NA Rowing Opens Spring Season At Huron River Sprints

Posted on:

4/23/2022
Mitten Racing Series: Huron River Sprints
Kathryn Bennett Race Course, Milford MI

Photo Gallery

After having to cancel the April 9 scrimmage due to river conditions, the NA Tigers kicked off the Spring 2022 season with a trip to Milford MI for the Huron River Sprints on the brand new Kathryn Bennett Race Course. The day began with Semi-Finals for many of the lineups and the Tigers progressed on to finals in all events entered.

After the race course’s grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Women’s Novice 8+ took to the 1500 meter course in a tight field and missed medaling by just 0.9 seconds. (Alexandra Witzel, Stella Sumerlin, Katherine Zema, Vanessa Edfors, Mandy Adduci, Abby Berger, Zahra Evans, Lauren Keyser & Cox: Charlotte Bentrim). Next up, two Men’s JV doubles raced placing 5th & 7th (Braden Lemon & Mason Pavely) (Anthony Bertucci & Zach Stamper). Immediately behind them on the course was the Men’s Varsity 2x’s placing 4th & 5th (Jackson Rodgers & Micah Witzel) (Wyatt Skopov- Normane & Caleb Sanders). The Women’s JV 4+ (Addy Cooper, Lorelei Schreiber, Johanna Edfors, Kiki Majeric & Cox Evie Disque) and JV4x (Alana Boronski, Sawyer Wright, Athena Huber, MaryKate Griffin) followed placing 8th & 5th respectively.  The Novice Women got another shot on the course in the coxed quad but were bested by a boat-stopping crab near the finish line and ultimately took 4th. (Alexandra Witzel, Stella Sumerlin, Katherine Zema, Vanessa Edfors & Cox: Lauren Keyser). The lineup is excited for another shot to race the event in the future.

The second half of the afternoon is where the Tigers found their feet on the podium, the Women’s Varsity 4x placed first against a strong field, previewing their competition at Midwests. (Aine Ridenour, Tabo Mkandawire, Abby Bakkinest & Alex Junko). The Women’s Varsity 2x’s placed 1st and 4th (Tabo Mkandawire & Alex Junko) (Charlotte Bentrim & Rachel Lessure). They were followed by the Men’s 4x’s who lined up next to each other and fought their way down the course finishing 3rd & 4th (Braden Lemon, Anthony Bertucci, Jackson Rodgers & Micah Witzel). (Mason Pavely, Wyatt Skopov Normane, Zach Stamper & Caleb Sanders). The Novice Men followed, three of who were racing for the first time ever, they placed 4th, besting East Grand Rapids by 0.4 seconds (Layton Wright, Logan Southwick, Lucas Pater, Josh Dubouvecky Cox: Jordan Quatchak). To finish the day, the Women’s JV 8+ came down the course strongly in the far 8th lane, fighting it out and taking second in the last 300 meters. (Lorelei Schreiber, Sawyer Wright, Athena Huber, Alana Boronski, Addy Cooper, MaryKate Griffin, Ashley Zeman, Kiki Majeric & Cox: Evie Disque).

The Tigers finished 6th in the overall points standing for the day, 3rd in the Women’s Sculling, and 5th in the Men’s Sculling points standings. It was a terrific start to the season racing fast crews and learning about the team’s speed and areas of possible growth.