PHILADELPHIA – The Franklin & Marshall men's rowing team wrapped up its fall season at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on Saturday. Affectionately known as "America's Favorite Regatta," the Diplomats entered a pair of eights in the club championship event in a field that drew competitors from all over the country.

The first varsity eight included Max Taxter, Moemen Ibrahim, Lance Rozenfeld, Josh Anderson, Alan Grove, Tai Jespersen, Aemon Cameron, and coxswain Don Ang. The crew was having a great race through the majority of the course, passing several crews, until an opposing team's oar went under the hull and knocked off the Diplomats' steering. As a result, the crew was not able to maintain its course and finished with a time of 16:12.806.

The second varsity eight included Eli Wallace, Gordon Clifford, Jacob Ripperger, Zaeem Zia, Jerry Cui, Sergio Gonzalez, Brandon Choo, Jake Stokes, and coxswain Sonali Purohit. The crew finished the race with a time of 14:42.478..

"The men's rowing program had a unique experience at the Head of the Schuylkill this year," said Head Coach Bob Brady. "Both crews were working hard during the regatta, but unfortunately for the men's top eight, they got tangled with another crew and ended up losing their steering. Up until that point, the crew was putting together one of their best rows to date. That said, we're looking forward to what we can accomplish in the spring."

Also competing in Saturday's regatta was assistant coach Joe Madrid who placed 25th in the men's single championship with a time of 16:08.787.

Saturday's event was the final of the fall semester for the Diplomats. They will return to competition this spring for the majority of their schedule which resumes on Saturday, March 22 at the Washington College Invitational.