In a combined field of Division I, II, and II schools, the Thoroughbreds had a strong showing qualifying two boats for the grand finals. 

“We had a successful weekend and did a lot of good things,” said Head coach Jim Tucci, who will lead the team to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships this weekend in Worcester, Mass.

At the state championships, both the Men’s Varsity 8 and Women’s Varsity 4 squads placed third in their respective heats to qualify for the grand final.

In a close final race, Iona beat out Skidmore by 1.4 seconds to claim third place and a bronze medal in the Men’s Varsity 4 event. The all-senior tandem of Ron Sanchez, Jeremy Wilmot, Dave Mauer, Erik Wilson, and Artemas Richardson have placed well throughout the season, including a gold medal finish at the Liberty League Championships April 26 in Saratoga.

Despite being undersized, the men have remained competitive all season, using experience to outlast bigger and stronger opponents.

The Women’s Varsity 8 final pitted Skidmore against top-seeded Ithaca and league rivals William Smith and St. Lawrence. In a race dominated by Ithaca, the Thoroughbreds fell short of a medal finishing in fifth position ahead of St. Lawrence.

Unlike the veteran men’s squad, the women’s Varsity 8 boat consists of only one senior and as a result hasn’t been able to rely on experience during big races.

“This season we gained great experience that will help us in the future,” said Tucci. “We have the quality on the women’s side to compete at a higher level next year.”

In addition to the Varsity 8 event, two other women’s boats advanced to the finals of the State Championships. The women’s JV 8 boat placed fifth in the finals, and the Novice 4 boat finished in fourth place in their final event.

Looking towards the ECAC Championships this weekend, Tucci remains focused on making improvements that will benefit the team in the future.

“It’s difficult to make improvements in training this time of year during finals. We hope to go there and make small improvements in our power output, anything else [at ECAC’s] is just icing on the cake,” said Tucci.

In a sport where many athletes enter college with little, if any, rowing experience, Skidmore College continues to maintain a competitive program that nurtures and develops successful rowers year after year.

Follow the Thoroughbreds as they travel to Massachusetts this weekend to face a field of strong New England opponents at the ECAC Championships.