Off to nationals: Marietta girls headed to Cooper River for National Championships
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PENNSAUKEN, N.J. -- For the third consecutive year, Marietta High School's Women's 4+ will compete in the Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) National Championships on the Cooper River.
The Tiger lineup consisted of Eden Ingram, Madi Lovejoy, Katie Lovejoy, Wilkey Smith, and Mo Caslow, coxswain, will race on Friday and Saturday.
MHS coach Tanner O'Connor believes the group's experience is a huge benefit.
"I think it does only from a racing anxiety perspective," he said. "The more confident they are on the start line the calmer their nerves will be. They've been there. They've seen it before. They know what to expect. It eases the mind a bit, especially because they've been to this venue before."
The rowers competed on the Cooper River in 2022, and last year won the bronze medal with a third place finish in the Women's Junior 4+.
Marietta finished fourth at the Midwest Regional at the Kathryn Bennett Race Course inside of the Kensington Metropark in Milford, Mich. Now they get another shot at the best high school rowers in the U.S.
"In terms of scholastic rowing it doesn't get any better," O'Connor said. "It's always our goal whenever we have a crew there to make it into the Top 10 in the country. We're in a different category this year and we're going to push and try to be Top 5."
When the Tiger 4+ returns from New Jersey they'll continue to train for the Groton School Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England. Marietta will compete in the Junior 18 coxed fours race.
"We will go over to London for a couple days to get acclimated and then we'll start training for the Henley," O'Connor said. "We're leaving on June 16 and the races are on June 21-23."