Loyola uses Judge Dunne Invitational as tune up

Facing tough competition, Loyola finished Saturday’s Judge Dunne Invitational Regatta pleased with the results and lessons learned despite some disappointment over the lack of wins.

The Ramblers hosted the event, which is in its 14th year honoring Judge Arthur Dunne, who helped organize Loyola’s first rowing club in 1984 and later led the successful effort to lease land from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District that is today the site of the Ramblers’ boathouse.

St. Ignatius, Lincoln Park Juniors and Milwaukee Juniors also were part of the races, with LPJ winning 15 of the 30 events. The Ramblers posted five wins. Six of their losses were by less than 10 seconds.

“It was a good day,” Loyola’s Jack Brett said. “We know we have to start better, but it was good. We were either winning or keeping them close.”

Races were run “Henley Style,” with two boats racing head-to-head.

Loyola boys and girls’ 8 boats each won its respective 2,000 meter races against St. Ignatius, with the boys winning by a 55.1 second split and the girls by 32.1 seconds. The Boys First and Second Varsity 8 boats also earned wins versus Milwaukee Juniors and the Girls Freshman 8 boat rounded out the wins for the Ramblers with a victory over St. Ignatius.

Rowers routinely referred to the day as a good learning experience and a tune up, with only the Crystal Lake Regatta next Saturday before the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships, which begin May10 in Zanesville, Ohio.

“We learned a lot,” said senior varsity coxswain Katie Sutehall. “We figured we’d have a hard time today, but it was a good learning experience for us. It was a good day overall.”