| 9/22/2008 10:15:42 AM
FAIRPORT, NY - The men's and women's crew teams opened the fall season Sunday racing in the 4th annual Lift Bridge Regatta, hosted by Fairport Crew Club on the historic Erie Canal. The Lift Bridge Regatta covers a 5,500 meter course that finishes in the Village of Fairport.
The men's “A” boat (pictured above) won gold in the Men's Open/Masters 8 event, racing the course in 17:55.1. The varsity 8 line-up featured coxswain
Daniel Knorr (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), stroke
Cameron Staunch (Fairport, NY/Fairport), seven seat
Justin Dixon (Factoryville, PA/Lackawanna Trail), six seat
André Jarreau, five seat
Daniel Martin, four seat
Drew Lawlor (Erie, PA/Fairview), three seat
Kevin Macksamie (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili), two seat
Jason Gallant (Clinton, ME/Lawrence) and bow
Chris Guerra (West Seneca, NY/Canisius).
The Tigers “B” boat of coxswain
Brendan Larrabee (Rochester, NY/The Harley School), stroke
John Pagano (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic), seven seat
Evan Martin (McLean, VA/McLean), six seat
Sean Harder (Cheverly, MD/DeMatha Catholic), five seat
Mike Kitson, four seat
Paul Fisher (Wyoming, OH/Wyoming), three seat
Stu Burgess (Buffalo, NY/City Honors), two seat
Anthony Castaneda (Fairfax, VA/Fairfax) and bow
Murtaza Zavery secured a bronze medal with a time of 19:36.0.
RIT's varsity 4 of stroke
Trevor Reid (Somers, CT/Pomfret School), three seat
Bryan Abbott (Simsbury, CT/Simsbury), two seat
Bryce Salmi (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford), bow
Spencer Trafton (Brockport, NY/Brockport) and coxswain
Mike Graae finished second in the men's Open/Masters 4+ event for the Tigers.
Mike Fuszara '99, a four year rower for RIT during the program's formative years, and current assistant varsity girls coach for Fairport Crew Club was thrilled about the event.
“It was a great day for local schools, even with the poor weather;" said Fuszara. "And it was great to have RIT show up to compete and do well, and support a local regatta like the Lift Bridge.”
2008 marks the 15th anniversary of RIT's crew program, and alumni will be coming back for Brick City Weekend October 11-12 to celebrate the occasion in conjunction with the 20th annual Head of the Genesee Regatta.
The Tigers next race is Saturday, October 4 at the Hobart and William Smith Challenge in Geneva, N.Y.
