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P I O N E E R
Scorebook
AT H L E T I C N E W S
> NAVY SUCCESS In addition
to the Dad Vail gold, Pioneers
such as Evan Tsourtsoulas helped
to bring victory to rowing teams
at national and international
events. Tsourtsoulas (above left)
competed with Greece in the
World Championships (below).
> MEN’S CREW
After the Dad Vail
TSOURTSOULAS HELPS GREEKS CAPTURE SILVER
When Chris Pucella was hired to take over the
men’s crew program in the spring of 2005, he
knew that he would oversee one of the top
small-school crews in the nation.
After some quick research, Pucella got a glimpse into the
program’s storied history. He found out that Marietta’s Varsity
8 had won the inaugural Dad Vail race in 1934, the first of five
gold medals for the school in its biggest race of the season.
What also stuck in Pucella’s mind was that the Pioneer
Navy had gone 38 years without capturing the gold medal
at Dad Vails. When he was hired, Pucella said: “My goal is
to continue the development of Marietta rowing as one of
the best programs in the nation. The ultimate goal remains
the same, to win the V8 at Dad Vails on a consistent basis.”
Pucella did not have to wait long to take the initial step
toward bringing his quote to a reality as he guided the 2006
V8 to that elusive gold medal.
The team entered as the top seed and proved worthy of
that label by rolling through all three races enroute to winning
gold. Marietta finished in 5:42.06, more than six seconds
ahead of the field.
Looking back, Pucella is still proud of the win. However,
he is now focused on the next season and how he will take
the program to a new level – remaining a consistent force at
the Dad Vail. The V8 has won a medal at the event in each
of the last five years and he intends to keep that streak alive.
Pucella also wants to build the medal count of the Freshmen
8 and to develop a consistent Lightweight program.
The new coach also believes that the program should
have a consistent presence at the Intercollegiate Rowing
Association Regatta. Currently, Marietta shells have the
opportunity to continue training for the IRAs. Without this
step, Marietta can not hope to advance beyond the fringes
of the top 25 programs in the country. Even with a victory
at Dad Vails, Marietta finished 22nd in the final USRowing
Collegiate Poll.
Another way Marietta is building its reputation in the rowing
world is by having its athletes – past and present – compete
at the top events in not only the nation, but also the world.
This summer, Pioneer Navy team members made their
mark all over the elite rowing circuit. Evan Tsourtsoulas, a citizen
of both the United States and Greece, helped the Greeks
capture the silver medal in the Senior B Lightweight Men’s 4
at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships on July 23 in
Hazewinkel, Belgium. It was the second straight year that he
left the World Championships with a medal.
Other Pioneers helped their respective clubs achieve
success at the US National Rowing Championships in
Indianapolis. Mike Ross rowed with Philadelphia’s Vesper
Boat Club, one of the most exclusive rowing clubs in the
country and won three gold medals. Brent Keuch represented
the New York Athletic Club at the US National Rowing
Championships and helped his club win two golds.
Alums Matt Hoffer ’04 and Mark Dolson ’05 also participated
in the National Championships.
All of these athletes carry with them the banner of Marietta
College rowing – a reminder that the Pioneer Navy will continue
to be a force in the rowing world for years to come.
DAN MAY
MAIN PHOTO: BILLY HOWARD; INSIET PHOTOS: COURTESY OF EVAN TSOURTSOULAS
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