Beaverdam, NC – High Point Rowing Club established itself as a force to reckoned with in North Carolina rowing at the Carolina Chase Regatta on Saturday.
The Carolina Chase is a 4,000 meter time trial rowing event featuring youth programs, colleges and Masters crews from across the state. High Point raced in middle school, youth novice, youth varsity, and adult masters events. For the Youth rowing squad, the event was primarily a dual meet with Triangle Rowing Club, the premier rowing program in the Raleigh/Durham area.
Entering the varsity ranks for the first time, High Point’s boys squad enjoyed a successful day of boat racing by sweeping to victory in the Men’s Youth Eight, Youth Four, and Novice Eight events against Triangle Rowing Club.
“We had some really competitive races with Triangle today,” said boy’s crew captain Adam Alt, who is a junior at Bishop McGuinness High School. “While we came away with the wins, I don’t think the final results truly reflect how close our two teams really are. No doubt Triangle will be coming after us again next week.”
Men’s Youth Eights:
High Point 14 minutes 12 secs
Triangle 14 minutes 27 secs
Men’s Youth Fours:
High Point 14 minutes 35 secs
Triangle 14 minutes 37 secs
Men’s Youth Novice Eights:
High Point 14 minutes 40 secs
Triangle 15 minutes 38 secs
Men’s Youth Novice Fours:
High Point 19 minutes 34.5 secs
Triangle scratched
In girls racing, Triangle won the Youth Eight and both Fours events, while High Point closed out racing by dominating the Novice Eights boat class.
First season varsity girls coach Allie Davis said she was proud of her crews efforts and can see the results fueling the squad to raise their performance at the next regatta. “I’m certain they found many things to learn from this additional racing experience. These results give us a good start to the season. It’s impressive to see girls so close to a win in their very first race.”
Women’s Youth Eights:
Triangle 15 minutes 18 secs
High Point 16 minutes 50 secs
Women’s Youth Fours:
Triangle ‘A’ 17 minutes 03 secs
High Point 18 minutes 10 secs
Triangle ‘B’ 20 minutes 03 secs
Women’s Youth Novice Eights
High Point ‘A’ 15 minutes 30 secs
Triangle ‘A’ 17 minutes 17.4 secs
High Point ‘B’ 18 minutes 22.5 secs
Triangle ‘B’ 19 minutes 03.4 secs
High Point’s middle school crew also participated in an Exhibition with Triangle on Saturday with High Point covering the 4,000 meter course in the time of 18 minutes 25 seconds. Triangle rowed the course in 18 minutes 16.9 seconds. In uncontested racing Ryan Kurtiak and Jackie Ognovich won the mixed double sculls event and mothers of the High Point youth rowers teamed up to win the Women’s Masters Eight.
Next up for the squad is the 2014 High Point Autumn Rowing Festival at Oak Hollow Lake on Saturday. 78 crews from across the state have entered the 5,000 meter time trial event making the event the largest ever of its kind in North Carolina.
