Oak Hollow Lake – High Point youth rowers could be forgiven if they were a little more subdued than typical as they celebrated the season and gave a send of to high school senior Govind Harish at the annual Spring Crew Banquet last night.
Normally on this special occasion the rowers would go out for one last short row in a lineup they had formed special bonds with during the racing season.
But with no York Cup challenges on the books for 2017-18, two eights were sent out to race a bridge to bridge from Skeet Club to Johnson Street, with the winner earning the coveted York Cup.
James Li, Junior Ognovich, Jacob Messick, Matthew Hronich, Charlotte Curri (coxswain), Ashley Walker, Emily Winberg, Harry Capizzi, and Lindsay York (missing) were the York Cup winners for 2017-18.
The York Cup is named in honor of High Point crew philanthropists Caren and Greg York. It is a club bonding race and crews challenging for the York Cup must be comprised of the following athletes:
1.) All members of the crew must be currently enrolled in high school or middle school. (the Summer following your senior year makes you ineligible!)
2.) At least two and no more than four male rowers in the boat. A coxswain may be a fifth male member of the crew.
3.) At least four of the rowers must be in their novice year, freshmen, or in middle school.
Congratulations James Li, Junior Ognovich, Jacob Messick, Matthew Hronich, Ashlet Walker, Emily Winber, Harry Capizzi, Lindsay York and coxswain Charlotte Curri for your York Cup victory!
William Scarpa III opened the formal proceedings of evening with a welcome.
Coach Gene Kininmonth then welcomed back the team’s alumni Maddie Mullins and Kyle Koval. Both Maddie and Kyle are home for the summer from college and will be assisting High Point and Greensboro’s rowing programs with coaching over the summer.
Gene then thanked the club’s coaches Paul Herger and Katie Eliades for their service to the rowers and all the parents and particularly Beth Heer, the team’s parent liaison, for all the support of the club throughout the season.
It was then on to the awards presentation, which were presented accordingly:
Female Rower of the Year
Jackie Junior Ognovich
Male Rower of the Year
William Hundley
Most Improved Female Rower
Kinkead Crotts
Most Improved Male Rower
Jacob Messick
Middle School MVP – Female
Natalie Earnhardt
Middle School MVP – Male
Charles Richards
Then it was time to pay tribute to the club’s lone graduating senior, Govind Harish.
Govind enthralled the rowers with a list of superlatives for each of them. He then continued the tradition of handing down shirts to a returning member of the club. Govind had been handed down his jersey from Mac Warwick, a 2017 graduate. “Mac was a beast both in personality and rowing presence,” said Govind. “And I wanted to pass this shirt on to someone who encapsulates this and so I am handing it down to William Hundley.”
Govind then thanked his fellow rowers and coaches for “everything we have been a part of these past 5 years I have been on the club.”
Coach Gene then thanked Govind for his years contributions to the High Point crew. “Many of you will stay in touch with each other throughout your lives. You won’t remember each other for what races you may have won. You will remember your crew mates for how hard they tried, for having your back, for stepping up when needed. And this is how we will especially remember Govind Harish in this club”
And then it was over to the dock for the traditional club photo.
Sarasota, Florida – High Point’s Junior Ognovich advanced to the final of the women’s single sculls in afternoon racing on Day One at the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.
Ognovich joins three High Point crews in Sunday’s finals.
In the morning time trials Harry Capizzi and William Hundley qualified for the final six in the men’s pairs and Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri qualified for the final six in the lightweight double sculls final.
The regional rowing championships comprises the best youth rowers from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Ognovich finished second in the semi final round after finishing with the third fastest time in the initial time trial to earn her place in Sunday’s final.
Junior Ognovich heads to the start of the semi final round at USRowing’s Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida.[/caption
SUNDAY RACE SCHEDULE:
Women’s Single Sculls Final – 8:00am
Junior Ognovich
Men’s Pairs Final – 8:24am
Harry Capizzi and William Hundley
Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls Final – 8:32am
Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox
Women’s U17 Quad Sculls Final – 1:03pm
Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe, Kinkead Crotts, Charlotte Curri
Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers are off to a strong start at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships with 5 of 6 of the club’s boats advancing through the first round this morning.
Opening racing for High Point, Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe, both finished among the top 14 single scullers to qualify for finals this afternoon.
In some tight racing, Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn finished 9th in the women’s pairs time trial. With only the first 7 qualifying for the final the two just missed the Sunday final.
Next up Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi finished 5th in the time trial for men’s pairs and thus qualifying for the final on Sunday.
Next up, High Point’s Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri qualified for the final on Sunday in the women’s lightweight double scull.
Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox have qualified for Sunday’s final in the women’s lightweight double sculls at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg then raced the women’s open weight double scull. Despite only recently being paired together, the two qualified for afternoon semi final racing.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg launch at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
In other afternoon racing, Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick will race in the first round heats of U17 boys double sculls. With 20 entries this may be the most competitive field at the regional championships. The two are no strangers to competition, however, after winning the same event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago.
