When Head Rowing Coach David Patterson made the move from Iona to Fairfield, he knew he was in for a challenge. With a small women’s team and a men’s team in its first year of varsity, it was supposed to take Patterson time to develop a winning program.
Instead, both teams made a significant jump at the MAAC championships, both finishing in second place behind powerhouse Marist.
Patterson was awarded the MAAC Coach of the Year Award for his success. This season, he had outstanding results with a men’s team that, competed as a club team last year at the MAACs, and a women’s squad that improved from third and fourth place finishes respectively.
“I am very satisfied with the performances of both teams,” said Patterson. “It is flattering to win an award. It is my first and I am happy about it.”
“Coach Patterson has been the major catalyst for our team’s successes,” said Dave Brems ’08. “His winning [the award] was well-deserved and hard earned. I’m sure it won’t be his last.”
The women’s team finished with 135 points and the men with 157 points.
The men’s lightweight four, which Patterson called the “flagship team” of the season, led the way for the men with a gold medal finish. The men’s second varsity four finished second, despite leading most of the race. The men’s novice four also picked up a silver medal.
The women’s varsity four finished in second place, just sliding past Loyola at the finish line. The women’s varsity eight and second varsity four secured second place finishes as well.
“I think that both teams did an exceptional job at MAACs this weekend,” said Daria Anuszkiewicz ’09. “Everyone had their endurances tested by rowing anywhere from two to four races in the matter of five hours.”
The Stags season continues with each team participating in two more races.
“Our biggest races of the season are coming up,” said Brems. “We now have great momentum coming off these past weeks performances and are using that as a spring board to help us prepare for the faster crews that we will face.”
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