New Trier rowers had four top-three finishes at the Milwaukee River Challenge on Sept. 17, including a first-place medal for the Women’s Junior 8+ A boat.
Third-place medals went to the Women’s Junior 4+, rowed by a lightweight crew, Junior Women’s 8+ B boat, and the Junior Men’s 8+, rowed by a lightweight crew.
Other boats competing included the Junior Men’s 4+ boats that placed fourth and sixth, and the Junior Men’s 8+ boats that took fourth, eighth and 11th.
The Women’s Junior 4+ A boat placed sixth while two other women’s 8+ boats took eighth and ninth out of 16 crews.
The first regatta of the fall season, the Challenge is held on a three-mile river course that winds through downtown Milwaukee, presenting unusual challenges for crews as they work to navigate under numerous bridges and a tight 90-degree turn about halfway through the course. Nearly 700 collegiate and club rowers competed at the 11th annual regatta.
“As an early indication of speed and a test of the ability of the coxswains, I think all New Trier crews are well positioned at this point in the season,” said head coach Rose Marchuk. “The winning Junior Women’s 8+ expressed some frustration with being unable to pass boats when they could have and having to take their power down when the river narrowed and boats were in their way. Nonetheless, they led their competition by almost 30 seconds, passed two boats, and experienced the true essence of head racing where the strategy and tactical calls of the coxswain rely on the responsiveness of the crew.”
Boats start at rolling intervals and are ranked based on the time it takes for them to finish the course.
The first-place Junior Women’s 8+ team members are: Jenn Maley, Remy Johnson, Lynsey Robertson, Jessy Streur, Meredith Fischer, Colleen McConnell, Olivia Gignilliat, Sophia Krause-Levy and Emily Kofman.
The third-place Junior Women’s 8+ team members are: Emily Avrick, Alexis Braunrot, Claire Clark, Sophie Lee, Carolyn McShea, Anna Melio, Hilary Gould, Jasmine Truong and Brookelyn Czuma.
The third-place Junior Women’s 4+ team members are: Rachel Watkin, Natalie Smith, Eliza Weaver, Julia Wolf and Maddie Cruger.
The third-place Junior Men’s 8+ team members are: Reed Kolbe, Kevin Burke, Jordan Josellis, Kevin Smith, Sam Levis, Brad Gustafson, David Stimson, Daniel Bergquist and Ryan Evenson.
