CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The spring season is all-but over for Canisius rowing, but one regatta remains on the schedule, as the Blue and Gold is poised to challenge for a MAAC Championship. The conference’s biggest prize is up for grabs this Friday, at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, N.J.
Canisius enters the tournament coming off a strong spring season, which saw multiple boat of the week awards, and strong performances in regattas that boasted talented fields. With the race less than 24 hours away the Griffs are slotted with the fourth seed in all three races.
“We are so excited to finally be here, hours away from our MAAC Championship,” head coach Erin Neppel said. “These kids have taken on so much this spring, and have handled everything that has been thrown at them like pros and I can’t wait to see how they perform tomorrow. There is so much close competition this year in the MAAC, and literally anything can happen, which makes the whole day so much more intense. I certainly expect some barnburners out there.”
Despite starting the program in 2011-12, the Blue and Gold have always finished in the upper echelon of the conference, as the Griffs have never coming in below fifth place at the MAAC Championship. Canisius is chasing the highest finish it ever recorded, when it came in third place in 2013.
Last season the Canisius varsity eight posted the best-ever finish in the race, coming second behind Jacksonville. The team as a whole finished the tournament fourth with a score of 43.
Canisius should come into this regatta fairly fresh, having had several weeks to prepare for the biggest race of the spring, as well as buckle down and handle the student part of their student-athlete title, by taking exams.
“Most of these kids finished their last final yesterday evening, so the release from academics is fresh, and they are ready to shift their focus onto the racecourse,” Neppel said. “It’s very cathartic – and at this point we as coaches have done all we can do. It’s their time to go and race, and it’s up to them to create the outcome.”.
The race day begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow and live results will be posted HERE.
