LOWELL, Mass. (4/29/23) -  After a couple of weeks off, the Franklin Pierce University rowing program returned to the water at the UMASS-Lowell Open on Saturday afternoon, which was held at the Bellegarde Boathouse on the Merrimack River.

The Raven Varsity 4+ placed third out of four participating squads with an 8:44.10 race time, finishing behind winner Merrimack College (9:08.40) and runner-up Massachusetts Maritime (8:29.40) in the morning's first heat. Meanwhile the Pierce Varsity 8+ recorded their own runner-up finish out of three opposing boats, completing the stretch with a 8:01.90 to finish 00:46 behind the University of New Hampshire (7:15.20), and 00:21 ahead of Assumption University (8:22.50).

The Ravens also raced a Novice 4+ vessel in the event, which placed third-of-three against two different University of New Hampshire squads with a time of 10:07.02.

Franklin Pierce V4+ Lineup (8:44.10)
Coxswain - Helen Curley-Swannie (Longmeadow, Mass.)
#4 – Jada Fuentes (Lyme, Conn.)
#3 - Alexis Massey (Deep River, Conn.)
#2 – Maura Joseph (Holyoke, Mass.)
#1 – Hannah LaGrassa (Baldwinville, Mass.) 

Franklin Pierce N4+ Lineup (10:07.02)
Coxswain – Wren Shoemaker (Atglen, Penn.)
#4 – Grace Rich
#3 – Eva West (Fitchburg, Mass.)
#2 – Marisa Salinas (Manchester, Conn.)
#1 – Bridie Clark (Holden, Mass.)  

Franklin Pierce V8+ Lineup (8:01.90)
Coxswain – Helen Curley-Swannie  
#8 Stroke – Jada Fuentes
#7 – Alexis Massey
#6 – Meg Shawver (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.)
#5 – Hannah LaGrassa
#4 – Hannah May (Pembroke, N.H.)
#3 – Tessa Berry (Andover, Mass.)
#2 – Maura Joseph
#1 – Marisa Salinas

One final regatta remains on the 2023 spring calendar for Pierce Rowing, which will take place on Sunday, May 7th in Rome, New York for the East Regional Invitational.