In tomorrow’s finals, Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe. Kinkead Crotts, and Charlotte Curri, will also be racing in the women’s U17 quadscull event. High Point won bronze in this event in 2017.
Held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships will feature 1,406 athletes from 49 clubs racing in 416 boats. The regional championship is a must stop on the road to the national championships. Crews must finish in the top three in their regional to qualify for nationals, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., in June.
High Point, NC – High Point rowers are making final preparations on Oak Hollow Lake this week in advance of the upcoming USRowing Southeast Youth Championships taking place this weekend in Sarasota, Florida.
Held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, the USRowing Southeast Youth Championships will feature 1,406 athletes from 49 clubs racing in 416 boats. The regional championship is a must stop on the road to the national championships. Crews must finish in the top three in their regional to qualify for nationals, which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., in June.
High Point will be represented by eight boats of rowers in Sarasota – its largest fleet ever at the at the regional championships.
Opening racing for High Point will be scullers Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe, who will compete in the Women’s single sculls event. Junior won the singles title at the North Carolina state championships in April and Arte was a member of the winning U17 quad sculls crew at the same event.
Following the single sculls events, Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn will be looking to defend the regional title in the women’s pairs event won by High Point in 2017 by Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins.
Next up Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi will race in the men’s pair event. Will and Harry have shown flashes of speed throughout the season indicating the possibility of a win. They will need to get into a solid rhythm early to compete with Triangle Rowing Club of Raleigh, whose rowers won the North Carolina Youth Championships in this event.
High Point’s Ainsley Fox and Charlotte Curri will then team up to race the women’s lightweight double sculls event. Ainsley and Charlotte topped the competition in the upper region in this event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago and will see if their speed will be enough to take on the Florida competition for gold.
Ashley Walker and Emily Winberg will then race the women’s open weight double scull. The two were recently paired together for this event but have shown significant improvement in speed in practice.
In other boys racing Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick will race for gold in the U17 boys double sculls. With 20 entries this may be the most competitive field at the regional championships. The two are no strangers to competition, however, after winning the same event at the Dogwood Junior Championships two weeks ago.
Rounding out the fleet for High Point will be Molly Hilemn, Arte Blythe. Kinkead Crotts, and Charlotte Curri, who will be racing in the women’s U17 quadscull event. High Point won bronze in this event in 2017.
Arte Blythe and Junior Ognovich will represent High Point at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Regional Championships in Sarasota, Florida.William Hundley and Harry Capizzi will race in the men’s pair event at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox will race in the women’s lightweight double sculls event at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Jacob Messick and Matthew Hronich make final preparations for the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.Charlotte Curri, Kinkead Crotts, Arte Blythe, and Molly Hilemn will race for gold at the 2018 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships in Sarasota, FL.
Alexandria, Virginia – Three High Point youth rowers earned top ten results at the World Indoor Rowing Championships today.
2527 competitors from 23 nations raced over the weekend in the two-day international rowing event.
Junior Ognovich, Ainsley Fox, and Molly Hilemn all earned top 10 results in deep international fields in each of their junior age classes. The results were also personal best results for the three rowers over the 2000m distance adding to their satisfaction.
William Hundley also represented High Point Rowing Club in Alexandria, finishing in 15th place out of 79 rowers in the Junior 17 and under lightweight event. He covered the 2,000 meter distance in a personal best time of 6 minutes 55.4 seconds.
HIgh Point rowers Ainsley Fox, William Hundley, Molly Hilemn, and Junior Ognovich all broke personal records at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.
Junior Ognovich, a junior at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, finished 4th in the Women’s Junior category for 18 year olds. Racing against 60 other rowers, Junior earned her 4th place result with the time of 7 minutes 22.4 seconds. Coincidentally, her older sister Katie Ognovich recorded the exact time in February of her junior year to win the 2013 Durham Indoor Rowing Championships. Katie is now a senior on the women’s rowing team at the University of Oklahoma.
Ainsley Fox earned High Point’s next top 10 finish. Racing against 47 competitors in the women’s junior lightweight class for 17 year olds, Ainsley completed the 2,000 meter distance in 7 minutes 52.2 seconds to finish in 5th place.
Molly Hilemn raced in the women’s 16 year old junior competition in Alexandria. Her 8th place finish against 77 other competitors was another tribute to her hard work throughout the winter months.
High Point head coach Gene Kininmonth says the results are awesome for the club and a testament to the hard work each of the rowers has put in. “Each of them has truly taken ownership of their path in this sport,” says Kininmonth. “They can be proud of their results this weekend.”
Congratulations High Point youth rowers!
High Point Rowing Club will host a new round of Learn to Row classes in early March and the team is hoping more middle school and high school students from years 9-12 will be inspired to join.
March 12-16 (4:30pm – 6pm each day) – Sneak Peek Week
Learn to Row ($20 for the week for new students)
Oak Hollow Lake – 3700 Waterview Road in High Point.
