CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Loyola University Maryland's rowing programs began their 2021 spring season with a dual at Washington College on Saturday morning.

The host Shoremen and Shorewomen took first place in all five contested races. The closest contest came in the women's Varsity Four, with five seconds separating the top Washington boat (8:38.78) from Loyola's Theresa Martin, Jenna Barrett, Emily Hunt, Claire Volz and coxswain Sarah Hofstetter (8:43.73).

"We have a very young team, which will gain a lot from time on the water and race experience," head coach Megan Patrick said. "Due to the pandemic shutting down last year's season before it started, 12 of our varsity rowers raced their first spring season 2K. It was really nice to see the fire and fight from every crew. We can do a lot with that willingness to race when we ramp up our water time next week during Easter Break training camp."

Other competitors in the women's Varsity Four race were Isabela Botto, Erin Megill, Ivy Gallagher, Gabbie MacNeil and coxswain Ana LoConte (9:24.63), and Emma McCann, Anna Kelley, Megan Gallucci, Lindsey Thompson and coxswain Delaney Gibbons (9:44.53).

Loyola's top women's Varsity 8 boat of Martin, Barrett, Hunt, Megill, Botto, MacNeil, Megan Galluci, Volz and Gibbons crossed the line in 8:25.61, while the second Varsity 8 crew of McCann, Kelley, Gallagher, Thompson, Holly Hanscom, Rebekah Abraham, Ashira Thompson, Erin White and Hofstetter completed their race in 9:29.68.

On the men's side, the Greyhounds' top Varsity 8 group of Tibor Francia, Tommy Moyer, Trey Higgins, Alex Perez, Cameron Benson, Frederich Lightner, Geoff Noonan, CJ Kaloudis and coxswain Jo Gosciniak recorded a time of 7:11.77. In the second Varsity 8 race, Benson, Kaloudis, Francia, Perez, Lightner, Miles Smith, Noonan, Gil Carlson and Gosciniak crossed the line in 7:31.77.

Loyola is right back on the water tomorrow morning, taking on host George Mason and Robert Morris on the Occoquan River in Fairfax Station, Va.