May 9, 2004

WORCESTER, Mass.--The Hobart varsity-eight posted a five-second victory over the field in the petite final of the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships, while the freshmen-eight finished fifth in the grand final.

After winning its heat and clocking the fastest time on Saturday, the varsity-eight fell short of expectations on Sunday morning by finishing fourth in their semifinal race to miss the grand final.

However, in their petite final later that day the Statesmen rallied to log an impressive five second victory over the closest competitor, Orange Coast (Calif.) College. Hobart’s time was the third fastest overall, clocking in at 6:00.73. The time was less than a second behind the University of North Carolina’s winning time of 5:59.79 in the following grand final race.

“We let the competition catch us by surprise in the semifinal and missed our chance to progress to the grand finals,” Head Coach Mike Guerrieri said. “However, the varsity’s decisive performance in the petite final made up for the mistake made in the semis to some degree.”

In the varsity eight for the Statesmen were sophomore coxswain Dan Gilbert (Rochester/Rochester, N.Y.), senior stroke Havilland Campbell (LaSalle/Philadelphia, Pa.), sophomore seventh seat Gardner Loring (Middlesex/Duxbury, Mass.), sophomore sixth seat John Michael Chadonic (Lawrenceville/New York, N.Y.), sophomore fifth seat Tim Faxon (Salisbury School/Pelham, Mass.), sophomore fourth seat Gavin Johnstone-Butcher (St. Paul’s School (N.H.)/Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), first-year third seat Sep Levatich (Ithaca/Brooktondale, N.Y.), first-year second seat Michael Grenier (Brooks School/Methuen, Mass.), and junior bow Michael Hoepp (Choate Rosemary Hall/Bedford, N.H.).

The Hobart freshmen-eight qualified for the grand final when it finished second in its heat on Saturday.

“The freshmen had to hold off a determined crew from the University of North Carolina to gain a place in the final.” Guerrieri said. “In the final, after a rocky start they were able to walk through Orange Coast’s freshmen to take 5th by just .04 seconds.”

The freshmen boat was comprised of coxswain Nick Hoagland (Millbrook School/New York, N.Y.), stroke Ben Draper (The Branson School/San Anselmo, Calif.), seventh seat Nate Kress (Ithaca/Ithaca, N.Y.), sixth seat Paul Wasmund (Fabius-Pompey/Fabius, N.Y.), fifth seat Joe Jameson (Brebeuf Jesuit/Indianapolis, Ind.), fourth seat David Drennan (Greenhills School/Ann Arbor, Mich.), third seat Robert Reinheimer (Cheverus/Bowdoinham, Maine), second seat Alex Caruthers (Bishop O’Dowd/Kensington, Calif.), and bow Jared Desrochers (Shenendehowa/Clifton Park, N.Y.).

Hobart will submit entries for the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship regatta to be held June 3-5, on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J. The regatta features the best of the best in collegiate rowing. The Statesmen are seeking entries in the varsity-four, the varsity-two, and the freshmen-eight.