Oak Ridge, TN – High Point Rowing Club emerged as a new force in North Carolina rowing at the Dogwood Regatta on Saturday when its top crew qualified for the final of the women’s junior novice eights event.
Sixteen hundred high school juniors competed for medals in all classes of boats at the Dogwood Regatta, one of the biggest rowing events held annually in the Southeast region.
High Point’s crew of coxswain Kim Pollard, stroke Emma Lloyd, 7. Liz Haenel, 6. Catherine Thompson, 5. Katie Ognovich, 4. Cara Mills, 3. Sarah Catto, 2. Maria Donadio and bow Bethany Brake finished second in the first round of heats to the Rocket City Rowing Club (Alabama) squad to qualify for the final on Saturday afternoon.
High Point was the only North Carolina crew to qualify for the final, and finished an outstanding 4th place overall out of a field of sixteen teams entered. The final was won by Chicago, followed by Rocket City, with St. Louis Rowing Club rounding out the medals.
In other racing action over the weekend, High Point entered crews in the first and second divisions of the women’s junior novice four event.
In the Div I event, High Point’s crew of coxswain Bethany Brake, stroke Emma Lloyd, 3. Katie Ognovich, 2. Catharine Thompson and bow Liz Haenel entered the race with high expectations having come fresh from a victory the previous week in Clemson, SC. The team had purchased a shell from Asheville Rowing Club for the regatta but without time for a practice row in the boat were unable to get it rigged correctly to fit the crew.
As soon as the crew launched it was apparent the riggers were set too high for the rowers and the crew struggled up the race course to finish a close third place behind St. Louis and Atlanta. Only the first two crews of the three heat races progressed to the final and St. Louis and Atlanta ultimately went on to finish first and second in the final.
With adjustments to the shell, the team is confident it will have the speed necessary to compete for a victory in its next outing at the Junior Regional Championships.
The final event for High Point at the Dogwood Regatta was the Div II women’s novice fours event. Representing High Point Rowing Club was a new line-up put together for the race of coxswain Aislinn Antrim, stroke Quinn Eury, Anna Kareis, Olivia Mangus and bow Katharine Komsa. The crew gained great experience from the race but missed qualifying for the final.
It was a tremendous regatta for High Point’s youth crew and the team would like to express its gratitude to volunteer coaches Caroline Howard and Gene Kininmonth and all the parents who came to support and provide food for the rowers.
Next up for the team is the USRowing Southeast Junior Regional Championships to be held in Oak Ridge on May 4-5.
