CLEVELAND — The Mercyhurst University rowing teams opened their fall season with a strong performance at the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta, claiming several first-place finishes in both men's and women's events.

In the men's open 8+, the Lakers took gold with a time of 15:59.7, and silver with 17:01.4, finishing ahead of crews from Miami (Ohio), Case Western and Ohio State. The boat included Dylan McLean, Marko Dojcinovic, James Garoh, Luka Loncar, Mateja Jelisavic, Ilias Petalidis, Bogdan Protic, Ivan Katic, and Ralph Kasow IV. The Lakers had a third boat come in fourth with a time of 17:20.7. 

The Lakers entered two boats in the men's open four. The "B" boat — stroked by Jelisavic, Petalidis, Tristian Chang, Fintan Moore with coxswain McLean — finished first in 17:15.1. The "A" entry placed fifth in 18:01.7.

The Lakers placed three boats in the top five for the men's open two. Jovan Saris and Loncar finished second in 19:11.7. Isaac Feldman and Protic earned third right behind them in 19:20.2. Anthony DePinto and Cole Bardeschewski placed fifth in 20:55.9.

Ivan Katic and Shane Kelly competed in the men's open 2x, earning second with a time of 18:57.2.

On the women's side, Mercyhurst earned gold medals in both the open 2x and open 8+. The open 2x, rowed by Thea Felsner and Charlotte Paschke, crossed the line in 20:09.9.. The women's open 8+, which included Felsner, Paschke, Blythe Lyons, Katie Kontrick, Nayila Harris, Maryclare Parker-Stark, Hilde Wadlington, and Cecilia Linkel, finished in 19:15.3.

The women also raced two boats in the open 4+. They placed in fourth in 21:11.0 and seventh in 22:51.0.

The regatta marked Mercyhurst's first official outing of the season.