Students and parents interested in learning more about the program should email contact@highpointrowing.com
Junior Ognovich finished in 4th place in the women’s 18 and under event at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.William Hundley earned a top 15 ranking with a personal best time at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.Ainsley Fox finished 4th at the World Indoor Rowing Championships for the 17 and under lightweight category.Molly Hilemn places 8th out of 77 rowers at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.
2017 will be remembered fondly as another boom year for High Point Rowing Club. We hosted the inaugural North Carolina State Championships, won our first regional youth title and witnessed our rowers in finals at national championships for the first time.
Club Founder Gene Kininmonth says from start to finish there were many wonderful moments this past year. “Since the formation of the club in 2012, each year at this time I actually worry about how we can improve things even more in the new year. Thanks to our amazing rowers and their families we continue to see new high water marks.”
We kicked off the year in Virginia with the MidAtlantic Erg Sprints where Junior Ognovich, Molly Hilemn and Matthew Hronich each won medals in their age class.
Junior Ognovich, Morgan Epling, and Molly HIlemn are all smiles at the 2017 Mid Atlantic Erg Sprints in Alexandria, VA on Saturday.
Our youth and masters were then out in force in late February for the High Point hosted annual 124C Erg Sprints in Jamestown. This annual indoor rowing event continues to attract rowers from across the region.
Following 124C’s our rowers were ready to once again put their erging abilities to good use, this time for the annual Ergathon. This important fundraising campaign saw our rowers and Greensboro Crew divided into three groups to race 100 kilometers. The club’s rowers and families raised well over $20,000 to fund upgrades to the fleet of boats and equipment.
In early March the crews were eager to return to the water and it wasn’t long before we hosted the US Naval Academy women’s rowing program at Oak Hollow Lake for that team’s spring break training. Navy feel right at home in High Point – so much so that this year they invited Army to race them right here on our home waters of Oak Hollow Lake in a historic first ever duel. The inaugural Army – Navy Boat Race was held at Festival Park with Navy sweeping the regatta.
High Point Rowing Club hosted Navy Women’s Crew to a potluck feast in its Jamestown Erg Room during the Midshipmen’s spring training camp.Two Navy Women’s Crews raced Army in the two programs’ historic first ever encounter on Saturday, March 18, 2017 on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, NC.
While returning to the water was a refreshing change for the rowers it wasn’t without challenges for the ranks of our coaches, who were now challenged with also staffing the new team of Greensboro Crew rowers at Lake Brandt. With head coach Gene Kininmonth dividing his time between the two cities each week, a huge responsibility was placed on the High Point youth varsity rowers to step up and maintain standards whilst not under his watchful eye.
“The irony is that most of our rowers performed better when left alone,” says Gene looking back. “They took ownership of the process and this led to even greater success for them.”
High Point Hosts Inaugural North Carolina State Youth Championships
Our volunteers, led by Mandy Greene and Girl Jeanne MacPherson, hosted the inaugural North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships in April, which drew hundreds of rowers and thousands of spectators to High Point.
Coaches from across the state unanimously voted High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake as the championship venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events.
Racing as HPG Rowing to reflect the addition of the Greensboro chapter of the organization, High Point/Greensboro rowers cleaned up in the Olympic class of sculling events and ultimately won 7 out of the 14 state titles it entered.
Cheers to us!
Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.
Success at the state championships led to the club earning its first ever medals at the USRowing Southeast Regional Championships. Racing on the Olympic rowing course at Lake Lanier just outside of Atlanta, Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich struck gold in the women’s pair. Hours later Ainsley Fox, Lindsay York, Molly Hilemn, and Charlotte Curri won bronze in the women’s Under 17 quad sculls final.
Winning the regional championship qualified Maddie and Junior for the USRowing Youth National Championships – another first for our club. “This was in itself an incredible achievement for Maddie and Junior,” says Coach Gene. “But they then proved that they and their club belonged at the national championships.”
This year’s youth national championships were held in Sarasota, Florida and began with a time trial to seed the top 12 crews and dismiss the remaining. Maddie and Junior finished with the 6th fastest time and from there qualified for the final with a top 3 finish in the semi final round. By the time racing was complete High Point’s finest were ranked sixth in the nation!
High Point’s ‘Fab Five’ crew of Kristen Bremer, Jackie King, Erica Reisberger, Shelli York, and Morgan Epling won silver at the Dogwood Masters Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN.High Points Masters enjoyed racing and socializing over the summer at the Ist annual Staygatta.
High Point’s masters rowed to a new standard as well in 2017, winning silver in the women’s coxed four at the Dogwood masters Championships and then racing at the Masters National Championships.
With the change of season from Summer to Autumn, the 5th Anniversary Row & Potluck showed off the growth of the club with the addition of Greensboro Crew. Rowers from both chapters united for an exhibition Row and races by class year for youth and age by decade for the Masters. We like to think of Oak Hollow Lake as beautiful one day, perfect the next. And the 5th Anniversary Row was no exception.
