WV4 places fifth in grand final after winning semifinal heat
W2V4 takes seventh in its event; MV4 places sixth in its heat

WORCESTER, Mass. (May 4, 2009) - The Franklin Pierce men's and women's rowing teams competed with mixed results at the 2009 New England Rowing Championships on Lake Quinsigamond this weekend.

Franklin Pierce's women's varsity four posted the top result for the Ravens this weekend, with a fifth-place finish in the grand final after winning its semifinal heat with a time of 7:59.047 over the 2000-meter course. The Ravens out-raced Worcester Polytechnic Institute (8:01.755) to advance to the final.

In the grand final later in the afternoon, Franklin Pierce placed fifth with a time of 8:04.647 over the 2000-meters. Williams College won the gold medal with a time of 7:38.994, while Bowdoin College was second (7:41.768) and Connecticut College third (7:48.884). Rowing for the Ravens were senior Cassandra Ela (Lancaster, Mass./Nashoba Regional) at stroke, sophomore Brigit Arell (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) in the three seat, sophomore Mairecait Binienda (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) at the two-seat and freshman Lesley Cutting (Glenville, N.Y./Niskayuna) in the bow, with senior Jessica Ward (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee) as the coxswain.

Franklin Pierce's men's varsity four was unable to advance out of its heat, posting a sixth place finish with a time of 7:15.312 over the 2000-meters, finishing just behind Boston College (7:06.732). Rowing for the Ravens were senior Josh Marker (Lockport, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) at stroke, junior Ian Randall (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) in the three-seat, junior Patrick Brosnan (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greely) in the two seat and junior Brett DiCrescenzo (Haddon Township, N.J./Camden Catholic) at the bow, with junior Alexandra Edwards (Greenville, R.I./Smithfield) as the coxswain.

Franklin Pierce's second women's varsity four turned in a seventh place finish in the grand final of its event, completing the 2000-meter course in 9:34.836. Rowing for the Ravens were sophomore Snezana Stojkovic (Vitojevci, Serbia) at stroke, Kristen Bean in the three seat, senior Courtney Garrity (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) at two seat and senior Kristen Sheridan (Auburn, N.H./Manchester Memorial) in the bow, with sophomore Julie Waxman (Manchester, Conn./Manchester) as the coxswain.

Franklin Pierce returns to the water this weekend for the Dad Vail Nationals in Philadelphia, Pa., to conclude the season.