Drexel and Temple set the Dad Vail stage for an epic heavyweight eight race on Saturday

It’s been three long years without fans ringing bells and hollering while filling up the grandstands as teams of rowers glided down the Schuylkill River racecourse.

The 82nd annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta returned to true form on Friday after not holding competition in 2020 and a spectator-less regatta in 2021. Compared to last year’s peaceful one-day event with half as many competing teams, this year lent itself to a more spirited race day.

“We could make this a hostile place to come out and row,” said Temple coach Brian Perkins, who won this year’s Matt Ledwith coach of the year award. “When you’re rowing by, your blood is pumping. You just hear the coxswain and you hear that crowd go — and this isn’t a spectator sport — but on this day, hearing that gives you another gear that you didn’t know you had.”

Of the local schools competing in the men’s heavyweight varsity eight, Drexel, Temple and St. Joseph’s advanced to Saturday’s final. Villanova fell outside of the top-two qualifying spots in its heat.

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None of those schools fielded boats for the women’s varsity eight due to scheduling conflicts with conference tournaments.

Minimal wind and calm, overcast conditions made for smooth racing. There were a few threatening clouds but the rain held off — something that could impact Saturday’s scheduling.

Drexel traded strokes a majority of the way in its preliminary race, paddling alongside Delaware, Marietta, Minnesota and Villanova. Heading into the final 500 meters, Drexel pulled out into open waters, earning a spot in the semifinals handily in 5 minutes, 33.058 seconds. Delaware finished second in that grouping, four seconds behind the Dad Vail favorite.

“They’re a mature boat and they know how to handle themselves in high-stress situations,” said Drexel coach Paul Savell. “I think today they did what they needed to do to move on. Tomorrow is going to be a really competitive, tough race day.”

Saturday presents an opportunity for Drexel to avenge its 5 minutes, 32.669-second third-place finish last year, behind George Washington and Temple in the finals. Savell added that sharing a home course with the Owls and seeing them train every day adds fuel to what has become something of a local rivalry.

Temple and Drexel, two programs with varsity eight boats expected to be in strong contention to win the 2022 Dad Vail, shared the water three times earlier this season. In the latter two — at the Murphy Cup on April 2 and the Bergen Cup on April 30 — Drexel secured the top spot in runaway fashion by a substantial four- and five-second margin.

“They’re bigger than we are, they’re very well-coached and they’re good,” Perkins said. “But if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best so here we are heading into Dad Vail Saturday.”

The Owls finished their first-round race charging through the finish line in 5 minutes, 33.419 seconds, narrowly topping George Washington.

“It was no joke,” Perkins said. “Our guys are quick and I’ve known they were quick. But they did a good job of managing the race. They kept GW where they could see them and it’s easy to row when you’re out in front.”

The reigning Dad Vail champions underwent a fairly significant overhaul from a year ago. Perkins’ group returned seven of nine from last year’s varsity eight boat. Four members of Temple’s freshman eight boat, which won the Dad Vail last year, have stepped into the varsity eight boat this year.

For Temple, St. Joe’s and 2013 and 2017 champions Drexel, George Washington is expected to pose the largest out-of-town threat heading into Saturday.