Oct. 6, 2007

WILKES-BARRE - Franklin & Marshall's rowers posted their first-ever varsity race win at the McAndrew Cup, rowed on the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Participating schools included Wilkes University and the University of Scranton.

In the women's open eight-oared event, F&M won with a time of 7.45 beating University of Scranton who finished in 8:32. F&M's lineup from coxswain to bow was Erin Feeney, stroke Erin Bradley, Alexandra Merrick, Chelsea McIntyre, Brittany George, Megan Nicholson, Sarah Clark, Kate Emert and Caitlin Knierim.

The Diplomats started of with a convincing victory in an exhibition event of the Mixed 8. The boat consisted of 4 women and 4 men and a male coxswain. The crew from coxswain to bow was Joe Dernbach, stroke and men's team captain Ron Nahass, Daniel Falciani, Erin Bradley, Alexandra Merrick, Aaron Hodes, Brent Schneider, women's team captain Chelsea McIntyre and Sarah Clark with a time of 7:01 beat the University of Scranton who finished the 2.5 kilometer course in 8:21

The men's open 8 saw F&M post their third victory with the Diplomat crew rowing the course in a time of 6.45, besting Wilkes Univesity at 7.15 and University of Scranton finishing in 7.31. F&M's lineup from cox to bow was Hormuz Masani, stroke Conor Borak, Brent Schneider, Aaron Hodes, Daniel Falciani, Ron Nahass, Ho-Hong Lau, Patrick Maloney and Ian Clunie.

F&M, competing in its first full season as a varsity squad, came second in the McAndrew Cup overall standing and narrowly missed bringing the Cup back to Lancaster. The Diplomat Crew next sees action at the Head of the Schulykill Regatta in Philadelphia on Oct 27 and then finishes the fall season with an appearance at the Bill Braxton Memorial Regatta also in Philadelphia on November 11.

Summary of Results Mixed 8: F&M 7.01, Scranton 8.31. Women's Open 8: F&M 7.46, Scranton 8.32. Men's Open 8: F&M 6.45, Wilkes 7.15, Scranton 7.31.