With a strong performance at the 2010 Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championship, Marietta High School's boy's varsity four crew shell qualified to compete in the 76th Scholastic National Championship Regatta.
The Tiger Navy competed in the Midwest Regional on May 8 and 9 in Bethel at the East Fork State Park to earn the right to advance to the prestigious national regatta.
The first day of racing at regionals included qualifying time trials with the opening day culminating with the senior four qualifying for the finals with the third fastest time (5:10.06) out of a field of 19 shells.
Ann Arbor Huron High School (5:03.43) came in second and St. Mary's Preparatory (4:58.60) had the fastest qualifying time.
"The guys rowed a pretty solid time trial and I think they felt confident and prepared for the final," said Marietta High School boys' crew coach Eric Dowler.
The boys' four, including stroke Sterling Chapin, Wes Wagner, Eric Barengo, bow Wes Martin, and coxswain Tanner O'Connor, wanted to bring home some hardware to their mothers on Mother's Day. And that they did.
Battling against some of the toughest competition from 12 states, Marietta crossed the line in the finals third with a time of 5:24.47 behind silver medalist Ann Arbor Huron High School (5:12.34) and winners St. Mary's Preparatory (5:10.34), the two schools that surpassed the Tiger Navy in the preliminary race as well.
The third place finish qualified the varsity four shell to compete in the Scholastic National Championship Regatta in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. which will take place on Friday and Saturday.
Marietta will be competing in the boys' varsity four event that will include 32 boats that each had to qualify out of their respective regions to be eligible to compete at the national championship level.
Start times and the schedule of events were scheduled to be posted when available, but the times for the varsity four race were not posted on the Scholastic Rowing Association of America's Web site as of Wednesday afternoon. The schedule was also not available from the Saratoga Rowing Association, the host site for this year's championship, on Wednesday.
"It feels amazing to finally be able to race at nationals. All the hard work we have put in over the last four years is starting to pay off," Barengo, a senior, stated.
Putting in the time and hard work alongside Barengo was senior co-captain Martin.
"It just felt right because the season didn't feel like it was over at Midwest like it usually does so it's like I already knew we should be going to Nationals before we made it," Martin said.
Other teams competing in the boys' varsity four race include schools like Bishop Eustace, Bishop Ireton, Bromfield, Fairfax, Kearny, Maclay, McLean, Oakcrest, St. Joe's Collegiate school, Upper St. Claire and Warwick to name a few.
All told, the varsity four race has the third largest field with only the boys' varsity eight and the women's varsity four having more shells competing.
"This isn't your little regional competition or state championship, this is the Scholastic National Championship," Dowler said. "You better put your big boy pants on and step up because you're going to be competing against the best rowers from all over the United States.
"To be successful at this level means you've put in the time to get there but have to find some way to elevate your ability to push your mental and anaerobic threshold to a severe level. These guys are ready."
