The McMaster Marauders men's and women's rowing teams competed in the OUA Championship this past Saturday, Oct. 30, placing 5^th and 8^th, respectively.
 
It was a cold day in Welland, Ont., but the Marauders put on an incredible performance, competing in ten events throughout the day and winning two medals overall.
 
After the morning's preliminary races, McMaster had nine of their ten boats qualifying for A Finals, and their women's lightweight doubles, Sarah Oresnik and Austine Wang, competing in the B Final.
 
McMaster's best finish of the day came from Jonathan Pusic, who won silver in the men's singles — the Marauders' first medal of the day.
 
Liam MacDonald, Alex Barnes, Alex Cowman, Jack Thorpe, and coxswain Alyssa DiPaolo also medaled for McMaster, taking home bronze in the men's lightweight 4+ final event.
 
The Marauders have been rebuilding their rowing program this year with almost an entirely new coaching staff, who were there to support and cheer on their teams all day.
 
Due to this new approach, McMaster had fewer boats racing this year than in previous championships, but those who rowed for the Marauders gave the other participating schools challenging competition.
 
McMaster came very close to medaling in four events — fourth place overall finishes went to Oresnik in the women's lightweight singles, Daria Ciparis in the women's singles, Nathalie Hilbert and Ciparis in the women's doubles, and Alex Cowman and Jack Thorpe in the men's lightweight pairs, the final race of the day.
 
Another notable McMaster rower was Ashton Corr, who placed fifth in both the men's lightweight singles and the men's lightweight doubles, which he competed in with his partner William Bleecker.
 
The Marauders also walked away with a sixth-place finish from Jacob Bresolin and Jonathan Pusic in the men's doubles, as well as an eighth-place final for Oresnik and Wang in the women's lightweight doubles.
 
The Championship marked the end of the OUA season for McMaster, but the Marauders men's and women's teams will compete this weekend in the Canadian University Rowing Championship.
 
The event takes place from Nov. 6-7 in Welland, Ont. at the International Flatwater Centre and is hosted by Brock University.