PHILADELPHIA/WELLAND – Brock rowing completed a very busy weekend which saw a number of rowers compete south of the border in the annual Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, while others remained home in the Niagara region to compete at the Ontario Small Boat Regatta in Welland.

Beginning with the Dad Vail Regatta, three of the four Brock entries returned home with medals as the Badgers earned two gold medals and a silver.

The duo of Mia Biancaniello and Cara Scott took to the top step of the podium on Friday in the Inclusion double race, which consists of one para-athlete and one able bodied athlete competing together. Biancaniello is the second blind student-athlete to row for Brock as she is set to enter her second year with the team this coming fall, while Scott will be going into her third season.

The following day saw Ian Doctor finish second overall in the men's single event, overcoming a slow start in the Saturday final to recover from fourth place early in the race to within a half boat length of the winner from George Mason University.

With little rest, Doctor then jumped into the men's double final with partner Josh Ruby just 90 minutes following the single's final. The pair showed steady improvement in reaching the final with a fourth place result in the time trial and second place finish in qualifying. Competing against NCAA-level competition in the final, Doctor and Ruby utilized a late race push, propelling themselves from fifth at the 500 metre mark to a first place finish ahead of crews from William & Mary University and Gordon University. Doctor will be entering his third season this fall, while Ruby is set to go into year two.

Back in the Niagara region, the Badgers were well represented at the Ontario Small Boat Regatta, picking up a number of podium results in familiar waters at the Welland International Flatwater Centre's south course on Saturday.

Facing tough headwind conditions in the finals, 2023 Brock female athlete of the year co-nominees Zoe Durcak and Isabella Durcak finished first overall in the women's double event, taking to the top step with an impressive seven second advantage over the next closest crew. Both athletes are set to enter their third year competing with the Badgers this coming fall.

In the men's double event three of the top six placings in the time trials featured a Brock crew, with the duo of Maddox Harrison and Ethan Mason earning the top result in the finals finishing third overall. The pair were also the fastest lightweight pair among all competitors. Both Harrison and Mason will begin their sophomore campaign at Brock in September.

Finally in the men's single race, Badgers veteran Jonathan Cinquina placed first among all lightweight entries and third overall, while Christopher Gomez was another Brock standout posting the fastest time for a U23 lightweight entry and second fastest lightweight time overall. This upcoming season will mark year four for Cinquina and year three for Gomez as a Badger.

"If all the competitions going on this weekend for our athletes wasn't enough, half of the team was also involved in the St. Catharines Rowing Club's annual Mother's Day Regatta on Sunday," added Brock rowing head coach Peter Somerwil. "Some of the athletes' volunteer as coaches with the various high schools, while others volunteered to help run the regatta taking on duties as varied as boat drivers and parking assistants. Overall a very successful week!"
 
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