PHILADELPHIA - The Loyola University Maryland men's and women's rowing teams began the 2014 season at the Navy Day Regatta with four top-10 finishes on the Schuylkill River. The event featured 668 boats from 91 clubs, colleges and high schools.

"Overall, the day went very well," Head Coach Al Ramirez said. "Despite being unable to top the best crews, I was encouraged by the rowing I saw. We beat good crews, and were close to the heels of others."

On the men's side, the lightweight four boat of Craig MacAdams, James McCarron, Theodore Fortier, and Robert Moore came away from the season opener with the Greyhounds' highest finish, taking sixth in 15:13.65.

The men's varsity four (Craig Spicer, Bryan Carney, Filip Zigic and Joe Wawrzynski and cox Patrick Flynn) finished 14th with a time of 15:29.49, while the novice four took eighth. The rookie crossed the finish line in 15:56.83.

The men's varsity eight recorded Loyola's fastest time of the afternoon, clocking a race finish of 14:00.17. The time was good enough for 22nd, passing teams from Lehigh University, Washington College, St. Joseph's University, Penn State and St. Mary's. Finally, the men's junior varsity eight took 11th, setting a final race time 14:24.84.

"I'm encouraged by the sharp rowing exhibited by the novice teams," Assistant Coach Greg Muir said. "They are making good strides as young rowers."

Kristen Wawrzynski and Keenan Gibbons competed in the women's pair, taking eighth with a time of 20:46.61.

The women's novice four, led by Sarah Doyle, finished sixth in the boat's first collegiate race. The squad recorded a time of 18:25.09.

Melissa Cortes, Kelly Gregitis, Gabrielle Campitiello, Eleni Papadatos and coxswain Serena Rivera finished 16th in the women's varsity four, with a time of 18:07.47.

Loyola returns to Philadelphia on Saturday, Oct. 25, to compete in the Head of the Schuylkill.