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Mount, Eustace Rivalry Takes Center Stage
By BRENDAN F. QUINN, The Bulletin
Philadelphia — It wasn’t very long ago that Mount St. Joseph was the supreme queen of the Stotesbury Regatta.
In 2005 and 2006, it was the Mount’s senior eight that hoisted the Robert Engman trophy on the Schuylkill River’s awards dock. At the time, there was little reason to believe that the trend would end. The Mount’s crew program was seemingly growing stronger by the year.
But while the Mount was growing, Bishop Eustace was skyrocketing. The program began in 2001 and was incorporated into the Pennsauken, N.J. school as a varsity sport in the spring of 2007. The year before, the team showed impressive progress by reaching the senior eight finals at Stotesbury.
It was 2007, though, that changed everything. The Crusaders, or “Crew-saders,” as they sometimes call themselves, slipped past Canada’s E.L. Crossley to capture the Robert Engman trophy. The Mount could only watch from its position in fourth place.
Last year, with the Mount hungry for revenge, Eustace again won Stotesbury. This time, the Crusaders won handily, finishing a full length ahead of the Mount’s second-place boat.
That race made it undeniably clear — an impassioned rivalry has been born.
“I think there’s a great competitive spirit between the two programs,” said first-year Eustace coach Daniel Ponzio. “It’s a great motivation for both boats. It’s going to make for a very exciting race (at this weekend’s Stotesbury). It will be a tight race down to the end.”
At the City Championships two weeks ago, the Mount sent Eustace a message by winning gold. Not surprisingly, the Crusaders finished a close second.
“That’s a good, solid program,” said Mount coach Meg Kennedy. “They’re very impressive.”
While Kennedy is celebrating her 10-year anniversary as the Mount’s coach, Ponzio is a 24-year-old medical student at Jefferson University in her first year as head coach. She graduated from Eustace in 2003 and rowed for the team when simply making the finals at Stotesbury was a far-fetched feat.
Now, suddenly, she’s guiding the new queens of Stotesbury.
“It’s amazing to see what it has become,” Ponzio said.
Meanwhile, the team Eustace hunted just a few years ago wants its throne back. It looks like Saturday’s Stotesbury finals will decide who rules the Schuylkill for the next year.
“We’re rivals for sure,” Ponzio said. “I use that to push the girls at practice and I’m sure the Mount is doing to the same thing.”
Others To Watch In The V8
While the Mount and Eustace are the two favorites in the senior eight, don’t be a shocked if one of the race’s other contenders sneaks up and steals gold. Boats from Mainland (N.J.), Holy Spirit (N.J.), T.C. Williams (Va.) and Sarasota (Fla.) are all capable of pulling off a victory.
A Little More MSJ
In addition to the senior eight, the Mount could medal in numerous other races. The second eight is compiled entirely of seniors and is the favorite to win gold, while the lightweight eight, JV eight and freshmen eight could all appear at the awards dock. The Mount’s lightweight four and JV four will look to make the finals.
Alone On The River
Upper Darby’s Ann Mulholland, a qualifier for the 2009 USRowing Youth National Championships, will be looking to score a rare American medal in the Canadian-dominated senior single. Mulholland qualified for the finals last year but finished in sixth, 35.56 seconds out of first place. As is often the case, no American medaled in the event a year ago.
One To Root For
It’s been a difficult month for Denis Morris Catholic High School, which is visiting Philadelphia from Ontario, Canada this weekend. The school’s athletic department lost an inspirational figure in 48-year-old Daryl Mahler in late April. The father of five was a fixture at the school for 20 years as the physical education teacher and also coached football, cross country and track & field. He died in a car crash while heading to Detroit to visit his son at college.
Look for an inspired effort from the girls from Denis Morris at Stotesbury. They are the defending champion in the girls’ senior quad, but they are competing in the junior quad this year.
Set To Duel
Numerous local boats could make an appearance at the awards dock this weekend. Conestoga, the defending champion in the JV quad and bronze medal winner in the senior quad, will be looking for medals in each event. … Though defending champion Egg Harbor is circled in the lightweight four, Merion Mercy, Harriton and Lower Merion could potentially medal. … A strong but small program from Sacred Heart should be in contention in all the doubles — senior, junior and lightweight. … Radnor will be looking to defend its title in the freshmen eight. This year’s group finished third in the City Championship behind Montclair and the Mount.
