OAK RIDGE, TN - Capital City Rowing took home six gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal in nine out of 15 events and won the top team points award with 426 points at the 2009 Southeast Regional Youth Championship in Oak Ridge, TN May 9-10.
Top crew teams from the Southeast competed at this two-day regatta, a 2,000-meter racecourse, in hopes of qualifying for a spot at the US Rowing National Youth Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio June 12-14. CCR won an invitation to this prestigious rowing competition in the men’s eight and the women’s pair events.
In the varsity men’s eight, winning gold medals were coxswain Emily Massey, and rowers Robbie Vezina, Kenny Nickens, John Sweat, Gennaro Scibelli, Logan Jester, Sam Walker, Adam Stephens, and Nathan Rillstone. Of these rowers, Kenny Nickens has been recruited by the University of Pennsylvania, John Sweat by Northeastern University, and Emily Massey by Clemson University’s crew teams. This boat also broke down into two boats to compete in the men’s varsity four A and B boat events, winning gold medals in both of their events. Coxswain Emily Massey went home with three gold medals.
However, the varsity women’s pair was the highlight of the weekend. These two rowers, Brianne Hadar and Morgan Hooks, entered the event with the goal of “just not flipping the boat, which is relatively easy to do in a pair with just two oars,” according to Brianne’s dad, Brian Hadar. “To be accurate, the women’s pair had only practiced 30 minutes together, ever, prior to racing. They caught a crab on the first stroke of the race and quickly found themselves down four or five lengths down to the field. By 1000 meters in, they had rowed through two crews and were in fourth place. In the last 1000 meters, they rowed through the rest and won by four seconds. It was a lot of fun to watch” smiled the varsity women’s coach Brett Tillotson.
CCR’s men’s second varsity eight A boat won a gold medal beating rivals Orlando Area Rowing and Atlanta Junior Rowing Association. This boat included coxswain James Yang, Justin Jarrett, Weber Glusenkamp, Frazier Chiles, Tyler Clayton, David Rodriguez, Ben Williamson, Will Ahnberg, and Chris Jones.
Also winning a gold medal was CCR’s men’s lightweight fours coxed by James Yang with rowers Weber Glusenkamp, Justin Jarrett, Will Ahnberg, and Tyler Clayton. This boat beat rivals Orland Area Rowing and the Sarasota Scullers by 9 to 10 seconds.
CCR’s novice women’s A boat, coxed by Dixie Folsom, won a silver medal in their event. Rowers were Emma Corry, Kristy Schmidt, Susannah Rowan, Mary Faith Pittman, Maria Eggleston, Sally Bruner, Morgan Burns, and Rachel Shaeffer.
CCR’s women’s varsity four won a silver medal in their event beating rivals Gainesville Area Rowing by six seconds. Coxswain Lindsey Laux and rowers Janice Gowen, Onyx Cross, Kelly Thiele, and Eleanor Balogh came back from their first heat with an 8:10.19 time to win the final event with a time of 7:48.93.
Finally, the varsity women’s lightweight eight won a bronze medal in their event. Coxed by Dixie Folsom, with rowers Caroline Cooper, Kristy Schmidt, Emma Corry, Mary Faith, Olivia Cooper, Rachel Shaeffer, Maria Eggleston, and Holly Brooks this boat represents rowers from three different high schools, freshmen on up to seniors.
CCR’s next challenge will be the US Rowing National Youth Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 13-14.