High Point and Greensboro again united in September, this time for the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. A record 500 rowers and an estimated 1,500 spectators again gathered at Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake.
But this year’s regatta will be most remembered for the brisk 15 mile per hour winds at the start of racing, which lifted the regatta’s iconic giant inflated rubber duck from its anchors and sent it flying down the lake.
Mayhem ensued, as the first round of crews, fearing possible disqualification for not ’rounding the duck’, began chasing the duck down the lake at full speed.
The giant duck soon ended up on land by Centennial Avenue and rowers were directed back on the race course. HPG led the day with the most gold medals won.
High Point closed out the racing season with historic performances at the Head of the South, winning gold and bronze in the women’s quad sculls, gold in the youth lightweight single sculls event, bronze in the men’s quad sculls, women’s novice eight and U16 mixed youth eight and women’s masters eights. The squad also won two silvers in the middle school eight and fours event.
High Point quad scullers Charlotte Curri, Ainsley Fox, Ashley Walker, and Junior OGnovich with Kira Grinko (center) widow of the late great sculling coach Igor Grinko, who coached the United States to silver at the 1996 Olympic Games. The High Point scullers were presented with the Igor Grinko plate for posting the fastest women’s sculling time at the 2017 Head of the South.Molly Hilemn, Lindsay York, Anna Lewis, and Emily Winberg showed off the depth of the High Point women’s sculling squad with a bronze medal finish at the 2017 Head of the South.
High Point varsity rowers Will Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa III, and Govind Harish won bronze in the youth varsity quad sculls event at the 2017 Head of the South.
Nothing caps off the racing season better than the Celebration of Rowing banquet and this year’s gala, chaired by Jackie King at Sedgefield Country Club, lived up to reputation. High Point prides itself on inviting legendary guest speakers for the dinner and this year Jason Read wowed guests with his story of tragedy to triumph.
A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.
Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.
911 Hero and Athens Olympic gold medalist Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
But the year 2017 wasn’t over yet. In December the good times continued with two more social events, the Masters Mingle and Holiday Youth Dance.
We have much to be grateful for at High Point Rowing Club – not least is our wonderful rowing members. 2017 was certainly a year to remember for High Point rowers for the wonderful bonds of friendship and fast rowing by our crews – may there be many more!
The Erg Room at 124C has become more than just a place for working out. In December it was the venue for the Masters’ Mingle and Youth Holiday Dance.
Greensboro, North Carolina – American hero and Olympic gold medal winning rower Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet held at Sedgefield Country Club on Saturday night and he did not disappoint.
Almost 200 rowers, parents and friends from across the Triad gathered into the Sedgefield Country Club ballroom for what has quickly become the most prestigious social event on the rowing calendar.
High Point Masters rower ‘Kiwi Mike’ Hitchcock, serving as Master of Ceremonies, opened the evening by introducing Greensboro youth rower Benjamin Huitt to give the invocation.
After enjoying a delicious feast, Kiwi Mike then returned to the podium to begin the formal ceremonies, which began with High Point rower Charlotte Curri, who recited “The Oarsman’s Poem” by legendary rowing coach Steve Fairbairn.
Mary Hollingsworth then presented the High Point Parent of the Year award to Conni Curri for her service to the crew. Greensboro parent Julie Higgins then presented the Greensboro Parent of the Year award to Sara Nichols.
Jackie King, last year’s Masters MVP winner and this year’s chair of the Celebration of Rowing banquet, was then invited to the podium to introduce the 2017 recipient – ‘Girl Jeanne’ MacPherson. Congratulations Girl Jeanne – Masters Rower of the Year! Unfortunately, Jeanne could not be at the banquet due to work commitments.
Greensboro coach and 2004 Olympian Lisa Schlenker then talked about the progress of Greensboro Crew and concluded by presenting the Katherine Dickson Award for youth service to Greensboro Crew to MaryBlake Murphy.
Maddie Mullins then presented the Caroline Howard Cup for youth service to High Point Rowing Club to Junior Ognovich. Words can not do justice to the inspiration that Maddie filled the ball room with her theme of excellence and giving to your team mates.
Jason Read was then introduced to guests by club founder and High Point Coach Gene Kininmonth, who shared his own personal experience of 911: “As we wondered how we would flee this madness, elsewhere a small number of others were heading straight for it….driving directly into this abyss with full expectations in that moment that the horror would only get worse. Jason Read was one of those few. I am looking forward to hearing Jason’s story from tragedy to triumph this evening.”
And our keynote speaker did not disappoint.
A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.
Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.
After his speech, which received a standing ovation from the 200 guests, rowers and parents alike approached the rowing legend to thank him for sharing his story of inspiration.
