Brock rowers make history at top U.S. regatta

Brock rowers celebrate their wins at the Dad Vail Regatta.

Brock men’s and women’s rowing teams stunned an elite field of competition on the weekend by sweeping three gold medals in Philadelphia at the largest collegiate regatta in the United States.

Capping off the 2009-10 season with a huge victory at the prestigious Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, the Brock crews put up championship performances in the Women’s Varsity Pair and the Women’s Varsity Lightweight 4 — and became the first-ever Canadian school in the regatta’s 76-year history to win the coveted Men’s Varsity Heavyweight 8.

“We had some of the best results we have ever had at the Dad Vails,” said Brock head coach Peter Somerwil. “It is a great way to end the season.”

The Dad Vail attracts crews from more than 100 colleges and universities from the U.S. and Canada. Thousands of student athletes gather to compete during the second weekend in May.

“Being the first Canadian crew to win the men’s eight is one of our program’s top accomplishments,” Somerwil said. “It is great for Brock to get the international recognition.”

The gold medal races weren’t even close, with margins of victory ranging from six to 11 seconds. 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. That team 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.

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