Badgers are the hosts with the most at the university regatta

A long-awaited regatta that began in the dark with rain ended on the podium for the hosting teams at the Brock Invitational.

Both the men’s and women’s teams rowed into the first three places in the first regatta on Martindale Pond in St. Catharines for two years. The men were the overall winners in their division on Saturday, while the women finished third in a one-day event that featured 13 universities in Ontario from north like Sudbury and as far east as Ottawa.

The rain subsided and the morning provided good conditions for rowing, ”said Brock head coach Peter Somerwil. “The afternoon had some windy, rough water, but not as bad as predicted.”

Brock’s first victory came in the lightweight women’s eight. Olivia Jose, Alicia Piazza, Madeline Hingston, Zoe Durcak, Jordan Isnor, Rowan O Neill, Isabella Durcak, Laci Schute and helmsman Pilar Dietrich beat Western in the 2,000 meter race by 8.5 seconds.

Brock and Western also finished the double victory in the men’s lightweight eighth, this time with an eight-second lead. Riley Pisek steered a crew consisting of Jonathan Cinquina, Jared Boles, Connor Dodds, Samual Maconco, Adam Muldoon, Chris Gomez, Benjamin Hersche and Tony DiDomenico.

A University of Ottawa boat coached by former badgers Stu Mackenzie and Zack Lewis won the open four with helmsman five seconds ahead of Brock’s Sarah Slattery, Victoria Collins, Jalyn Mowry, Faith Thomas and helmsman Kathleen Macdonald.

Somerwil was impressed with the strong performance of the crew.

“Very exciting as the open women are rebuilding from scratch with no returning veterans as they have all graduated in the last two years,” he said.

In the open four of the men with helmsman, Sam Stewart, Michael Ciepiela, Daniel Brophy, William Bryden and helmsman Sebastianelli Brock gave a decisive victory over Western. The lead on victory was 14 seconds.

Brocks celebrated the last victory of Brocks on a successful Saturday on his home course in the men’s lightweight. Riley Pisek steered Jonathan Cinquina, Jared Boles, Connor Dodds and Samuel Maconco to a three-second win over Western.

Seven other Brock boats took second place:

Women easy four: Olivia Jose, Rowan O Neill, Jordan Isnor, Zoe Durcak; Helmsman, Pilar Dietrich;

Light pair of women: Laci Schute, Madeline Hingston;

Gentlemen eight: Sam Stewart, Michael Ciepiela, Daniel Brophy, William Bryden, Kevin Keith, Keithan Woodhouse, Jonathan Hickman, Jacob Martens; Helmsman, Clara Sebastianelli;

Men doubles: Oskars Rugelis, Jacob Martens;

Men’s singles: Oskars Rugelis;

Gentlemen lightweight pair: Jonathan Cinquina, Jared Boles;

Easy single for men: Stephen Harris;

Third places for Brock included the men’s lightweight (Benjamin Hersche, Adam Muldoon), the men’s lightweight (Connor Dodds) and the men’s pair (Jonathan Hickman, Keithan Woodhouse).

Somerwil thanked around 100 volunteers who made it possible to hold a regatta in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

“It was great to have the community back together after two years and to have a top regatta like the St. Catharines has always been famous around the world,” he said.

Brock rowers have two events on the South Course at the Welland International Flatwater Center: Ontario University Athletics Championships, October 30; Canadian University Rowing Championships, November 6th and 7th.

Trent University in Peterborough will host the Provincials while Brock is the host school for the Nationals.

On the banks of the former Welland Canal in Dain City, people can take part in the national championships. They are prohibited from the athlete-only area due to pandemic precautions.