Grand Rapids, MI—The Mercyhurst Rowing teams had a historic day in Michigan at the Mid-America Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Championships.
The men's fours started the day in the first heat and advanced to the finals by turning in a time of 7:34.2 defeating every other boat in the field, the second fastest boat was Grand Valley State who finished with a time of 8:08.5.
The next Laker boat that took the water was the women's fours, the Lakers had two boats in the event. The 'A' boat took first in the first heat with a time of 8:37.0 while the 'B' boat won the second heat with a 8:41.7 time, the Laker boats were the two fastest in both heats.
The men's varsity eights was the third Laker boat to compete and won their heat by turning in a time of 6:39.9 which was the fastest among two heats by seven seconds.
The men's fours were the first boat to complete in a Grand Final against boats from Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Northwestern. The Lakers earned the first trophy of the day turning in a time of 7:43.3. Michigan and Northwestern took silver and Bronze as the Judson Ross Cup came back to Erie.
The women's fours were up next to complete for the Tim Royalty Cup. The Lakers lined up against boats from Northwestern, Marquette, Cincinnati, and Chicago. Mercyhurst fielded two boats and both of them earned medals. The 'A' boat took gold with a time of 8:50.0 while the 'B' boat took third, Northwestern took second.
The next Grand Final was the men's lightweight fours, the Lakers competed against a boat from Michigan State and Michigan with the Jim Buckalew Cup on the line. The Lakers turned in a time of 7:57.6 to win the gold while Michigan took second and the Spartans finished third.
The women's eights who is the top boat in the Division II currently competed in the next Laker Grand Final to bring home the J. Clark Wray Cup. The Lakers earned another gold medal with a time of 7:50.2 while defeating Grand Valley, Northwestern, Chicago, and Miami.
The final race of the day was for the Ralph Lindamood Cup which was men's eights. Mercyhurst had the opportunity to sweep men's and women's eights for the first time in their history with a win. Mercyhurst had to beat five Division I boats to do so and with a time of 6:30.5 the Lakers took gold. They defeated Michigan by just under five seconds and Vanderbilt by just under six seconds to bring home the gold.
All three rowing teams have just one regatta left prior to National Championships. After 12 days off the Lakers head to Philadelphia for Dad Vails. The women's NCAA National Championships are two weeks later in Sarasota, FL. The men travel to Mercer, NJ on June 3rd for the IRA National Championships.
