Dad Vail Regatta brings 78 years of history and tradition to banks of the Schuylkill River
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Spectators watch the 78th annual Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Athletes carry their boat toward the Schuylkill River for the competition. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Ed Hojnacki grills food that he plans to share with his granddaughter’s team from Fordham University. Hojnacki drove from South Carolina to support his family at the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Members of the 1991 University of Virginia crew team and their coach that won the 1991 Dan Vail Regatta celebrate the 25th anniversary of their victory. Pictured: Vera Chu Conley (front); and (from left) Kit Gruver; coach Brett Wilson; Margaret Pauls; Roanne Daniels. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Braden J. Negaard poses in a yellow blazer that is presented to members of the Dad Vail Regatta community after a minimum ten years of involvement. Negaard has been involved with the Regatta for 43 years and is the second generation of his family to be part of the event. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Medals awarded to the victors of the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Eric Hughes takes in the action through his binoculars from a seat along the Schuylkill River. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Emily McGowan cheers on her boyfriend who is a member of the Drexel varsity team. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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The MIT varsity lightweight team floats in the Schuylkill River during the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Chris Frantze cheers on Purdue from the edge of the Schuylkill River. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Galen Bernick celebrates his first place finish with family members who came from Arizona to see him compete at the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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Exhausted contestants cross the finish line of the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
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The MIT varsity lightweight team celebrates their victory at the Dad Vail Regatta. (Branden Eastwood for WHYY)
This weekend over 120 colleges and 3,700 student athletes took part in the 78th annual Dad Vail Regatta. The event is one of the premiere collegiate rowing competitions and draws competitors from across the country and Canada.
While the spirit of competition is fierce at the Dad Vail Vail, so is the sense of history. The yellow sports jackets that dotted the crowd belonged to volunteers with a minimum of ten years of involvement with the races.
One University of Virginia women’s team was reunited this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their victory. Another spectator explained she first came to the races to cheer on her daughter who was a competitor, but after her graduation they continued to make the trip to Philadelphia for the event.
Purdue, University of Delaware, and University of Virginia all scored major victories at the event, but to those in attendance year after year, the memories may be worth more than the gold medals.
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