Saints Advance All Crews to Grand Finals at NYS Championships For First Time in Program History

      May 1: The St. Lawrence University men's crew team advanced both its varsity eight and novice eight to Grand Finals at the New York State Championships Saturday, for the first time in program history. Both boats will compete Sunday, May 2nd in Whitney Point, NY. The men's varsity eight had an impressive race, defeating USMMA, Hamilton, and Albany to finish third in the second heat to qualify for Sunday's Grand Final. Hobart College won the event with a time of 6:16.61, while Ithaca College took second in 6:18.45. The Saints earned the final qualifying place with a time of 6:30.79.

Sophomore Will Schrade stroked the Saints 1V,while sophomore Jamie Cook sat seven seat, sophomore Justin Painter sat six seat, sophomore Brent Underwood sat five seat, junior Dave MacClaren sat four seat, junior Cameron West sat three seat, sophomore Griffin Green sat two seat, and junior Nick Blum sat bow. Junior Alyssa Halton coxed the Saints varsity eight.

Marist won the first heat with a time of 6:13.88, while RIT took second in 6:15.61. Army rounded out the heat, crossing the finish line in 6:21.13 to beat the University of Rochester, Union, Vassar, and Rensselaer. Marist, RIT, and Army will join St. Lawrence in Sunday's Grand Final.

The Saints novice eight also had a stand-out performance, winning the second heat by three seconds. St. Lawrence finished first with a time of 6:39.99, while the University of Rochester took second in 6:42.47. Ithaca's A boat earned third, crossing the finish line in 6:44.91, and taking the final qualifying spot from Geneseo State.

The saints freshman eight was stroked by Jake Morse, while Will Mahoney sat seven seat, Christian Bergbauer sat six seat, Rob Meacham sat five seat, Evan McConnell sat four seat, Will Maloney sat three seat, Sam Baker sat two seat, and Francis Stripp sat bow. Audrey Strasenburgh coxed the boat.

In the first heat, Army took first with a time of 6:30.53, while Hobart finished in second place with a time of 6:30.71. RIT earned third, crossing the line in 6:37.17, beating Ithaca's B crew and Rensselaer. These three crews will join St. Lawrence in tomorrow's Grand Final.