Courtesy photo The Marietta High boys and girls rowing teams pose for a picture following the Mercyhurst Prep Regatta last weekend in Erie, Pa.

Marietta High’s girls varsity lightweight 8 enjoyed a winning tune-up last weekend for nationals.

In preparation for this Friday’s and Saturday’s Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) Regatta on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J., the Tiger Navy boat claimed gold at the 39th Mercyhurst Prep Regatta in Erie, Pa.

That shell 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).

“They dominated their race with a 21.58 second win over Buffalo Scholastic,” said MHS girls crew coach Joe Tewkesbury.

Eleven schools competed in 21 races at the regatta. The Marietta girls were also first in the girls lightweight 4, while the boys won in the varsity 8 and novice 4.

“The Marietta’s boys varsity 8 took the gold in their 1500 meter event by a 1.28 second margin over Allderdice,” Tewkesbury said. “Chataqua and Mercyhurst were third and fourth, respectively.

“The boys novice 4 won gold by 1.87 seconds over Mt. Lebanon.”

The Tiger Navy also got medals in girls varsity 8 (silver), girls novice 8 (bronze), and the boys JV 4 (silver). The varsity 8 included Abbi Westbrook (bow), Laura Rauch (2), Cami Felix (3), Kya Lindsey (4), Riley Hearing (5), Lauryn Simpson (6), Kaitlyn Clovis (7), Lexi Dalrymple (8), and Seneca Craven (cox).

“The girls varsity 8 missed the gold by 0.34 seconds in a hard-fought contest as Mercyhurst was awarded the win in that race,” Tewkesbury said. “A first place in the lightweight 4 brought another gold home as the crew defeated Hamptin by over 6 seconds.”

Tewkesbury said “it was a good way to finish the regular season.”

“High winds on Friday (May 18) made the race course appear more like an angry ocean than a rowing venue,” the Tiger crew coach added. “But Saturday morning (May 19) brought a change of direction and relatively flat water.”