Local schools participate in 20th annual Mathews Regatta
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By HUGH RIST
For the News & Messenger
Published: May 6, 2008
However, two area schools — Forest Park and Gar-Field — took a different approach as both their novice and varsity rowers competed in the 20th annual Mathews Regatta. This event, unlike every other regatta during the season, allowed coaches to put the same rowers in two events during the same regatta. “Double-rowing” is usually not allowed, but, according to Forest Park girls’ coach Gretchen Thompson, who also gives input into the boys’ lineup, the event was a “good team-building experience” for both units.
“It was a long day,” Thompson said. “We left Forest Park at 3:30 in the morning and didn’t get back until 9:30 at night, but it was a full day of rowing. We were exhausted but it was good for the team to be able to com-pete in a more relaxed atmosphere. There were also mixed races (featuring both boys’ and girls’ rowers), coaches’ races, and coxswain races (where a rower coxed and conswains rowed), so it was kind of a welcome change for our team (to row in a setting) where the pressure wasn’t as great.”
The results were good for the Forest Park boys’ team, which finished first out of 19 teams in the boys’ team efficiency race to win the William and Catherine Owens Memorial Trophy. Highlighting the boys’ victory was the boys’ novice eight, which won its race with a time of 3:45.7. Another strong boat was the boys’ varsity eight, which finished third at 5:14.8. That boat’s lineup consisted of coxswain Erek Korgan, stroke Ethan Brinkley, Matt Croghan, Kevin McDermott, Andrew Bengier, Will Swain, Brian Gresko, Brett Dishler, and Chad Terrill. Gar-Field won that race with a time of 5:08.7.
The Bruins’ boys’ varsity light four and second four also posted second-place finishes.
On the girls’ side, the varsity eight finished first with a time of 5:28.3. That boat consisted of coxswain Nathalie Rosado, stroke Stephanie Lieb, Mariam Ahmed, Marie Gately, Caitlin Bryant, Kate Carvajal, Colleen Gately, Courtney Combs, and Amanda Bond. The girls’ novice four and varsity second four each placed sec-ond.
Overall, Forest Park entered 16 events and medaled in 12 of them. The Bruins also won the exhibition coaches’ and coxswain races en route to a third place finish in the combined team efficiency race.
Thompson said with advanced placement exams and prom looming (prom is Friday night) this week, the Mathews event boosted the confidence of some boats and provided a welcome diversion for others.
“It was fabulous that our girls’ first varsity eight did so well. They really needed that from a confidence standpoint,” Thompson said.
Meanwhile, Woodbridge had three boats race at the Ted Phoenix Regatta, and one—the girls’ novice eight—came away with a bronze medal, with a time of 5:42.4. The boat’s lineup, which featured seven freshmen and one sophomore, consisted of coxswain Angie Velez, Kim Wilder, Lauren Kinneberg, Ashley Biegun, Michele Stiltner, Sarah Burton, Caitlin Brezina, Olivia Twyman, and Alexandra Gutkowski,
Vikings’ novice coach Emily Hunt said the medal-winning performance was made all the more remarkable by the fact this was the first week that lineup had raced together this season.
“Some of the girls had been (rowing) in the light eight and we combined them together for the first time,” Hunt said. “They were quite excited. They all rowed with the same attitude and were very open to racing with each other.”
Hunt noted none of the rowers in this lineup is eligible to row at states or nationals. However, some of the unit may row at the prestigious Stotesbury Regatta on May 16-17.
Other area results from the Ted Phoenix Regatta included Potomac’s boys’ novice four winning the silver (5:48.4) and its girls’ novice four taking bronze at 6:04.6. Hylton’s novice four finished fourth in its heat, but did not qualify for the finals.
The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships are this Saturday, with preliminary heats beginning at 9 a.m. at Sandy Run Park. The top three boats from each heat will qualify for the finals later in the day, with the top six in each final qualifying for nationals on May 23-24.
For more information about the state meet and directions to Sandy Run, visit the National Capital Area Rowing Association’s website at http://www.ncasra.org.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
