Pennsauken Township, N.J. - The Drake University rowing team finished in fifth place at the 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Sunday, May 16 held at Cooper River Park.
 
With 27 points, Drake was just one point behind Fairfield in fourth with 28 points. For the second-straight time, Marist captured the championship with 54 points defeating Jacksonville (45) and Stetson (43) helped by its comeback win in the varsity 8 grand final.
 
The Bulldogs' varsity 4 boat placed fourth in the afternoon's grand final with a time of 08:39.238 while their varsity 8 boat earned a fifth-place finish in their grand final with a time of. 07:08.752. Drake's 2^nd varsity 8 boat won in its petite final in the afternoon against Robert Morris and Canisius with a winning time of 07:20.518.
 
"I'm so proud of how hard the team raced today, said Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro". "We raced to our expectations. Everything came together after a tough year with all the protocols and restrictions we went through and to put two boats in the grand finals is great. They came together and I'm just so proud of all them."
 
The varsity four boat started the day of racing for the Bulldogs with a third-place finish in its morning heat with a time of 08:41.522, the fourth-fastest in the two heats, to advance to the afternoon. The 2^nd varsity 8 boat clocked a time of 07:18.903 in its morning heat just missing out on the grand final as their time was the fifth-fastest of the nine boats. The varsity eight boat ended the morning with a time of 06:59.814 to advance.
 
Drake, which had no seniors compete Sunday, will welcome a group of recruits and an expected returning group of 40 rowers in 2021-22.
 
"The four boat and the 2 eight boats had good performances today with the 2^nd eight just missing out on the grand final. We're really excited for this group and looking forward to next season," DiSilvestro said.

A pair of Bulldogs were named to the 2021 MAAC teams as junior Maddie Smith was selected to the All-MAAC First Team and junior Clara Froeschner was picked to the All-MAAC Second Team.
 
Drake Boat Lineups
1V8
C Emily Zozokos (Fr.)
8 Jacqueline Bigus (Jr.)
7 Katelyn Lajoie (Jr.)
6 Maddie Smith (Jr.)
5 Clara Froeschner (Jr.)
4 Ana Manolis (So.)
3 Lily Evan-Cook
2 Amanda Pereira (So.)
1 Hailey Hovland (Jr.)
 
2V8
C Sophie Grizzle (So.)
8 Emily Peck (Fr.)
7 Sydney Wilson (So.)
6 Alex Whyte (So.)
5 Ellie Reece (So.)
4 Lindsay York (So.)
3 Lizzie Rader (Fr.)
2 Hedera Belmond (Fr.)
1 Kiernan Blanchard (Fr.)
 
1V 4
C Autumn Palmer (So.)
4 Kaitlyn Pomeroy (So.)
3 Meghan Faria (Jr.)
2 Caitlin Anderson (Fr.)
1 Sara Wilson (Fr.)