University of Virginia Library

First-Year Oarsmen
Win Potomac Races

Braving the choppy waters of
the Potomac, the Cavalier first-year
crews made their debuts in
preliminary season races against
Fort Hunt High School and St.
Joseph's College in separate races.

In a tight morning duel, the
first-year men nosed out a much
improved Fort Hunt crew. The
Virginia oarsmen stroked the
Olympic 2000 meter distance at a
high and somewhat rushed 36
strokes to whip the Fort Hunt team
by one tenth of a second.

Both crews rowed evenly in the
first 1000 meters with Virginia
taking a slight lead in the next 200
meters. With 500 meters to go, the
Cavalier oarsmen took a half length
lead which it refused to yield for
the remainder of the race until Fort
Hunt began to close at the finish.

On a shorter mile course, the
second Virginia first year crew had
an easier time of it and was stroked
at a 33 count by John Venable to a
win of over half a length.

In an impromptu afternoon
match with St. Joseph's College,
the same freshman first boat, coxed
by Clem Gaskill and stroked by
captain, Jesse Davis rowed to a
smoother victory. This second race
of the day for the game Yearlings
saw a startling beat of 43 dropped
after 20 strokes to a powerful
slower 33 for the body of the 2000
meter race. The Cavaliers steadily
outdistanced their competition to
win by a length. It was not until the
last 200 meters that the stroke was
increased to a 37 to insure an
adequate lead over a tiring St.
Joseph's crew.

Virginia's winning first freshman
boat consisted of: Mike Kascagh,
bow, Kenny Miller, two, Andy
Stickney, three, Tom Buchanan,
four, Norton Schlacter, five, Ed
Blaus, six, Tom Powell, seven, Jesse
Davis, stroke, and Clem Gaskill,
coxswain.

Meanwhile the varsity crew
remained in Charlottesville to
prepare for the upcoming season. In
two-a-day practices on the Rivanna
Reservoir the oarsmen polished and
tried to smooth their style.

The Yale crew visited the
University and worked out with the
Cavalier crew. The two crews
provided each other with some
competition to help make the
practices more interesting.

On Saturday the Virginia crew
will travel to Washington for the
Cherry Blossom Regatta on the
Potomac to open their season.