CHESTERTOWN, Md.- The Franklin & Marshall men's rowing team began the spring campaign with Saturday's Washington College Invitational. The regatta included multiple teams from the Mid Atlantic Rowing Conference, including Washington College, Villanova, George Washington, and Stockton. 

In the men's varsity 8, F&M took on Washington College, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and George Washington University's 2V. 

In the final, the Diplomats raced George Washington's second 8, St. Mary's 2V and Stockton, nearly beating out Stockton but fell short (6:10.7 to 6:10.04). 

From boat to stern, the crew included Eli Wallace, Jake Stokes, Jacob Ripperger, Zaeem Zia, Max Goldman, Alan Grove, Max Taxter, Moemen Ibrahim, and Don Ang as coxswain. 

For the men's four, the lineup from boat to stern included Harris Zhang, Ahmed Sherif, Saul Schoenholtz, and Peter Kutscher, as well as Mithayus Diaz as coxswain. The crew took third in the Varsity 4 event with a time of 7:47, competing against Stockton and George Washington. 

"This was a good, early regatta for the men to see where they're at. There was a lot of fast competition today, and the Diplomats were able to make some great adjustments – mentally and physically – to put together a much stronger second piece in the men's 8," said Head Coach Bob Brady. "The four also took some very strong strokes today, with a last-minute change in bow seat. The crew was able to come together and put a strong piece together for the first time being in that lineup."

The Diplomats head to Brigantine, NJ next Saturday, March 29, for the Battle at Brigantine, hosted by Stockton University.