1978 Men’s Crew Honored as Team of Distinction
10/30/2008 11:03:34 AM | Men's Rowing
The 1978 men’s crew team was honored as the Team of Distinction at the ‘Night of Distinction’ on Thursday, September 11 in Manley Field House
The 1978 men’s crew was the best in the nation. The Varsity Eight and Freshman Eight won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) titles, the most highly regarded contest in the sport. Following the national championship victory, the team went to the prestigious Royal Henley Regatta on the Thames River in England.
After a fierce race against Harvard in the season-opener, in which Harvard defeated the Orange, Syracuse bounced back to sweep its next four races, including victories against the Coast Guard Academy, a three-way race against Rutgers and St. Joseph’s, the Goes Cup race against Cornell and Navy, and the Holding Cup against Brown. After a third-place finish in the Eastern Sprints, the Orange rallied and secured the Packard Cup for the third-straight year. The team closed the season winning the IRA national championship, which was held on Onondaga Lake in Syracuse. The 1978 Varsity Eight boat included Tom Evancie, Gerald Henwood, Andy Mogish, Bill Purdy, Bill Reid, John Shamlian, Art “Skip” Sibley, Ozzie Street and David Townsley. They were the first Syracuse team to capture the national championship since 1920.
Many of the student-athletes continued to achieve tremendous success on the water.. Henwood participated in the 1975 Junior Championship. Purdy rowed in the 1975 Junior Championship, the 1977, ’79 and ‘83 World Championships, and the 1980 Olympic Games. He was not able to compete in the 1980 Olympics, however, due to the US Boycott. Townsley competed in the 1979 Pan Am Games and the 1981 World Championship.
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