Rowers return from London with great results

The UOIT rowing team had a strong showing at the Western Invitational on Saturday, the second regatta of the season for the crew.

The Ridgebacks best finish was second in the varsity women’s doubles heavyweight race. UOIT’s Daria Ruginis (Burlington, Ont.) and Rhiannon Dearman (Belleville, Ont.) posted an 18:43.7 head race time and a 2:35.2 dash time.

Joanna Toonders (Williamsburg, Ont.) and Megan Connolly (Whitby, Ont.) finished behind the third place McMaster boat in the same race.

In the men’s doubles heavyweight event the Ridgebacks boat of Mike Juzkow (Cannington, Ont.) and Bradley Semenick (Thunder Bay, Ont.) finished third with a head race time of 17:41.5 and a 2:24.5 dash time.

The UOIT men’s lightweight boat of Matthew Militante (Mississauga, Ont.) and Tyler Tompsett (Whitby, Ont.) had a strong showing in their race, which only featured one other boat.

UOIT’s men’s heavyweight four boat of Braden Reid (Whitby, Ont.), James Jack (Orillia, Ont.), Nik Vantfoort (London, Ont.) and Brett Bullock (Newmarket, Ont.) looked great in their race, which also only featured two boats. The home boat from Western won the event.

Connolly, Reid, Dearman, Seminick are also new to the varsity crew. Dearman is the lone rower of those four that wasn’t a previous novice rower with the Ridgebacks.

UOIT is back on the water this weekend at the Head of the Welland.

Visit goRidgebacks.com for results from all rowing events this season.