Brock rowing wins three races at prestigious Dad Vail Regatta

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Brock University men's and women's rowing team capped off the 2009-10 season with three gold medal performances at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta Saturday winning the Women's Varsity Pair, the Women's Varsity Lightweight 4 (ROBERT ESPESETH TROPHY) and the Men's Varsity Heavyweight 8 (RICHARD O'BRIEN TROPHY).

"I am very pleased the way our entire team raced this weekend," said Brock head coach Peter Somerwil. "We had some of the best results we have ever had at the Dad Vails and it is a great way to end the season."

The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States, with over 100 colleges and Universities from the U.S. and Canada. Thousands of student athletes g ather to compete during the weekend of the second Saturday of May.

All three Brock crews dominated the field led by the lightweight women's four of Keelin Greenlaw, Michelle Head, Maddie Wiseman, Teresa Hill and coxie Teresa Miele who won over the University of Pittsburgh by more than 11 seconds in a time of of 8:10.360.

In the last event of the day, the men's heavyweight eight of Ben Cushnie, Brendan Coffey, Keegan Drummond, Clark Tyler, Mike Lewis, Thomas Morley, Josh Gracin, Sylas Coletto and coxie Alexsia Dekaneas captured the Richard O'Brien Trophy in style winning by six seconds over the University of Delaware in a time of 6:28.350.

“Winning the men’s eight and becoming the first Canadian crew to win the event in the 76-year history of the Dad Vail Regatta is one of the program’s top accomplishments,” said Somerwil. “It is great for Brock University to get the international recognition.”

The women's pair of Britt Ellis and Megan Tucker started the winning streak with a six second win over Fairfield University.

Men's Varsity Heavyweight 8

1. Brock (Brendan Coffey) - 06:28.350

2. Delaware (Colin Ethridge) - 06:34.672

3. FIT (Jonas Karalius) - 06:38.944

Women's Varsity Lightweight 4

1. Brock (Keelin Greenlaw) - 08:10.360

2. Pittsburgh (Emily Schmieg) - 08:21.456

3. Stetson (Caitlin Burke) - 08:27.536

Women's Varsity Pair

1. Brock (Britt Ellis, Megan Tucker) - 08:06.203

2. Fairfield (Krissi Gorsuch, Jessica Keefe) - 08:12.573

3. U Mass (Teresa O'brien, Emily Hagan) - 08:23.457