911 Hero and Athens Olympic gold medalist Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
JR continues a banquet tradition of introducing world renowned rowing leaders to the Triad. Rowing Blazers author and archaeologist, Jack Carlson spoke in 2016, while cutting edge rowing boat maker Misha Joukowsky spoke in 2015. Double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind was the 2014 guest speaker.
Mary Hollingsworth presented the High Point parent of the year award to Connie Curri at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Julie Higgins presented the Greensboro Crew Parent of the Year award to Sara Nichols (Ella’s mum) at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Former High Point Masters MVP’s Erin Sanders, Mandy Greene, Jackie King, and her daughter Alexis holding the MVP trophy and a camera picture of 2017 MVP Girl Jeanne MacPherson.Greensboro coach Lisa Schlenker (center) presented the Katherine Crowley Dickson award for youth service to MaryBlake Murphy (right)Maddie Mullins presented the Caroline Howard Cup for 2017 to Junior Ognovich at the Celebration of Rowing banquet.Greensboro Sports Commission CEO Kim Strable, with his wife Cindy and Olympic champion Jason Read.Jamie Atkinson is all smiles at the Celebration of Rowing banquet with fellow rowers Katie Todd and Sidney Briggs.
Greensboro Crew oarsmen were out in force at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet to meet 911 hero and Olympic gold medalist, Jason Read. High Point rowers Lindsay York and Giacomo Arnaboldi at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
The rowing clubs of the Triad are pleased to announce the fourth annual Celebration of Rowing banquet, scheduled for Saturday, November 18, at Sedgefield Country Club.
The Celebration of Rowing banquet is in its fourth year of recognizing an appreciation for our sport and our local rowing community. Celebration of Rowing is the one time each year when the Triad rowing community gathers to honor its own and enjoy hearing from a keynote speaker who has made a national impact on the sport of rowing.
An incredible keynote speaker for 2017 will be announced shortly. He or she will follow a talented line of speakers in recent years who have each had a national impact on the rowing community:
2014 Caroline Lind, 2X Olympic gold medalist
2015 Misha Joukowsky, Resolute shells
2016 Jack Carlson, Rowing Blazers
“The Celebration of Rowing banquet is a special night for rowers,” says the event chair Jackie King. “It is about coming together to celebrate the sport we all love and for many of us a sport that has held a profound transformational effect on our lives.”
Double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind was inducted into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame at the High Point Country Club on November 19, 2016.Maddie Mullins was awarded the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to her fellow rowers at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Almost 200 rowers and their families gathered at High Point Country Club for the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Author, archeologist, and international rower Jack Carlson regaled the almost 200 rowers at the Celebration of Rowing banquet with his historical account of rowing’s social attire.Caren and Greg York hold their silver cup for ‘service above and beyond’ to the youth rowing program at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet at High Point Country Club.Former Masters MVPs Erin Sanders and Mandy Greene presented the 2016 MVP Cup to Jackie King (center).
Junior Ognovich has been selected for the Southeast Region crew to race at the Regional Youth Challenge as part of the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
Sarasota, Florida – The 2017 World Rowing Championships kicks off today and High Point rower Junior Ognovich has been selected to race in the women’s quad sculls for the Southeast region in the first ever ‘Youth Regional Challenge’.
The Youth Regional Challenge event will feature 312 of the top Under-19 rowers from across the United States, racing in eights and quadruple sculls. The Southeast region team comprises the best athletes from Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
Junior Ognovich was picked for the Southeast squad from over 900 rowers who applied for selection. Her race in Sarasota this weekend will no doubt feel like a home course for her. Earlier this spring she teamed up with Maddie Mullins to finish 6th in the nation at the women’s U19 pairs event.
2017 has been an incredible year for Junior Ognovich. In addition to the finals appearance at youth nationals, she and Maddie won the North Carolina State Championships in the women’s double sculls and then were crowned regional champions in the women’s pair. The win was the first in history for High Point.
Smiling in Sarasota: Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins enjoyed a successful outing on Day One at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Junior is not short of athletic genes in her DNA. Her older sister Katie won gold on board the United States women’s eight at the CanAmMex Games Regatta and is now rowing at the University of Oklahoma. Her grandfather is Nick Ognovich, the renowned Wake Forest University Hall of Fame “blocking quarterback” in the 1940s when the program was regarded as one of the toughest in the South.
When not rowing, Junior lives in Greensboro and attends Bishop McGuinness High School. Junior will return to the Triad next week in time to prepare for the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Oak Hollow Lake on Saturday, September 30.
High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich (far boat) are quick off the start in the final at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich capped off a historic season by improving on their best time by 7 seconds and finishing sixth in the women’s pair final at the USRowing Youth National Championships on Sunday.
Connecticut Boat Club won the event with a time of 7 minutes 30 seconds, nearly 21 seconds ahead of the field.
Ognovich and Mullins, who qualified for the final with a third place semi-final finish on Saturday, finished Sunday’s race with a time of 8:06.866.
The High Point duo were elated with their performance after the race.
