Oct. 15, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Temple's men's crew opened its 2008-09 season at the Navy Day Regatta on Saturday. The Owls rowed three shells in the event held on the Schuylkill River with its top boat placing fourth of 14 crews in the open college race.

The Owls' college eight, comprised of junior stroke Tom Masterson, sophomore John Masterson (7-seat), junior Patrick Curran (6-seat), freshman Jason Cartwright (5-seat), sophomore Jeff Wunderlich (4-seat), junior Brendan Cunningham (3-seat), freshman Stephen Brady (2-seat), sophomore Scott Waters (bow) and junior cox Thomas Goldner rowed a very very controlled and disciplined cadence to finish behind Navy, Rutgers and Drexel. The young Temple eight that included two freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors, and one senior, rowing in their second race of the day, gave a very spirited effort.

Temple's Dad Vail 8, comprised of freshman stroke Jimmy Barr, senior Joe Welsh (7-seat), sophomore Ryan Rickus (6-seat), freshman Aaron Heyde (5-seat), freshman George Vilimanovic (4-seat), freshman Peter Ivacic (3-seat), junior Scott Herring (2-seat), sophomore Steve Cahill (bow) and senior cox Mike Berger, finished a very competitive second out of 13 boats. Again, it was a young Owl team that took the rover, with only two seniors. The crew held its own, finishing behind Loyola and ahead of rival Saint Joseph's, Drexel, Penn and La Salle.

Temple's Frosh/Novice 8 finished a very respectable fourth out of 21 crews. The Owls finished behind Saint Joseph's and Navy "A" and "B" boats. The boat was comprised of stroke Ron DeFelice, Joe Bellesheim (7-seat), Brian Rehill (6-seat), Mike VanAssche (5-seat), Matt Myers (4-seat), John Boehm (3-seat), Chris Roberts (2-seat), Alex Klein (bow) and coxswain Sam Scimeca.

The Owls next compete at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on October 27.