Lehighsports.com

PHILADELPHIA – Lehigh University kicked off their spring racing season versus Drexel, Delaware and St Joseph's on Saturday.  After a spring break training week in Allentown of snow, freezing temperatures, and howling winds, the Schuylkill was calm and a pleasant surprise, allowing for terrific racing conditions.  Though both sides had victories, ultimately, the men's and women's varsity eights fell to fellow Dad Vail foes.

The women's varsity eight (coxswain Chelsea Crisafulli, Stroke Alix Howie, 7 Diana Phillapova, 6 Denise Julian, 5 Christine Porcaro, 4 Emily Marshall, 3 Ellen Sweet, 2  Becca Guzman, Bow Jackie Cross) lined up against Drexel, Delaware, and the defending Dad Vail champions, St. Josephs University.  After a poor start, the women found themselves in last place after 500 meters.  Despite the weak first quarter, the Mountain Hawks clawed their way back into the pack and managed to walk though both Delaware and Drexel over the next 1000 meters.  St. Joseph's was too large a match as Lehigh finished in second place with a time of 7:29.5. 

The men's eight (coxswain Jack Muskett, Stroke Andrew Younghein, 7 Todd Mickelson, 6 Chris Hause, 5 Sam Anderson, 4 Phil Bresnahan, 3 John Young, 2 Phil Snyder, Bow Kyle Miller)  raced Drexel and Delaware in their 2000 meter test.  500 meters into the race Lehigh and Drexel had moved out in front of Delaware by about a boat length and battled neck and neck for first.  Over the next 1000 meters Drexel moved though Lehigh's eight and took the victory by 5 seconds with a time of 6:13.23.

On a brighter note, the women's novice eight (coxswain Cali Roth, Stroke Laura Banos, 7 Brittny Harrison, 6 Laura Schafer, 5 Dianna Hank, 4 Steph Bojarski 3 Grace Heck, 2 Emily Hunsperger, Bow Adrienne Smith) rowed a tremendous race and easily defeated their competition with a 13 second victory over St Joseph's and University of Delaware.  The freshman women lead from the start to the finish, keeping cool and long under pressure.

Though the Mountain Hawks had some victories this weekend, they look to catch up with both Drexel and St Joseph's.  Both the men and the women will have the chance in two weeks at the Murphy Cup back on the Schuylkill.