The Massachusetts Public School Rowing Association held its spring championship regatta on the Merrimack River in Lowell on the last Sunday in May. Twenty Massachusetts public school programs are members of the association, which sponsors the event.
Race Day was noticeably cooler than the previous day, when it had hit 95 degrees. Conditions on Sunday were overcast, with low humidity and no rain. Other than being a little windy, it was otherwise perfect for rowing. Bromfield Acton-Boxborough Regional High School rowers peaked at the right time, and the team captured the trophy for second place in the regatta overall, with many rowers winning or medaling in their events. They were also named the top public school scullers in the state.
Fifty-six races were held, with the scullers rowing early, then heats for the larger boats, and finals late in the afternoon.
Girls take home gold and silver
Girls varsity scullers earned two golds and two silvers, and then climbed into the 8+ boats where they helped power the first and second varsity 8+ crews to win golds in the grand finals. The first varsity 4+ also made it into the finals but finished sixth out of 15 overall. “The second varsity 8+ led Wayland-Weston with a two-second margin from start to finish. The first varsity 8+ held off a late charge in the last 200 meters by Arlington-Belmont to capture gold by just under one second,” said girls varsity Coach Holly Hatton.
Hatton announced that the girls team scullers would be attending the National Schools Championships based on their results at this regatta. “The 1x and 2x representing the Bromfield School and 4x representing Acton-Boxborough will go to Philadelphia on June 11 to race in the National Schools Championships. To be eligible for this race, a crew must be made up of students from one school only. Our 2- had already qualified for the USRowing Nationals,” said Coach Hatton.
Boys win silver and bronze
The larger varsity boys squad entered three 8s and two 4s, and the team finished with two silvers and a bronze in the grand finals. “The varsity boys had a great finish to their regular season, earning their highest-ever points finish for boys 8s. All the crews had very strong performances, and I am very happy with how well everyone came together to compete in some very tight races,” said boys varsity Coach Brian DeDominici.
Overall, the Bromfield A-B team finished in second place with 1,272 points, just behind Arlington-Belmont.
Varsity Girls Results
- 2x: Maeve French and Carolyn Noyes (gold, 6:38.5).
- 1x: Ally Goldsher (gold, 7:12.4).
- 2-: Kamryn Stecyk and Kirsten Thiim (silver, 6:33.7).
- 4x: Erin Smith, Valentine Bulpin, Rachel Foote, and Courtney Robb (silver, 6:16.2)
- 2V8+: Cox Aly Veo, rowers Foote, Emma Stoffel, Robb, French, Ariella Bull, Alissa Kong, and Hannah Forgo (gold, 5:46.7).
- 1V8+: Cox Katie Erdos, rowers Stecyk, Thiim, Noyes, Grace Ott, Bulpin, Goldsher, Smith, and Lindsey Hayes (gold, 5:34.3).
- 1V4+: Cox Amy Zhu and rowers Fiona Carrez, Becky Nitschelm, Sierra Gomes, and Becca Lloyd (sixth in final, 6:56.8).
Varsity Boys Results
- 2x: Alex Hill, Teague Neschke (sixth, 6:55.5)
- 2V4+: Cox Anne Wesley, Eric Xing, Jack Klem, Maxfield Mascaran, Jack Kelly (fourth in heat, 6:10.3)
- 1V8+: Cox Grace Heavey, Luca Basile, Cole Winsor, Oliver Perrine, Justin Hayes, Will Thompson, Jack Gardiner, James O’Shea, Jack Walsh (silver, 4:52.9).
- 1V4+: Cox Nilay Maity, Jon McWhite, Mark Castaneda, Dan Shrives, Alex Weaver (gold in petite final, 5:51.8).
- 3V8+: Cox Josh Canning, Connor Reitler, Chris Arsenault, Kyle Into, David Shlimak, Matt Adams, Mitch Densen, Aiden Clarage, Andrew Huang (bronze, 5:21.0).
- 2V8+: Cox Austin Rotker, Kyle Veo, Josh Hollenberg, Alex Ewing, Brian Fay, Ed Dunn, Brian Johnson, Mark Borghesani, Garrett White (silver, 5:06).
Allen Nitschelm is the publisher of the “Homesteader” and a B-AB rower parent.
