The Canisius High School rowing team continues to stake its claim as the top rowing program in the region.

Dual Race Vs Joes II at Buffalo Scholastic Rowing Association 

Canisius and St. Joe's raced against each other head to head for a second time this season in a dual race on the Buffalo River in November. Both schools raced in the Varsity 4+, Second Varsity 4+, Freshman 4+ and Second Freshman/Novice 4+ events.

The Varsity 4+ course was approximately 2000 meters, starting at the top of the City Ship Canal and finishing at Canal Side. This is a very narrow strip of water, only wide enough to row three boats across, which led to very intense competition.

In the first race of the day, the Canisius Varsity 4+ composed of lightweights Dylan Sass '21, Tyler Siwiec '22, Zach Siwiec '22, Matt Talty '21 and Luke LoTempio '22 raced against St. Joe's top Varsity heavyweight lineup. Off the start, St. Joe's took the lead. But as the race went on, Canisius fought their way back into contention. The raced finished with both crews colliding across the finish line, St. Joe's about a half length ahead of Canisius.

In the Second Varsity 4+, Canisius heavyweight rowers Nate Siwiec '21, Andrew Skakal '21, Jonah Cross '21, Peter Spira '22 and Ben Coffey '22 defeated St. Joe's and a second Canisius lightweight lineup comprised of rowers Connor Shelby '22, Anthony Davoli '22, Adam Wittman '23, Evan Izatt '23 and Patrick Gibbons '23. After racing even with St. Joe's for about 500 meters, the Canisius heavyweight crew started to pull away and extended their lead through the finish line for over a 12 second victory.

The freshman novice crews rowed a thousand meter course, starting near the Ohio St. Bridge and finishing shortly before the Michigan St. Bridge. 

Canisius' top freshman crew of Sam Ferguson '24, Rowan McNeil '24, Peter Cross '24, James Dodman '24 and Teddy Hibbard '24 won with a decisive victory of more than 30 seconds over St. Joe's. 

In the Second Novice 4+ event, Canisius would win again with Ryan Brown '23, Mark Kadiev '24, Lorn Anderson '24, Owen Conley '24 and Landon Fried '23 defeating St. Joes by over 20 seconds.
 

West Side Fall Invite at West Side Rowing Club

Immediately following their 4+s races, both Canisius and St. Joe's sent select rowers to compete at West Side Rowing Club, in 1500 meter races, on the Black Rock Canal.

In the 2- event, Canisius defeated its competition, coming in first and second place in both the A and B heats. Rowers Dylan Sass and Matt Talty won the A heat, followed closely by twin brothers Zach and Tyler Siwiec. Andrew Skakal and Peter Spira won the B heat. Sophomore lightweights Evan Izatt and Adam Wittman came in second.

Canisius rowers Sam Ferguson and Mark Kadiev won the Freshman 2x event by nearly 40 seconds over the second place West Side Rowing Club Jr. Men’s crew.

In the Varsity 2x event, Canisius rowers Nate Siwiec and Connor Shelby were narrowly beat by St. Joe's in the A heat, followed by Anthony Divoli and Jack Stralka who finished ahead of other BSRA Jr. Men and St. Joe's crews.

In the 1x events, Nate Siwiec, Andrew Skakal and Connor Shelby placed second and third.

The Canisius freshman rowing team was undefeated for the day -- a good sign of things to come for the spring championship season. The Canisius varsity rowing team won three of the four sweep rowing events. 

Photo above by Jacob Hanesworth '22 of the Canisius Press Corps: Senior Heavy 4 - Nate Siwiec '21, Andrew Skakal '21, Jonah Cross '21, Peter Spira '22, and Ben Coffey '22

Click here to see more photos by Jacob.