Sports
Sunday, March 30, 1997

After trailing most of the way on the 2,000-meter course, Rutgers finished with a strong rally and reduced Penn's lead from a length and a quarter to three-quarters of a length at the finish line.

Coach Bruce Knopka's Quakers, stroked by Steve Parks, raced home in 6 minutes, 24.1 seconds in their first regatta of the season. Rutgers, coached by Brady Gould, was timed in 6:26.6.

Penn's victory gave it a sweep of the day's five races, including the second varsity and the first freshman eight. Each won by 2_1/2 lengths.

The results

Third varsity four: 1, Penn, 7:48.3; 2, Rutgers, 7:53.1.

Second freshman eight: 1, Penn, 6:59.1; 2, Rutgers, 7:11.1.

First freshman eight: 1, Penn, 6:36.7; 2, Rutgers, 6:46.8.

Second varsity eight: 1, Penn, 6:37.3; 2, Rutgers, 6:47.3.

Varsity eight: 1, Penn, 6:24.1 (Justin Slatky, coxswain; Steve Parks, Matt Matiasel, Joe Melchiors, Ted Coons, T.J. Berdzik, Dan Blaney, Geoff Menkowitz, Brad Tabas); 2, Rutgers, 6:26.6 (Paul Mullin, coxswain; Volodar Lojko, Jim Kahn, Bob Friedrich, Brian McCarthy, John Rogan, Steve Perry, Jose Sumangil, Paul Perry).