The 26th Annual Head of the Rock Regatta on Sunday, October 9th in Rockford, IL was the setting for another dominating performance by New Trier High School rowers who netted seven 1st place, three 2nd place and four 3rd place finishes.
More than 1,700 participants from 60-plus rowing clubs, high schools and universities glided over a 3-mile course on the sparkling Rock River on a pristine 80-degree day. New Trier finished 3rd in the overall points category behind the University of Wisconsin’s Women’s team and the University of Michigan’s Men’s team, and first amongst high school and junior club teams. Places at this ‘head race’ regatta are awarded by fastest overall course completion times.
One of the closer finishes was the New Trier Women’s Varsity 8+ A boat, which after rowing for the second time that day, was able to nip Lincoln Park Juniors by less than a second to take first place. The Men’s Varsity 8+ A boat also took first place as did the Men’s Lightweight 8+ which won their race by more than two minutes.
“Today was a great day of racing for New Trier Boys rowing,” said Men’s Coach Nate Kelp-Lenane. “Novices, Varsity, Heavies and Lights saw stiff competition in each of their races, and found success at every level. I was happy to see our entire squad out on the water embodying all the work we have been doing this fall season. We still have some steps to take, and I look forward to refining our strokes and getting to the next level of speed.”
Head Coach Rose Marchuk said, “The strong finishes across the board are a tribute to the competitive spirit of all Trevian rowers. I think it was inspiring for our high school rowers to see some New Trier parents competing at this regatta, especially the New Trier Master Women’s 8+, who medaled for the first time in just their second race to date.”
“This is a fun and diverse group of women who have come together to learn to row through New Trier Extension classes, noted the Women’s Masters Coach Hope Poor. Their long practice rows to the Baha’i Temple and conditioning early in the morning on the ergometers paid off with a 1st place finish.”
Next up is the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA on October 23rd where one New Trier men’s and one women’s boat will compete. The team wraps up its fall rowing season in Columbus, Ohio on October 29th at the Blake Haxton Fall Invitational.
New Trier’s 1st place finishers in order of events:
#25: Women’s Novice 4+
c Hannah Elsman
4 Menley Denham
3 Katie Lashmet
2 Grace Gagliardi
1 Katie Hochschild
#26: Men’s Junior 8+
c Chris Carothers
8 Andrew Thompson
7 Jacob Nye
6 Kamin Vassilos
5 Sam Weeks
4 Jake O'Donnell
3 Connelly Denton
2 James Rabjohns
1 Matt Mayer
#30: Women’s Junior 4+
c Jenn Maley
4 Merritt Denham
3 Lynsey Robertson
2 Remy Johnson
1 Olivia Gignilliat
#48: Women's Open Lightweight 4+
c Emily Avrick
4 Sophia Krause-Levy
3 Eliza Weaver
2 Julia Wolf
1 Emily Kofman
#66: Women’s Junior 8+
c Jenn Maley
8 Merritt Denham
7 Lynsey Robertson
6 Jessy Streur
5 Meredith Fischer
4 Colleen McConnell
3 Emily Swift
2 Remy Johnson
1 Olivia Gignilliat
#80: Men’s Open Lightweight 8+
c Reed Kolbe
8 Kevin Burke
7 Jordan Josellis
6 Kevin Smith
5 Sam Levis
4 Brad Gustafson
3 David Stimson
2 Paul Kokes
1 Ryan Evenson
#85: Women's Open Lightweight 8+
c Rachel Watkin
8 Natalie Smith
7 Eliza Weaver
6 Sophia Krause-Levy
5 Emily Kofman
4 Julia Wolf
3 Sophie Lee
2 Jasmine Truong
1 Maddie Cruger