Brendan F. Quinn can be reached at bquinn@thebulletin.us
In 2005 and 2006, it was the Mount’s senior eight that hoisted the Robert Engman trophy on the Schuylkill River’s awards dock. At the time, there was little reason to believe that the trend would end. The Mount’s crew program was seemingly growing stronger by the year.
But while the Mount was growing, Bishop Eustace was skyrocketing. The program began in 2001 and was incorporated into the Pennsauken, N.J. school as a varsity sport in the spring of 2007. The year before, the team showed impressive progress by reaching the senior eight finals at Stotesbury.
It was 2007, though, that changed everything. The Crusaders, or “Crew-saders,” as they sometimes call themselves, slipped past Canada’s E.L. Crossley to capture the Robert Engman trophy. The Mount could only watch from its position in fourth place.
Last year, with the Mount hungry for revenge, Eustace again won Stotesbury. This time, the Crusaders won handily, finishing a full length ahead of the Mount’s second-place boat.
That race made it undeniably clear — an impassioned rivalry has been born.
“I think there’s a great competitive spirit between the two programs,” said first-year Eustace coach Daniel Ponzio. “It’s a great motivation for both boats. It’s going to make for a very exciting race (at this weekend’s Stotesbury). It will be a tight race down to the end.”
At the City Championships two weeks ago, the Mount sent Eustace a message by winning gold. Not surprisingly, the Crusaders finished a close second.
“That’s a good, solid program,” said Mount coach Meg Kennedy. “They’re very impressive.”
While Kennedy is celebrating her 10-year anniversary as the Mount’s coach, Ponzio is a 24-year-old medical student at Jefferson University in her first year as head coach. She graduated from Eustace in 2003 and rowed for the team when simply making the finals at Stotesbury was a far-fetched feat.
Now, suddenly, she’s guiding the new queens of Stotesbury.
“It’s amazing to see what it has become,” Ponzio said.
Meanwhile, the team Eustace hunted just a few years ago wants its throne back. It looks like Saturday’s Stotesbury finals will decide who rules the Schuylkill for the next year.
“We’re rivals for sure,” Ponzio said. “I use that to push the girls at practice and I’m sure the Mount is doing to the same thing.”
Others To Watch In The V8
While the Mount and Eustace are the two favorites in the senior eight, don’t be a shocked if one of the race’s other contenders sneaks up and steals gold. Boats from Mainland (N.J.), Holy Spirit (N.J.), T.C. Williams (Va.) and Sarasota (Fla.) are all capable of pulling off a victory.
A Little More MSJ
In addition to the senior eight, the Mount could medal in numerous other races. The second eight is compiled entirely of seniors and is the favorite to win gold, while the lightweight eight, JV eight and freshmen eight could all appear at the awards dock. The Mount’s lightweight four and JV four will look to make the finals.
Alone On The River
Upper Darby’s Ann Mulholland, a qualifier for the 2009 USRowing Youth National Championships, will be looking to score a rare American medal in the Canadian-dominated senior single. Mulholland qualified for the finals last year but finished in sixth, 35.56 seconds out of first place. As is often the case, no American medaled in the event a year ago.
One To Root For
It’s been a difficult month for Denis Morris Catholic High School, which is visiting Philadelphia from Ontario, Canada this weekend. The school’s athletic department lost an inspirational figure in 48-year-old Daryl Mahler in late April. The father of five was a fixture at the school for 20 years as the physical education teacher and also coached football, cross country and track & field. He died in a car crash while heading to Detroit to visit his son at college.
Look for an inspired effort from the girls from Denis Morris at Stotesbury. They are the defending champion in the girls’ senior quad, but they are competing in the junior quad this year.
Set To Duel
Numerous local boats could make an appearance at the awards dock this weekend. Conestoga, the defending champion in the JV quad and bronze medal winner in the senior quad, will be looking for medals in each event. … Though defending champion Egg Harbor is circled in the lightweight four, Merion Mercy, Harriton and Lower Merion could potentially medal. … A strong but small program from Sacred Heart should be in contention in all the doubles — senior, junior and lightweight. … Radnor will be looking to defend its title in the freshmen eight. This year’s group finished third in the City Championship behind Montclair and the Mount.
Brendan F. Quinn can be reached at bquinn@thebulletin.us
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