It's been 39 years since Marietta High School has competed in the largest high school regatta in the world, the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. In 1971, Marietta High captured the King's Club Cup (Boys' Senior Four event).
When asked what it means for the MHS boys program to be back competing in the Stotesbury for the first time since his father, Norm Lindamood, was there and won as a rower, MHS boys' assistant coach Gus Lindamood said, "It's great to see the team is starting to be competitive enough to hang with some of the fastest crews from both Canada and the U.S.
"If the progress continues since coach (Eric) Dowler became the head coach we can hope to bring home another gold within the next few years."
Looking to try and match the performance of the 1971 boat, the 2010 version, including junior coxswain Tanner O'Connor, junior stroke Sterling Chapin, junior Wes Wagner, senior Eric Barengo, and senior bow Wes Martin, made the trip to Philadelphia to compete in the 84th Annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta held on May 14-15.
The first day of events included qualifying time trials.
Marietta captured the 18th and final slot with a time of 5:26.17 to qualify for the semi-finals to be held the following day.
"I felt like every muscle in my body shut down. I could not believe the pain I just went through but yet felt incredible after our race," MHS co-captain Chapin said.
Upper Canada had the fastest trial clocking a time of 5:10.19. Time trials are different than normal side-by-side racing. The trials are strictly against the clock and the number of boats that qualify are dependent on the number of entries.
Marietta was up against 52 other schools in the Boy's Senior Four event thus the top 18 boats qualified into three seeded semi-finals.
"I felt as I if I was untouchable, as if nothing could bring me down from this feeling that I received from making top 18 at the largest recorded regatta in history," an excited Chapin stated.
Marietta came up short in qualifying for the final by placing sixth in the semifinal with a time of 5:11.05. Haverford (4:56.16) and Upper Canada (4:56.27) placed first and second, respectively, to qualify into the final.
Haverford (4:58.66) eventually placed third in the final while Upper Canada (4:53.38) placed second just behind winner Egg Harbor (4:53.30).
"To finish in the top third of clearly the strongest race in Americ4a is very admirable of these kids," said Jim Barengo who helped coach the Four. "The experience these guys had is exciting and a boost for the program."
Barengo was also the supporter who enabled the MHS Tiger Navy Boys to travel to Philly to compete.
The Stotesbury Cup Regatta has been held on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. since its conception in1927. This year's competition included 194 high schools from two countries, 933 boats, and 5,500 athletes, officially becoming the largest high school regatta ever recorded in the world.
The Marietta Boy's Senior Four will be in action next at the 76th Scholastic National Championship Regatta being held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on May 28-29.