“We really had a great last row,” said Junior as her boat returned to dock. “I felt Maddie behind me rowing hard every stroke of the race. That’s everything you can ask of your pair partner.”
“We just want to say thank you to everyone for all the support and love. We definitely would not have done this well without all the support from back home,” said Maddie after the race. “It’s a good last race to end my rowing career at High Point Rowing Club.”
The top six national ranking caps off a season that saw Junior and Maddie win the women’s double sculls final at the North Carolina state championships in April, as well as the Southeast Region title in the women’s pair in May. The regional win qualified the two for nationals.
Maddie was also the club’s 2017 Female Rower of the Year.
Maddie and Junior advise today’s High Point/Greensboro rowers to “work hard and love the process and you too can go to Nationals.”
Top 6 in the nation: High Point rowers Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins with coach Gene Kininmonth at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Smiling in Sarasota: Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins enjoyed a successful outing on Day One at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.
Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich finished with the sixth fastest time in the initial time trial of the women’s pair on Day One at the USRowing Youth National Championships.
The result places them among the top 12 crews from the field which will race in the semi final round on Saturday morning. The fastest six boats in the semi final round will then race in the grand final on Sunday.
“This was an emotional part of the process,” said High Point coach Gene Kininmonth after the morning time trial. “For our club, competing at the national championships for the first time, you’re way out of your comfort zone coming in because it is all new territory and there are so many crews from all across the country you have never raced before. So today’s result was both a relief and reaffirming for all of us.”
Saturday’s semi-final race will take place at 9:12 am.
Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich are heading to Sarasota, Florida this weekend for the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.
High Point, NC – Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich will row their final practice on Oak Hollow Lake this evening ahead of this weekend’s 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
The two qualified for nationals by winning the women’s pair event at USRowing’s Southeast Regional Championships in Georgia last month.
The youth national championship is the premier junior rowing event in the USA, and approximately 1,700 athletes will compete in more than 370 crews representing more than 150 teams from across the country vying for national titles in 18 boat classes.
Maddie and Junior are slated to begin racing with a time trial on Friday morning at 8:45am. The trial will reduce the field from 22 crews to 12. Should the pair successfully proceed through this initial trial they will then race in Saturday morning’s semi final round. The top 6 crews from the semi-finals will race in Sunday morning’s final just before 9am.
Qualifying for nationals highlights a year of highs for the High Point duo and for Maddie, who recently graduated high school, the final regatta is a wonderful finishing touch to her high school rowing career.
Maddie was the club’s female Rower of the Year this year. In April she and Junior won the youth doubles event at the North Carolina State Championships.
Events at this weekend’s championships will be live streamed by USRowing here: https://www.youtube.com/user/usrowingorg
Full race schedule is here: http://www.usrowing.org/event/2017-youth-national-championships/
Highly polished silver awards are now a Spring Crew Banquet tradition thanks to the generous philanthropic support of the Club’s Patron Jackie King.
High Point Rowing Club’s youth rowers celebrated the end of spring with coaches and parents at the annual Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake on Monday evening.
Connie Curri, who is Charlotte’s mum and parent liaison to the team, thanked parents of the rowers for their generous support of the team, in particular those who hosted the food tables at all the crew regattas, the ‘Duck Committee’ of fathers, who ran the on water activities of the club’s regattas, and the group of mothers, who managed the timing systems and greatly assisted crews in launching and returning the boats to shore at home regattas. Connie then passed the baton of parent liaison to Sierra’s mum Beth Heer for the 2017-18 season.
“This is always my favorite annual rowing event of the year,” said coach Gene Kininmonth following a delicious pot luck feast. “We are here this evening to celebrate victories won, battles hard fought, and to send off three incredible high school seniors.”
Coach Gene thanked Jaclyn Hronich, Paul Herger, Mandy Greene, and Connie Curri for their service as coaches to the Crew and then welcomed the team’s alumni, Katie Ognovich ’14, Addy Millsap ’15, Andrew Wright ’15, Adam Alt ’16, and Kyle Koval ’16, who had returned to the crew for the evening.
Then it was time to pay tribute to the rowers themselves.
“We have many victories to celebrate tonight,” said Gene. “We opened our Spring season at the Clemson Sprints, where we won countless medals before returning to High Point for the State Championships where our club won 7 state championships.”
“To add to this success, our rowers won bronze in the women’s U17 quadsculls event and gold in the women’s pair event at USRowing’s Southeast regional Championships in Georgia. This remarkable win by Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich was a first for High Point Rowing Club.”
Gene then presented The York Cup to the crew that recorded the fastest time from Skeet Club bridge to Johnson Street bridge during the previous twelve months. The York Cup crew of 2017 was coxswain Charlotte Curri, stroke Ainsley Fox, Molly Hilemn, William Hundley, Nick Rieker, Matthew Hronich, Jake Bryant, Sierra Heer, Kinkead Crotts. The crew set a time of 16 minutes 38 seconds.
