MHS lightweight 8 finishes 6th in national championship
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CAMDEN, N.J. -- Marietta High's girls lightweight 8 finished sixth Saturday in the SRAA National Championship Regatta on the Cooper River.
"With one freshman and five sophomores pulling the oars, making the finals in a national championship was an outstanding accomplishment for the crew and the team," said MHS head coach Joe Tewkesbury.
That boat featured Carli Robertson (bow), Reagan Loeber (2), Ashley Stewart (3), Marie Rauch (4), Grace Crosby (5), Sydney Westbrook 6), Ahni Georgerian (7), Marissa Smith (8, and Maddie Hawkins (cox). The alternates were Raygan Rader, McKenzie Warrener, and Seneca Craven.
The Tiger Navy headed to Camden last Thursday, and competed in Friday heats and semifinals on the Cooper River's 1500-meter course.
"Marietta faced a tough field on Friday afternoon, competing against five other lightweight eights on choppy water stirred up by a moderate to strong quartering wind," Tewkesbury said. "Starting at 42 strokes per minute and rowing with the field, Marietta settled to a fast but controlled 38 for the body of the race."
Tewkesbury said that "crews remained relatively even over the first third until unbeaten Mount Saint Joseph pulled out to a boat length lead."
"Every crew was racing hard as they began to separate from each other," the Tiger crew coach added.
"At 600 to go, Mount had the lead followed by Manhasset who led both Marietta and TC Williams who were very close to each other.
"Mainland and Lower Merion dropped off the pace as the crews reached 500 meters to go. TC Williams moved to a quarter length lead over Marietta, but it was short-lived as Marietta countered with a strong push that carried them to even for the third place spot."
According to Tewkesbury, with about 200 meters to go, the Marietta rowers raised the stroke rate to 42 and pushed their bow across the line, less than a second in front of TC Williams, earning a place in the Grand Final.
"Three crews advanced from Friday's races into Saturday's final with the remaining three eliminated," Tewkesbury said. "This (Friday race) was Marietta's finest race of the season."