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.
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.
Thank you everyone for a terrific year of rowing!