The 2017 York Cup Crew with their silver awards at the Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake.
Coach Gene then presented the club’s Rower of the Year awards to Charles York and Maddie Mullins, who themselves then presented individual awards to rowers for ‘Middle School MVP’, ‘Most Improved’, and ‘Rookie of the Year’.
The most important part of the ceremonies then arrived as seniors Charles York, Maddie Mullins, and Lizzy Knorrwere honored and thanked for their service to the crew. The evening then took an emotional turn with each senior passing on their jersey to a younger rower before reflecting on their personal rowing experiences with High Point Rowing Club.
Of course, no Crew Banquet would be completed until the traditional crew photo on the dock was taken.
2017 HPRC Seniors Charles York, Maddie Mullins, and Lizzy Knorr with their silver awards at the Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake.HPRC rowers William Hundley and Molly Hilemn won awards for ‘Most Improved’ at the 2017 Crew Banquet.Matthew Hronich and Charlotte Curri won awards for Middle school MVPs at the 2017 HPRC Crew Banquet.Benjamin Huitt was presented with the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award at High Point Rowing Club’s 2017 Crew Banquet.Rowers assemble on the dock at Oak Hollow Lake for the traditional team photo at the spring Crew Banquet.
Caroline Lind, who won two Olympic gold medals, was inducted into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame at the High Point Country Club on November 19.
High Point, NC – Rowers and parents from High Point Rowing Club joined almost 200 rowers from Wake Forest University, Greensboro Crew, and High Point University at High Point Country Club on Saturday night to induct double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame.
The occasion was the Celebration of Rowing banquet, the annual dinner to show appreciation for the sport of rowing and the local Triad rowing community. Celebration of Rowing is the one time each year when the Triad rowing community gathers to honor its own and enjoy hearing from a keynote speaker who has made a national impact on the sport of rowing.
Jack Carlson, author, archaeologist, and national team rower served as guest speaker at this year’s prestigious gala. Jack is a three-time member of the United States national rowing team.
Author, archeologist, and international rower Jack Carlson sports his new HPRC cricket jumper at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet
Jack Carlson is also the author of the acclaimed book Rowing Blazers and on Saturday evening he gave a riveting presentation on the many traditions and secrets of club rowing social attire.
Jack continued a banquet tradition of introducing world renowned rowing leaders to the Triad. Cutting edge rowing boat maker, Misha Joukowsky, spoke in 2015 and Caroline Lind was the inaugural guest speaker in 2014.
Co-chaired by Jackie King and Caren York, the evening began with an hour of cocktails, hors d’eouvres, and bidding on wonderful auction items, donated for the occasion and organised by Masters rowers Mandy Greene and Girl Jeanne MacPherson.
Guests were soon seated in the formal ballroom, finding their seats as designated by beautiful place cards, hand written by Jennifer Burton. The night proceeded with introducing Morgan Epling, Lizzy Knorr, and Anna Lewis to sing the National Anthem. Junior Ognovich then gave the invocation, giving thanks for all the blessings the rowers enjoy in their lives at this time of year.
Caren and Greg York hold their silver cup for ‘service above and beyond’ to the youth rowing program at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet at High Point Country Club.
A feast of filet mignon was then enjoyed whilst Burt Whicker played the country club’s grand piano. There is not much Burt doesn’t do these days. When he’s not rowing for High Point, he coaches rowing for both Greensboro Crew and High Point University and keeps the rowing equipment race worthy for all three clubs.
Connie Curri, who has spear headed parent involvement with the youth program this year, then presented the Mary Hollingsworth Cup to Greg & Caren York for their years of service ‘above and beyond’ to the crew.
Former Masters MVPs Erin Sanders and Mandy Greene presented the 2016 MVP Cup to Jackie King (center).
The next highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Masters MVP Silver Cup. Former MVPs Mandy Greene and Erin Sanders were honored to present this year’s award to Jackie King.
Maddie Mullins was awarded the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to her fellow rowers at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Each of the Triad’s head coaches and club Presidents were then invited to the podium to speak briefly about their programs. During his moment, Gene Kininmonth took the opportunity to present the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to the club from a youth rower to 2016 senior Maddie Mullins.
But the highlight of the night was the induction of Caroline Lind into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame. Lind, a Greensboro native won two Olympic gold medals – first at the Beijing Games in 2008 in the United States women’s eight-oared crew and then again at the London Games in 2012. Lind also won world championship titles for the USA in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2014.
She was declared the World’s Female Rower of the Year in 2014 by FISA, the international governing body of the sport.
On Saturday, Caroline was presented with an oar blade mounted on a cherry wood plaque, denoting her many significant rowing achievements. Coach Gene Kininmonth returned to the podium to read the induction proclamation before presenting the oar blade to Caroline Lind, who concluded the evening with an inspirational speech, reflecting on her rowing career.
