RowAmerica Rye rowers concluded another standout season, bringing home over 80 medals from four regattas.
By Melanie Cane
RowAmerica Rye rowers concluded another standout season, bringing home over 80 medals from four regattas. They were Mercer Lake/ISA Sculling Championship, Saratoga Invitational, Lowell Invitational, and the Northeast Regional Championship.
Their last regatta, the Northeast Regional Championship regatta, which was held on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. over the May 21 weekend, was the qualifying regatta for the US Rowing Youth National Championship, the most competitive youth regatta in the country. Three RowAmerica Rye boats qualified for Nationals. Kate O’Byrne, Sean Hayes, Spencer Sands, Gus Rodriguez, and Will Turner won the Varsity 4+ event. Ryan Telesca and Will Pundyk placed 2nd in the Varsity Pair, and Leon Chambers placed 2nd in the Varsity Single. The Varsity 8 boat missed qualifying by less than a second, taking fourth place.
Coach Aleks Radovic commended the whole team. “Our philosophy has always been that hard work put in summer, fall, and winter pays off in our most important season, spring. All the rowers worked very hard since last summer, often practicing twice a day five days a week. That dedication and commitment can only make them smarter and wiser. We are looking forward to a weekend of fantastic racing at Youth Nationals.”
In addition to the stellar performance of the Varsity boats, two novice boats under the leadership of coach Filip Topalovic had outstanding performances. The Men’s Novice 4+ won their race and the Women’s Novice 4+ placed second in their race. (Novice boats are not eligible for Nationals.)
One boat from the Rye High School Boys’ Crew team, the Lightweight 4 with rowers Tim Rudof Math, John Daley, Jimmy Cronin, and Jack Harkman, also qualified for Nationals. They came in first in the Northeast Regional Championship.
This weekend, the Princeton National Rowing Association will host the Nationals in West Windsor, N.J.
