Tuesday, June 15 2010 @ 08:55 PM PDT
The Marin Varsity Boys, after enjoying an undefeated regular season here in the Southwest region, traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio this weekend to compete in the 2010 Youth National Championships. The Lightweight 8, manned by Colin McGaw in the coxswains seat, Griffin Whitlock, Tyler Browne, Paul Panicacci, Scott Kennedy, Cooper Goldman, Andy Goldman, Oliver Bazalgette, and Colin Wren, won their heat and semi, putting them in a 3 way contest with the other two west coast crews in attendance, Newport and Marina. They raced their hearts out and pulled a blistering fast 5:58, the fastest time they had produced all season, but were bested by just a little over a second by a retooled and very fast Marina boat, and finished in 2nd place. This is the best finish by a Light 8 since the Marin Boys won the event in 2004. The boat had two seniors in it, McGaw and Panicacci, both of which have committed 4 years of their lives to Marin Rowing. They will be attending UCSB and Arizona next year, respectively. The boat includes 3 members of last years lightweight 8 that brought home silver as well from the National Championship in 2009, Whitlock, Panicacci and Andy Goldman.
The Heavy 8 of Harry Blatt, Zach Johnson, Greig Stein, Zander Bonnoris, Patrick Konttinen, Scott Roycroft, Jack Stein, Jones Bazalgette, and Sam Seder, has enjoyed a perfect regular season this year and never won a race by less than 5 seconds. They had to travel 2500 miles to find real competition, and they did. They won their heat and semi as well, but a dominant Kent School crew powered their way down the course, holding off a heroic sprint by our boys and winning by 1 second in a staggering time of 5:47, with Marin Rowing coming in at 5:48. The next fastest crew was 10 seconds behind these two. These boys participated in what was basically a two boat epic cage match to be remembered for a very long time, and most certainly made their foes pay a dear price for their victory. They made us proud with their racing, their rowing and their work ethic, as anyone who has been around the boathouse from 2 to 7pm any day this year can attest to; these young men know not when to say quits. The varsity boat will be saying goodbye to 3 four year rowers. Zach Johnson will be attending Yale this fall, as well as spending his summer in Princeton trying out for the US Junior National Team. We wish him the best of luck, represent Marin well! Jones Bazalgette will be attending Cornell and rowing for their Lightweight squad, and Jack Stein will be manning the oar for Northeastern University in Boston.
This result is the best finish for the V8 since 2001 and the best overall squad result ever, not to mention the best any individual men's squad did at the event. Although not gold, these young men should be very proud of what they have done. To the seniors, all of which are 4 year Marin Rowers, we say thank you for all the sacrifices, personal, physical, mental and social, that you have made for the good of this Club, and we wish you all the best in the future. Always know that you have a family here at Marin Rowing that is ready and willing to lend a hand, give advice, and provide assistance to its alumni. Never hesitate to come by and say hello and remember, Marin Rowing is your home.
The rest of these athletes are returning next year hungry to give it another go, ready to push themselves to their absolute limits to go all the way. If you see one training around the boathouse this summer, give a high five, congratulate, and admire the commitment, the camaraderie, and the sacrifice that each and every one of them have given to our club, Marin Rowing.
The Heavy 8 of Harry Blatt, Zach Johnson, Greig Stein, Zander Bonnoris, Patrick Konttinen, Scott Roycroft, Jack Stein, Jones Bazalgette, and Sam Seder, has enjoyed a perfect regular season this year and never won a race by less than 5 seconds. They had to travel 2500 miles to find real competition, and they did. They won their heat and semi as well, but a dominant Kent School crew powered their way down the course, holding off a heroic sprint by our boys and winning by 1 second in a staggering time of 5:47, with Marin Rowing coming in at 5:48. The next fastest crew was 10 seconds behind these two. These boys participated in what was basically a two boat epic cage match to be remembered for a very long time, and most certainly made their foes pay a dear price for their victory. They made us proud with their racing, their rowing and their work ethic, as anyone who has been around the boathouse from 2 to 7pm any day this year can attest to; these young men know not when to say quits. The varsity boat will be saying goodbye to 3 four year rowers. Zach Johnson will be attending Yale this fall, as well as spending his summer in Princeton trying out for the US Junior National Team. We wish him the best of luck, represent Marin well! Jones Bazalgette will be attending Cornell and rowing for their Lightweight squad, and Jack Stein will be manning the oar for Northeastern University in Boston.
This result is the best finish for the V8 since 2001 and the best overall squad result ever, not to mention the best any individual men's squad did at the event. Although not gold, these young men should be very proud of what they have done. To the seniors, all of which are 4 year Marin Rowers, we say thank you for all the sacrifices, personal, physical, mental and social, that you have made for the good of this Club, and we wish you all the best in the future. Always know that you have a family here at Marin Rowing that is ready and willing to lend a hand, give advice, and provide assistance to its alumni. Never hesitate to come by and say hello and remember, Marin Rowing is your home.
The rest of these athletes are returning next year hungry to give it another go, ready to push themselves to their absolute limits to go all the way. If you see one training around the boathouse this summer, give a high five, congratulate, and admire the commitment, the camaraderie, and the sacrifice that each and every one of them have given to our club, Marin Rowing.