So far, the spring rowing season can only be described by the title of the Trinidad James 2012 smash hit: “All Gold Everything” for both the Hamilton College men’s and women’s rowing teams. Both teams have been unbeatable in the first two competitions of the spring season, earning first place finishes both in Georgia and on the Erie Canal in Rome, NY.
Over spring break, the men’s and women’s rowing team ventured south to Gainesville, GA to compete in the 2018 John Hunter Regatta held on the Lake Lanier Olympic Course on Saturday, Mar. 24. On the men’s side, the Continentals emerged victorious in both the varsity eight and the second varsity eight, toppling Division I competition on their way to two gold medals. In the grand final, the men’s varsity eight edged out Georgia Tech and Clemson University to capture first place in a time of 6:01.65. The varsity eight features coxswain Haley Raphael ’20, Grant Kiefaber ’19, Trent Pfeiffer ’19, Harry Thomas ’18, Harrison Potter ’18, Chris Berry-Toon ’21, Thomas Marsh ’20, Fred Pollevick ’20, Eric Fischer ’20.
In the second varsity eight grand final, the Continentals repeated as champions, with a winning time of 6:19.89. The second varsity eight features Allie Duggan ’20 (coxswain), Parker Esty ’21, Josh Hollenberg ’21, Will Grimes ’21, Andrew Vorrath ’20, Houghton Yonge ’18, Jarod Estacio ’21, Jon Jobling ’20, and Nick Silvestri ’19. In the novice four, Hamilton finished in seventh place out of 21 boats, completing the race in 7:23.49.
Upon return to campus, the men’s rowing team geared up for their first home regatta of the season at the Erie Canal on Saturday, Mar. 31. Although the weather conditions were certainly sub-optimal, the Continentals rowed to victory in all five races throughout the day. The varsity eight won its head-to-head races against Skidmore and Franklin & Marshall with times of 6:45.7 and 6:39.2 respectively. The second varsity eight and the varsity eight both cruised to victory over Franklin & Marshall, and the novice four topped Vassar in its head-to-head.
The women’s team saw similar success at the John Hunter Regatta also earning gold medals in both the varsity eight and second varsity eight grand finals. The varsity eight finished its race in 6:49.06, cruising past runner-up William and Mary (6:58.35) and third place finisher University of Florida (7:02.94). The women’s varsity eight includes Rachel Sutor ’20 (coxswain), Annie Koglin ’20, Perrin Salewood ’21, Claire Callahan ’18, Danielle Schuman ’20, Rachel Cooley ’18, Sam Benevelli ’18, Alex Brantl ’18, and Jade Thomas ’20. The second varsity eight would triumph over the Gators again, narrowly beating the University of Florida by posting a time of 7:08.71, three seconds faster than the Gators (7:11.84). The women’s second varsity eight is powered by Carson Goos ’21 (coxswain), Katherine Buckley ’21, Ellie Pinto ’18, Isabel Bates ’21, Pauline Santry ’21, Julia Hartnett ’20, Gretchen Dowdy ’21, Hannah Kaufer ’21, and Adriana Jonas ’21.
The women’s rowing team followed up their spring break with an impressive performance in its home opener at the Erie Canal this past weekend. Hamilton posted victories across the board to dominate the visiting competition. After earning a sixth place ranking in the USRowing/ Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division III poll, the Continentals had a lot to prove on the water this weekend. Always up to the challenge, the women’s varsity eight dominated the field, posting a time of 7:23.1, 27 seconds better than the runner-up Franklin & Marshall team. The varsity eight was not the only dominant Hamilton vessel, with the second varsity cruising to an 18 second victory (with a 7:55.4 time).
The men’s and women’s rowing teams will hope to continue this early season dominance on April 7, travelling to Lake Quinsigamond to compete against some of the strongest teams in the northeast.
