SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College men's crew team raced against Division I, II, and III programs at the New York State Championships Saturday morning on a six-lane buoyed course at Fish Creek. 

The Garnet Chargers competed in three events, with the Varsity 8+ team earning a spot in the Grand Final, the 2nd Varsity 8+ boat placing fourth, and the Frosh/Novice 8+ boat winning its race. 

Sophomore Elizabeth Canaveral served as the coxswain for the novice men, leading first-year Nate Nguyen (stroke), first-year Samar Rokkam (7 seat), junior Ben Tohanczyn (6 seat), first-year Ben Grassi (5 seat), first-year Ben Kittelberger (4 seat), first-year Taekjin Jeong (3 seat), first-year Nicholas Livingston (2 seat), and first-year Thomas Unkles (bow). Her boat went 7:18.94, beating out Merchant Marine Academy by over 20 seconds for the gold medal. 

In the first heat of the Varsity 8+ race, sophomore Erika Canaveral led senior Sam Flynn (stroke), senior Ben Stern (7 seat), senior Erik Roberts (6 seat), junior Stuart Livingston (5 seat), junior Tyler Perry (4 seat), junior Wolfgang Bodge (3 seat), junior Angus Hall (2 seat), and senior Josh Atkinson (bow) to a third-place spot (6:48.806), beating out St. Lawrence University and DI Manhattan University. Union was a little over five seconds behind Army West Point in second. In the Grand Final against Hamilton College, St. Lawrence, Army, and Manhattan, Union placed fifth with a time of 7:46.681 while competing out of lane 6. 

Senior Khadija Amir guided sophomore Daniel Vega (stroke), senior Nick Meyer (7 seat), junior Reed Will (6 seat), junior Kenny Kromer (5 seat), senior Jack Savage (4 seat), senior Cody Morrison (3 seat), first-year Nico Sanza Stribling (2 seat), sophomore Ian Porter (bow) across the line in 7:11.925, just edging out Rochester Institute of Technology. 

After one week off, Union will be back in Saratoga Springs for the Liberty League Championships on Friday, May 1.