April 26, 2025 - Saratoga Springs, NY
In a display of determination and skill against challenging weather conditions, Fayetteville-Manlius High School Rowing returned from the prestigious Saratoga Invitational with several strong performances, highlighted by a bronze medal finish from the Boys Varsity 4+ boat.
Boys Varsity 4+ Claims Bronze in Competitive Field
The FM Boys Varsity 4+ delivered the team's top result of the day, securing a bronze medal with an impressive time of 5:47 over the 1500-meter course. The crew, consisting of coxswain Danny Summers, stroke Nolan Krukin, Bennett Terchowitz in 3 seat, and twins Nick and Ben Graff in 2 seat and bow, respectively, demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork to earn their place on the podium. The bronze finish was especially noteworthy as the FM boat finished just behind the renowned Row America Rye team in one of the final races of the day. As veterans of national competition, having qualified for Nationals in the Junior 4 category last year, the FM rowers proved they remain strong contenders in this highly competitive event.
Boys Head Coach - Meredith Andrews, Ben Graff, Nick Graff, Bennett Terchowitz, Nolan Krukin
Coxswain - Danny Summers
Additional Results
Several other FM boats delivered solid performances against the 36-team field that included elite crews from the New York metropolitan area and Connecticut:
- Boys 2V8+ finished 4th
- Boys Varsity 8+ finished 5th
- Girls Junior 8+ [B] finished 5th
- Girls 3V4+ finished 5th
- Girls Junior 4+ finished 6th
- Girls Junior 8+ [A] finished 6th
- Girls Varsity 4+ finished 10th
Weather Creates Challenging Conditions
The regatta, billed as "America's Largest Sprint Race," featured challenging conditions throughout the competition day. Athletes and spectators alike contended with torrential downpours in the morning, creating muddy conditions along the shore. Strong headwinds affected race times, and an additional weather delay in the afternoon further complicated the schedule. With local rainfall totaling over 2.2 inches throughout the day, crews had to demonstrate exceptional resilience and focus. Despite these obstacles, the FM crews demonstrated determination and competitive spirit against a field of 36 teams and clubs spanning the top scholastic and club programs from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. The Saratoga Invitational represents an important early-season benchmark, allowing teams to gauge their standing among the competitive rowing landscape of the Northeast as they prepare for championship season in the weeks ahead.
On the Horizon
Next up for the FM squad is a home regatta on Saturday, May 3 against local teams for the Section III Championships. The event will also feature a special ceremony dedicating a new boat to FM alumna Dana Moffat, class of '15, a member of the US World Championship team. More information, including race times, will be posted throughout the week on the team website's event page.
Complete results of this weekend's regatta can be found here
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