SACRAMENTO – The San Diego men's freshman eights took a sweeping first and second place at the Head of the American on Saturday.
 
"I am tremendously proud of the team's performance this weekend," said head coach Brooks Dagman. "To have our freshman emphatically claim those top two spots our varsity falling only to boats from Cal and Gonzaga were very encouraging."  
 
The two freshman eights dominated the field by crushing the course a full minute and a half ahead of their competition.
 
The first freshman eight with Oona DeCourt as cox, Lucas Stroud, Sean Kenney, Jack Crabtree, Joe Hart, Nic Johnson, Drew Paulsen, Henry Kiley, and Jack Love, finished first with a time of 16:36.
 
Freshman crew Jackson Williams, Ryan Sanchez, Bryce Meichtry, Riley Kawananakoa, Luke Bodeau, Nathan Shah, Schuyler Cole, Carson McCormick and Haley Aker as cox, finished second with a time of 17:38.
 
The varsity eight with Owen Chase, Connor Olson, Evan Nassar, Brennan McManus, Max O'Toole, Hunter Pflueger, Luke Walbeck, Ben Thibeau, and Anna Campbell as cox,
crossed the finish line in fourth place. They finished with a time of 16:25 behind California and Gonzaga and ahead of Orange Coast College, UC Davis, UCSB and 19 others.
 
"The loss to Gonzaga stings a bit, as we beat them at the end of last season, but it's something for our guys to think about for the next few months until we see them again," said Dagman.
 
USD's four placed 19 of 24 in 19:34.
 
Next up, the Toreros will race at home for the San Diego Fall Classic on November 11.
 
Complete Results

Lineups
 
Open 4+
Belyn Naquin, Mike Darby, Evan Feree, Jerome Yankey, Joey Abeyta
 
Freshman 8+
(A) Oona DeCourt, Lucas Stroud, Sean Kenney, Jack Crabtree, Joe Hart, Nic Johnson, Drew Paulsen, Henry Kiley, Jack Love
 
(B) Haley Aker, Jackson Williams, Ryan Sanchez, Bryce Meichtry, Riley Kawananakoa, Luke Bodeau, Nathan Shah, Schuyler Cole, Carson McCormick
 
Open 8+
Anna Campbell, Owen Chase, Connor Olson, Evan Nassar, Brennan McManus, Max O'Toole, Hunter Pflueger, Luke Walbeck, Ben Thibeau