May 16, 2011
WORCESTER, Mass. - The Georgetown University heavyweight varsity eight rowed to their second highest placing ever at the Eastern Sprints this Sunday finishing higher than their 12th seed in 11th place. Georgetown placed 10th in 2006.
In the morning heats, the Georgetown varsity eight of stroke Matt Stewart, Henry Hoffstot, Sam Viola, Mike Hennessy, Kyle Textor, Tim Broughton, Ben Holtzmuller, Mike Blommer and Coxswain Kerri McKie faced fierce competition from Harvard, Syracuse, Cornell, and Pennsylvania. In the opening 1000 meters Penn opened up a half-length lead on the Hoyas. Georgetown paced well in the third quarter of the race and pulled even with Penn coming into the last 500 meters. With a strong push Georgetown sprinted ahead of Penn to finish fourth in a time of 5:56.9 clinching the last qualifying spot in the Petite Final to determine places seven through 12.
In the afternoon of racing, the Petite Final of the varsity eights featured Yale, Dartmouth, Navy, Cornell, Georgetown and Columbia. In the last 500 meters of the race, Georgetown trailed the field two seats behind Columbia University. GU mounted an impressive sprint and just nipped No. 9 Columbia in a time of 5:52.7, 0.03 seconds in front of the Lions and finishing 2.1 seconds behind fourth place Cornell University.
Also racing in the afternoon were the second varsity and freshman eights.
In the third level final, the second varsity eight, comprised of stroke Chris Kozak, Matt Funk, Colin MacDougall, Cameron Hoerner, Greg Smyth, Matt Matyjek, Matt Mullman, Adam Orshefsky and coxswain Courtney Mastrangelo finished in front of Rutgers by 4.9 seconds, but trailed Holy Cross and George Washington.
The freshman eight of stroke Will Knox, Will Schnoor, John Collins, John Absher, Chris Sparacino, Charles Rice, James Nelson, Jake Rosen and coxswain Jake Appellof completed their racing at this year's Sprints in the third level, finishing 30 seconds in front of Rutgers and just 0.6 seconds out of fourth behind GW.
Georgetown has postseason hopes and has entered its Heavyweight Varsity Men's Eight in the Interscholastic Rowing Association's National Championships to be held in Camden NJ June 2-4.
