PRINCETON, N.J.-The Hobart College rowing team took to the water against three nationally ranked crews on Mercer Lake today. The Statesmen's three varsity eights competed against Columbia, George Washington, and Navy.
 
"Every year racing between these teams is tight and the eventual winners always display grit and poise in coming out on top," Head Coach Paul Bugenhagen said. "There was a lot of toughness on display yet again and plenty of poise required to handle today's rough conditions created by a ripping tailwind."
 
Hobart's varsity eight competed in this morning's first race. Greg Narzikul, Carter Weitekamp, Patrick Overton, Martin Roeck, Wyatt Hathaway, David Ranney, Sam Ash, Jackson Baney, and Henry Vachon powered down the 2,000-meter course with a time of 5:49.6, finishing third. Seventeenth-ranked George Washington beat out sixteenth-ranked Navy by a bow ball to win the heat. Fifteenth-ranked Columbia rounded out the field, finishing a deck down to Hobart. At the start, Hobart slipped to fourth but battled back throughout the race. They moved through Columbia into third place in the third 500.
 
Bart Voto, Andrew Krimmel, Kemal Turksonmez, Remington McGuire, Ben Robinson, David Pratt, Alberto Wray, Anthony Giovenelli, and Ishan Dirks crossed the line fourth in the second varsity eight race, stopping the clock at 6:09.4. George Washington won the heat with a time of 5:51.2. Racing was tight in the first 750 meters with the lead switching three times and stayed tight into the final 500 meters. The Colonials were able to pull away down the stretch.
 
Stephen Ponticiello, Miles Cornman, Parker Cornman, Dilan Bower, Lukian Maratovic, Harrison Luce, Randall Hooper, Steven Bunce, and Tommy Hayes propelled Hobart's third varsity eight to a time of 6:33.0, finishing fourth. Columbia won the heat by a half a second over George Washington. The Midshipmen kept things close until their stroke seat caught a crab.
 
Hobart will be back on the water next weekend, May 4, when it travels to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for the Liberty League Championships. The Statesmen are looking for their 13th consecutive Liberty League Championships.