Connecticut River, Hartford, CT - The under 19 youth rowers made a big splash at the Head of the Riverfront Regatta sponsored by Riverfront Recaputure on Sunday. Rockland Rowers captured four medals and a top half finish in five events entered. "We are happy with today's outcome," said head coach Melissa Boyd. "The rowers showed excellent team work and professionalism throughout the day. The results provided positive feedback into our training, race preparation and steering and the Rockland "B" boats comprising novice and junior varsity athletes gained a lot of experience."
Gabriele Welp IHA '19 raced her first ever head race in the single and took silver in the girl's varsity event finishing with a time of 20:24.42 behind Litchfield Hills (19:56:15) and ahead of Blood Street Sculls (20:51:34.) Welp said, “Head of the Riverfront was a blast. It was fun for me to see how my speed translated to long distance races and to test my ability to push for a final sprint to the finish.”
The boy's and girl's varsity "A" quads each placed third for bronze in their respective events. The girl's quad lineup of Lucy Jackson Nyack '19 (stroke), Ariel Deljanin N. Valley '18 (three), Michaela Davidson Clarkstown North '19 (two), and Welp (bow) finished in 20:28.26, placing behind first-place RowAmerica Rye (18:37.54) and second-place Pelham Community Rowing Association (19:59.33) in a field of eight.
The boy's quad race was competitive, with the top three boats finishing within 14 seconds of each other over the 2.25 mile course, as Norwalk River Rowing Association and Blood Street Sculls came in just in front of the RRA in a field of 15 boats. The lineup of Anthony Rostek Tappan Zee '20 (stroke), Anthony Feteira Clarkstown South '19 (three), Billy Grippi Tappan Zee '20 (two), and Ryan Almond Clarkstown North '20 (bow) posted a time of 18:23.42.
Wilhelm McGinnis Nyack '19, won the boy's novice single (23:41.83) by default when his single opponent scratched. McGinnis put forth a gold medal effort in his first race having only started sculling in July and specifically training in the single just the week leading up to the race.
The boy's second varsity four lineup of Emilie Mazzola Briarcliff '18 (coxswain) Almond (stroke), Rostek (three), Grippi (two), and Matthew Davidson Clarkstown North '19 (bow) raced exhibition because of regatta rules and clocked in with a time of 18:52.48 which would have put them in 11th place out of 26 crews ahead of Greenwich Crew and behind Northfield Mount Hermon. "Given our team sculls 95% of the time, this was a great result," said coach Boyd.
The team will be back in action when they travel to the Head of the Housatonic on Saturday, October 7.
