Occoquan Challenge Fall 2010
The "Challenge" is an apt name for this race, rowed on a unique 3-mile (5000m) course on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax, Virginia. Competitors raced on a fully buoyed course with several challenging turns. Halfway through the race, crews completed a wide quarter mile 180-degree turn to finish the final leg of the course. Unlike any other course, boats start and finish at the same location, giving spectators excellent viewing from several beautiful locations.
Coming in only 1 second behind the winning boat in a field of very competitive club boats, B-CC's Men's Varsity 1st Eight rowed a spectacular race, winning second place out of 11 boats! In this powerhouse eight were: Matt Speck (coxswain), Nick van der Vink (stroke), Greg Mariuzza, Harry Holroyd, Sam Weiner, Matt Dutko, Michael Colella, Erik Holmvik, and Sam Murphy.
Completing this very strong men's team were two more Varsity Eights, coming in 5th and 8th place, respectively. In the 2nd boat: Alex Sax (cox), Rohan Mittal (stroke), Alex Zellner, Alex Loomis, Shray Mittal, Jabril Lam-Coleman, Fred Johnson, Adam Schlesinger, and Nate Hodge. In the 3rd boat: Caelen Collins (cox), Alessandro Lallas, Trevor Wind, Matt Whitstock, Joaquin Rodriguez, Joel Rosenblum, Will Smith, Danny Brody, and Parker Lape.
The Women's Varsity eights also raced well, finishing 4th, 6th, and 11th out of 12 boats, competing as the Men did, in a field of very competitive select club team boats. In the 1st Eight, finishing almost a full 2 minutes ahead of the rest of the field were: Nancy Htay (cox), Erin Walk (stroke), Lizzie Hook, Katie Sampson, India Scriber, Amanda Litty, Kate LaFranchi, Naomi Balodemas, and Stacia Odenwald. The 3rd Eight really came together and rowed a great race, finishing 6th. In this boat were: Zena Wolf (cox), Kate Waldmann (stroke), Tamsin Bradbury, Gena Bunker, Taylor Wade, Jacqueline Whitford, Sabina Gudmundsson, Kate Lester, and Sophie Rosenthal. In the 2nd Eight were: Elaina Gerrety (cox), Margaux Carle (stroke), Rea Marmarinou, Abby McIntosh, Gyl Weisenfeld, Hannah Silverman, Emma Dauster, Julia Vasquez, & Katherine Smith.
Women's Varsity Coach and rowing phenom Nancy Faigen also won her umpteenth gold medal in the Women's Master's Double Race. Congratulations to Coach Nancy!
This crew team is a joy to watch. Thanks to a winning combination of fabulous coaching, talented senior leadership, and determined juniors and sophomores with phenomenal potential, the team is looking stronger and more technically adept each and every race. No doubt this great start to the fall season is just a harbinger of more good racing to come!!
Our mighty rowing Barons will be heading to this Occoquan venue again on Sunday, October 17th for the Occoquan Chase. Come out and enjoy this scenic and exciting racecourse while cheering on our team! (See http://www.bccrowing.windwebworks.com/ for directions and details.) This is a great opportunity for parents and freshmen beginning the Introduction to Rowing Program to come out and see a race and learn about the sport!