury/Pelham, N.Y.), Gavin Johnstone-Butcher (St. Paul's School/Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), Gardner Lorring (Middlesex/Duxbury, Mass.), and coxswain Dan Gilbert (Brighton/Rochester, N.Y.) captured the title with an eight-second victory over the University of Southern California.

Making their first appearance in the IRA Championship Regatta, the Statesmen earned a spot in the grand final with an impressive open-water victory in their preliminary heat on Thursday. Hobart covered the 2,000-meter course in 6:32.70, the fastest time of any freshmen four in the prelims and more than 10 seconds ahead of second place Columbia University.

In the Grand Final, the Statesmen were the lone Division III representative, staring down Dartmouth, Harvard, Navy, Southern Cal, and Temple. Hobart's four showed no signs of intimidation, covering the course in 6:53.65, well ahead of the second place Trojans (7:01.08).

The Statesmen's varsity eight also compete in the regatta, placing fourth in the fourth level final (22nd overall). Hobart was the only Division III school competing in the varsity eight event.