Junior 8, novice 8 take titles, lightweight 4 gets silver behind Mainland
PENNSAUKEN – The Ocean City High School girls rowing team won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Garden State Championships Saturday, April 26, at Cooper River Park.
The junior eight and novice eight Red Raider boats are the state champions with the lightweight four taking second place behind Mainland Regional High School.
According to head coach Colin Stewart, two of Ocean City’s four boats won their morning heats and earned berths in the finals. The junior eight went straight to the final because there were only six boats in the heat.
“The junior eight kicked off the finals with a commanding win over second-place Cedar Creek, taking home the team’s first state title,” Stewart said, noting it posted the second fastest girls time of the day. The girls won with a time of 5:13.72, 46 seconds ahead of Cedar Creek.
The junior eight gold medalists are Aubrey Schlembach, Margot Swift, Marin Pearce, Marina Zappone, Anna Rice, Jada Smith, Victoria Sakhno, Reese Hemberger and Kailyn Kelly.
“The lightweight four had a great race but fell short of the win and placed second behind Mainland but beat last year’s national bronze medalist Montclair,” Stewart said. Ava Ryan, Abby Smith, Ava Ruh, Marissa Trostle and Coryn Driscoll are the silver medal-winning crew for the lightweight four.
Mainland won gold in 5:59.37 with Ocean City less than eight seconds behind in 6:07:07.
The Mainland crew included Molly Lind, Isabella Iordanov, Kieran Walsh Blair, Elaina Gebhard and Charlotte Weaver.
“The novice eight closed out the day with a tight race while being swallowed by a rain squall.” The novice eight beat second-place Atlantic City by just under four seconds, finishing in 5:58.34. Atlantic City’s time was 6:02.26.
The gold medalists in the the girls novice eight are Maddie Aragno, Kendall Barnes, Bella Panico, Brooke Delanzo, Kailyn Nilsen, Katie Grimley, Mary Libro, Kristen Campbell and Stella Tomaselli.
“It was a historic day for the team,” the coach said. “I remember when I was rowing for Ocean City, winning just one state championship was a big deal, but to win two, and be close to winning three is an incredible testament to how hard these athletes have been working. With three weeks left in the season, it’s back to work on Monday.”
Mainland boats medal
Mainland’s freshman eight won gold medals in a three-boat race, finishing first in 6:04.45. The boat’s medalists were Olivia Herbert, Scarlett Brookbank, Daisy Turner, Skylar Larger, Emilia Perez, Sophia Rose, Charley Costello, Sophia Goff and Maira Naber.
The Mustang senior eight was third in 5:22.4 behind winner Montclair (4:58.47) and Atlantic City. That boat featured Leah Nirenberg, Mackenzie Gannon, Taylor Funk, Aixell Perez, Michaela Werber, Josie Voermans, Madison Siglin, Lily Wineland and Megan Pruitt.
Mainland’s junior eight finished third behind Ocean City and Cedar Creek. That boat included Maddie Blanche, Hailey Kerns, Sophia Nunez, Olivia Carlton, Makayla Murray, Bailey Barnhart, Madison Gannon, Scarlett Henderson and Helena Evinski.
Girls Junior Eight Final:
1st Ocean City: 5:13.72
2nd Cedar Creek: 5:59.69
3rd Mainland: 6:10.51
4th Egg Harbor Township: 6:15.9
5th Our Lady of Mercy 6:45.32
6th Vineland Scratch
Girls Lightweight Four
Final:
1st Mainland: 5:59.37
2nd Ocean City: 6:07.07
3rd Montclair: 6:10.26
4th Oakcrest: 6:26.08
5th Egg Harbor Township: 6:39.67
Girls Novice Eight Final:
1st Ocean City: 5:58.34
2nd Atlantic City A: 6:02.26
3rd Blair Academy: 6:06.46
4th Egg Harbor Township: 6:07.34
5th Vineland: 6:29.26
6th Atlantic City B: 7:06.5
– Photos courtesy of Colin Stewart/Special to the Sentinel
