Franklin Pierce Rowers Turn in Solid Results
Over the Weekend
WV4 wins its event, rest of crews post competitive results
against Mass Maritime, Fairfield and Roger Williams

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (April 4, 2006) – The Franklin Pierce men’s and women’s rowing teams got their spring sprint season rolling with strong results in a small regatta with Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Fairfield University and Roger Williams University at Herring Pond on Sunday.

            While the women’s varsity eight had a weekend off, the women’s fours excelled over the weekend. The Ravens A boat took first place in its event, completing the 2000-meter course with a time of 7:33.8 to finish ahead of crews from Roger Williams (8:16.6), Mass Maritime (8:30.10) and Franklin Pierce’s B boat (8:32.5). Rowing for the Ravens top boat were sophomore Blair Granum (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) at stroke, junior Meagan Gross (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) in the two seat, junior Elizabeth Ward (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) at three seat, and junior Lauren Bibby (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) on the bow with freshman Vanessa Leon (Lenox, Mass./Lenox) as the coxswain.

            The men’s varsity four placed second in its event with a time of 6:45.3 over the 2000-meters. The Ravens finished behind Fairfield’s A boat (6:35.0) and ahead of Fairfield B (6:54.3). Rowing for the Ravens top boat was junior Justin Watson (Middletown, Conn./Middletown) at stroke, senior Rich Connell (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) in the two seat, sophomore Bill Eroh (Meridan, Conn./Lyman Hall) at three seat, and junior Nate Horowitz (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) in the bow with freshman Josh Lapinski (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) as the coxswain.

            The men’s varsity eight took third place, posting a time of 6:41.6 over 2000m. Fairfield won the event with a time of 6:19.4, while Mass Maritime was second (6:38.8). Rowing for the Ravens were Watson at stroke, Connell in the two seat, Eroh at three seat, Horowitz at four seat, freshman Josh Marker (Lockport, N.Y./St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute) in the five seat, sophomore Tom Merkt (Enfield, Conn./Cathedral) at the six seat, senior Brett Burnham (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) at seven seat, and sophomore Frank Seijas (Whittier, Calif./Whittier) on the bow with Lipinski as the coxswain.

            The Franklin Pierce men and women will be back in action this weekend for the Knecht Cup, hosted by Villanova University, in Camden, N.J., Saturday and Sunday. The women’s varsity eight looks to build on last year’s success by the varsity four, which captured a gold medal in its event a year ago.