Brock rowers shine at Canadian erg championships
Present and future Brock University rowers performed well at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships.
“It can be tough to compete without your teammates there to cheer you on and trying to do it alone in your garage or basement,” Brock coach Peter Somerwil said. “Also, it’s not easy not having had any competition for so long.”
The event, which included St. Catharines native Peter Cookson and Welland native Sue Kitchen as key members of the organizing committee, was held virtually with rowers linking their ergometers to a computer to connect with the timing system.
Brock’s Sam Stewart came from behind to win the under-23 men’s race and qualify for the world indoor rowing championships at the end of February.
“Mike Ciepiela (Toronto) was fourth which is great since he still has several years to go in the U23 category,” Somerwil said.
Brock didn’t have anyone in the under-19 lightweight women’s event but fall 2021 recruits, Isabella and Zoe Durkac from Stoney Creek, finished first and second. Isabella’s time would have tied her for first in the under-23 division and Zoe’s time would have placed her fourth.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have these two talented young ladies join our team in the fall,” he said.
Brock freshman Chris Gomez, an Orangeville native, placed second overall in the under-19 lightweight men’s division and was the top Canadian finisher with a personal best time of 6:51.
Tony DiDomenico had a personal best time by five seconds in the lightweight men’s under-23 division to finish third overall and the top Canadian. Sam Maconco also had a personal best time by five seconds to place fourth.
In the under 23 lightweight women’s race, Brock’s Jordan Isnor, who is studying remotely in Nanaimo B.C., placed second and Bonnie Reynolds, at home on Salt Spring Island, B.C., placed fourth. Rowan O’Neill of Welland had a great race, improving her personal best time by five seconds to place sixth.
Because the event was the Americas qualifier for the world indoor rowing championships, there were entries from all over the Americas.
Below are complete top 10 results by Niagara athletes:
Men’s 85 2,000-metres: 1. David Willett, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Women’s 30 2,000-metres: 2. Rae Ceccato, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Men’s 500 metres: 7. Greg Theriault, Brock.
Women’s 500 metres; 4. Lisa Bos, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Men’s under-19 500 metres: 1. Shane Keagan, Ridley College.
Women’s under-19 500 metres: 4. Sydney Swick, Ridley Graduate Boat Club.
Lightweight women’s under-19 500 metres: 4. Samantha Wimbush, Niagara Rowing School; 10. Elizabeth Spilotro, Niagara Rowing School.
Women’s 2,000 metres: 4. Lisa Bos, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Women’s under-19 2,000 metres: 1. Kaelyn Mercuri, Grimsby Secondary School.
Men’s under-23 2,000 metres: 1. Sam Stewart, Brock; 4. Michael Ciepiela, Brock; 5. Jacob Martens, Brock; 8. Noah Van Helvert, Brock.
Men’s under-19 2,000 metres: 2. Kai Bartel, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Women’s under-19 2,000 metres: 5. Meredith Hilmayer, Niagara Rowing School; 7. Teagan Orth, St. Catharines Rowing Club; 10. Cait Whittard, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Men’s under-17 2,000 metres Line A: 1. Shane Keagan, Ridley College; 7. Alessio Perco, Niagara Rowing School.
Men’s under-17 2,000 metres Line B: 1. Owen Bartel, St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Women’s under-17 2,000 metres Line A: 2. Malaria Jones, Niagara Rowing School; 4. Autumn Crowe, Ridley College; 9. Clara VanDyk, South Niagara Rowing Club.
Women’s under-17 2,000 metres Line B: 8. Stasia Bittman, Notre Dame; 9. Kate Druzina, Niagara Rowing School;
Lightweight men’s under-23 2,000 metres: 3. Tony DiDomenico, Brock; 5. Samual Maconco, Brock; 6. Jared Boles, Brock; 7. Jack MacIntyre, Brock; 8. Adam Muldoon, Brock.
Lightweight women’s under-23 2,000 metres: 2. Jordan Isnor, Brock; 4. Bonnie Reynolds, Brock; 6. Rowan O’Neill, Brock; 7. Madeline Hingston, Brock; 8. Emma VanDyk, South Niagara Rowing Club.
Lightweight men’s under-19 2,000 metres: 2. Chris Gomez, Brock; 4. Preston Darling, Niagara Rowing School; 5. Matthew Johnston, Niagara Rowing School; 6. Maddox Harrison,Niagara Rowing School; 7. Owen Hughes, Brock.
Lightweight women’s under-19 2,000 metres: 4. Jillian VanDyk, South Niagara Rowing Club.
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