The banquet co-chairs and team captains would like to thank Jack Carlson and Caroline Lind for being such gracious guests at this year’s event, as well as all the volunteers and auction item donors for their support of this year’s Celebration of Rowing – you know who you are. Thank you!!!
High Point Rowing Club founder Gene Kininmonth (left) with Caroline Lind, Jack Carlson, Keziah Beall, and Jackie King at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.Two hundred rowers and parents gathered at High Point Country Club for the 2016 Celebration of Rowing.
Oak Hollow Lake, High Point – A new record time was set in a York Cup challenge on Wednesday night. Two High Point Youth boats raced each other from Skeet Club Bridge to Johnson Street Bridge but only one of the boats was comprised of an eligible York Cup crew.
To be eligible a crew must meet the following requirements:
1.) All members of the crew must be currently enrolled in high school or middle school. (the Summer following your senior year makes you ineligible!)
2.) At least two and no more than four male rowers in the boat. A coxswain may be a fifth male member of the crew.
3.) At least four of the rowers must be in their novice year (or freshman grade or below).
Aided by a brisk Nor’easterly tail wind, the record setting crew was comprised of coxswain Morgan Epling, stroke Junior Ognovich, Kyle Koval, William Scarpa, Adam Alt, Emma Lloyd, Olivia Corriere, Ainsley Fox, and bow seat Alexis Berg and set a time of 14 minutes 7 seconds. The previous record was 14 minutes 45 seconds set in 2014.
Racing in the ‘Spooner’, the crew was further helped with a competitive push by fellow crew mates racing in the black M2.
Crews can attempt a York Cup challenge at any time throughout the year. At the end of the spring season, the crew that has recorded the fastest time in the previous 12 months is recognized at the annual Spring Crew Banquet and earns the honor of drinking a toast from The York Cup.
The York Cup is named in honor of Caren and Greg York, (Charles’ Mum & Dad!) for their generous support of the youth rowing program. The purpose of the ongoing annual event is to bring the club’s youngest and newest rowers together with the clubs most experienced varsity rowers of both genders throughout the year.
Sarasota, Florida – High Point Rowing Club will be represented by three crews at the USRowing Southeast Regional Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida this weekend.
Boat racing takes place at Nathan Benderson Park, the venue for the upcoming 2017 World Rowing Championships.
First up for High Point will be Adam Alt and Kyle Koval racing in the heats of the Youth Double Sculls event. The crew enjoyed comfortable wins at the High Point Regatta and Charlotte Duel before finishing 4th at the Dogwood Regatta last month. Twelve crews are entered in the event. The duo must finish in the top three crews in its 6 boat heat to progress to the final.
Following this race Kyle and Adam will team up with Austin Young and Kevin Capps in the Youth Quad Sculls event.
Later in the day High Point will race in the Women’s Youth Eights event. The crew, comprised of coxswain Morgan Epling, Victoria Goldin, Maddie Mullins, Junior Ognovich, Aliute Udoka, Emma Lloyd, Jaclyn Hronich, Olivia Corriere, and Shelby Reece has enjoyed historic results for the club throughout the regular season. The crew earned victories at the James River Sprints, the High Point Regatta, and Charlotte Dual and earned a finals appearance two weeks ago at the Dogwood Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN but was unable to race due to thunderstorms over the race course.
The top three crews in each event qualify for USRowing’s Youth National Championships next month.
Austin Young, Adam Alt, Kyle Koval, and Kevin Capps row to victory in the quad sculls against Charlotte on Oak Hollow Lake on April 23.
Trenton, NJ – High Point rower Jacqueline ‘Junior’ Ognovich has been selected to participate in this summer’s US Junior National Team Sweep Development Camp, the sport’s national governing body USRowing has announced.
Ognovich’s selection to the prestigious national camp squad follows on from her participation in an historic season with High Point’s women’s varsity crew. She rowed in the 6-seat of the crew that won gold at the High Point Regatta, Clemson Sprints and finished a club best 4th place at the USRowing Southeast Junior Regional Championships.
“”I’m so excited for Junior,” said High Point varsity coach Allie Davis. “This is going to be an incredible experience for her. To be united with the best young high school rowers from across the nation that all want to go faster just like she does is going to elevate her to the next level. This is a testament to her dedication to the sport and I’m proud to have that kind of work ethic represented on our squad.”
In all, 49 rowers from across the nation were selected for the 2015 USJNT Sweep Development Camp and Ognovich is the only rower listed from North Carolina.
Congratulations Junior!
Jacqueline ‘Junior’ Ognovich helps power her women’s varsity crew from the six-seat (third fromCoach Allie Davis with her crew of Bethany Brake, Victoria Goldin, Aliute UDoka, Junior Ognovich, Maddie Mullins, Addy Millsap, Emma Lloyd, Jaclyn Hronich, and Kim Pollard concluded a historic season for High Point Rowing Club with a fourth place finish in the Girls Youth Eight at USRowing’s Southeast Regional Championships.
