Congratulations go out to Saint Ignatius head coach Matt Previts '97 and the entire Wildcat Navy, as this weekend the Freshman 8+ raced to a silver medal at the SRAA (Scholastic Rowing Association of America) National Championships in Fish Creek, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

After qualifying for the National Championships three weeks ago at the Midwest Regionals, the freshman crew of coxswain Trent Wimbiscus, stroke Andrew Reichard and oarsmen Dan Drees, Robert Turcotte, John Tanis, Peter Rogers, Kevin Foley, Clay Grove and Dan Shea placed second in their heat on Friday morning.

Saturday morning found the Blue and Gold again earning second place, this time to New Trier (Illinois). New Trier defeated the Wildcats at the Midwest Regional.

In the final race, Saint Ignatius lined up in lane 2. The field was filled out by Burnt Hills (Burnt Hills, NY), St. Joseph's Prep (Philadephia, PA), New Trier, Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL) and Canisius High School (Buffalo, NY).

Here is how Coach Previts described the final race:

“The Wildcats came off the line even with the field. After the first 500 meters, St. Joseph's, St. Ignatius, New Trier and Loyola had separated and were running even.

"At the 1,000 meter mark, St. Joseph's had taken a slight lead, with the Blue & Gold pushing away from New Trier and Loyola. In the final 500 meters, St. Joseph's and St. Ignatius pushed away from the field. The Prep earned 1st place, crossing the line 2.5 seconds ahead of the Wildcats, who defeated New Trier for the first time all season.

"This is the first medal at the National Championships for the Wildcat Navy since 2006.”

Coach Previts also reported that the other crews from Saint Ignatius finished 6th (Junior 4) and 8th (Junior 8), and he emphasized that congratulations should go out to Shaker Heights women's varsity double, which also earned a silver medal.