Temple Men's Crew Earns Two Medals At Prestigious SIRA Regatta

OAK RIDGE, TN - Temple men's Varsity 8 captured the silver medal and the Owls' Second Varsity 8 earned bronze at the prestigious SIRA Regatta held on Lake Melton Sunday.

"It's not often that I've been satisfied with second, but considering that we lost to Florida Tech by 12 seconds just four weeks ago I'd say we're right where we need to be as we prepare for the Dad Vail Regatta," said Temple head coach Gavin White.

Trailing Florida Tech by nearly three lengths at the 1000-meter mark, the Varsity 8, comprised of junior James Barr (stroke), junior Nenad Ninkovic (7-seat), junior Jason Cartwright (6-seat), junior Brian Reehill (5-seat), sophomore Mike Mirabella (4-seat), senior John Masterson (3-seat), freshman Fergal Barry (2-seat), senior Scott Waters (bow) and junior Donald Norris (cox), rowed through Jacksonville, Virginia and George Washington to finish less than a length out of first.

The 2nd Varsity 8, comprised of junior John Boehm (stroke), junior Joe Bellesheim (7-seat), senior Jeff Wunderlich (6-seat), junior Aaron Heyde (5-seat), sophomore Maciej Grudzien (4-seat), freshman Piotr Grudzien (3-seat), junior Diordje Vilimanovic (2-seat), junior Mike VanAssche (bow) and sophomore Matthew Sbei (cox), finished third behind Virginia and Cal-San Diego.  The Owls bested George Washington by five seconds while Saint Joseph's placed sixth in the race.

The Varsity 4, comprised of sophomore Richard Ehmer (stroke), senior Nick Contino (3-seat), sophomore Chris Roberts (2-seat),junior Brandon Joyce (bow) and sophomore Nicholas Palastro (cox), placed fifth in the final, two seconds ahead of Florida Tech and just a second behind Tampa.  Georgia Tech won the race with Mercyhurst placing second and Emory third.

The Owls are off next week before competing in the Bergen Cup on the Schuylkill River April 30.