Worcester, MA --- For the first time in program history, WPI's Varsity Eight has reached the semifinals of the ECAC Championships.  The Engineers earned the spot in Sunday's semifinals with a strong row in their afternoon heat on Lake Quinsigamond on Saturday afternoon.  WPI placed third in a time of 6:10.576, just behind top-ranked Virgina and Ithaca and just ahead of UNH.

The WPI eight includes Connor McGrath (Troy, NY), Scott Gary (Lubbock, TX), Neil Lettenberger (Oakland, ME), Henry Moore (Jaffrey, NH), Arthur Gager (Kennebunk, ME), Sebastien Cohn (Orinda, CA), Tobin McGee (Rye, NY), Andrew Sandefer (New Orleans, LA) and coxswain Bethany Bouchard (Nashua, NH).

Additionally, the second and third varsity eights will also be in action on Sunday.  Smaller fields resulted in automatic slots in Sunday's semifinals for both boats. 

Competing on the second eight is  Jeffrey Onderdonk (Colechester, CT), Nick Vitello (Tolland, CT), Drew Oprea (Hicksville, NY), Ben Johnson (Northford, CT), Berk Birand (Istanbul, Turkey), Burak Derkunt (Istanbul, Turkey), Max French (Harwinton, CT), Don Havener (Turner, ME), and coxswain Brenna Colleary (Southboro, MA), while Garret Cavanaugh (Townsend, MA), Evan May (Marshfield, MA), Matt Kielbasa (Ludlow, MA),  Drew Domnarski (Pawcatuck, CT), Elan Pelletier (Georgetown, MA), Tom Parenteau (Scarborough, ME), Andrew Emerson (York, ME), Josh Wimble (Albans, VT) and coxswain Nina Bass (Trumbull, CT) make up the third varsity eight.  

Results (Men's Varsity Eight Heat 1 - 17:12)

Worcester Telegram and Gazette Feature on WPI Men's Crew and Tobin McGee (5/10/08)