Second at USRowing Youth National Championships
Top Scholastic Finisher

Head boys’ coach Bowen Posner reports on crew’s latest success – a silver medal – at the USRowing Youth National Championships:

Following graduation and exams, members of Blair’s top boys’ four (JP Bowditch ’08, Stephen Patane ’09, Elliott Anderson ’08, John Redos ’09, and Matt Gallira ’08) remained on campus in order to prepare for Blair Crew’s first-ever appearance at the USRowing Youth National Championships. The USRowing-sponsored event featured the top club and scholastic rowing programs from each region of the country. Given its status as an invitational regatta, Youth Nationals required crews to qualify in various regional races. Following a decisive victory at Stotesbury, the Blair boys decided to petition for a bid to Youth Nationals, and ultimately gained one of the final slots despite failing to race in a designated qualification regatta. After enjoying a week of rest, the boys’ training commenced in the midst of a hectic graduation and exam week. Nonetheless, the crew remained focus on the goal of bringing their best speed to Youth Nationals by training twice a day on the waters of Swartswood Lake.

On Thursday, June 12, the oarsmen and coaches traveled to Cincinnati for the regatta, and they enjoyed a brief, pre-race row on Harsha Lake’s race course that evening. With steamy weather (90+ degrees and thunderstorms) in the forecast as well as a brutal 17-year hatch of cicadas, the racing conditions alone appeared difficult, not to mention the strength of the competition! The following morning the crew arrived at the race course ready to race the defending national champion, Belmont Hill (Boston, MA), in the first heat of the Men’s Youth Four event. After a rather slow start, Blair found itself nearly a length behind the strong Belmont Crew who, only two weeks before, continued a two-year winning streak by claiming the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championship while nearly setting a course record. With a powerful shift in rhythm and speed, Blair gradually ate into Belmont’s lead, and by the 1500 meter-mark, Blair had broken clear of Belmont’s bow. Blair completed the race with a seven second advantage over Belmont, a result which boded well for the upcoming semi-final and grand final races.

Saturday’s semi-final provided some of the most intense and dramatic racing of the weekend. Blair faced strong competition from Episcopal Academy (Philadelphia, PA), Noble & Greenough School (Dedham, MA), and Community Rowing, Inc., a large club program based in Boston, MA. Off the line, Blair, once again, found itself in a precarious position following a very slow start. They mounted a furious charge in the middle of the race while countering the attacks made by their opponents. At the finish line, Blair placed third in a three-way photo finish between Episcopal, Nobles, and Blair, a .5 second margin separating these top three crews.

The following morning, pristine racing conditions and somewhat cooler temperatures welcomed the boys’ crew upon their arrival at Harsha Lake. Nonetheless, the crew anticipated a fiery grand final race since five of the six crews in the event rowed within .7 seconds of one another during the previous day’s semi-final. With eager parents and family members cheering from shore, the boys’ crew left the dock with focus, determined to put together a complete race from start to finish. Immediately after the opening strokes, Blair found itself slightly behind three crews, Belmont Hill, Episcopal, and Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club, a large program which draws from the entire Cincinnati-area. By 500 meters into the race, however, Belmont and Episcopal fell off the pace, and Blair started to move. It gradually attacked Cincinnati’s lead, and as a result, the two crews pushed themselves past the entire field. With 500 meters to race, the Blair boat, a bright blue boat shell named the Apollo, surged for the finish line along with the yellow-colored hull raced by Cincinnati. Cincinnati maintained the slightest of margins as the two boats crossed the finish line. The Blair oarsmen collapsed over their oars, completely depleted after one of their best races of the season. By crossing the line in second position to powerful club program, the boys secured the title as the best scholastic team in the nation. Well rowed, Bucs!

Videos from Nationals
Heat 1
Semi-finals
Finals
Awards Ceremony

Updated 6/20/08

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