Crew Brings Home 34 Medals From Novice Regatta

Reigning Florida State Champion Sarasota Crew opened its spring schedule Saturday at the 12^th Annual Regatta in Orlando, Florida taking home 34 medals out of 16 events.

With 42 boats in the regatta, Sarasota Crew claimed 12 gold, eight silver, and 14 bronze medals, while competing in 16 events.

“This is an excellent start to what can be a great season of racing,” said Head Coach Casey Galvanek.  “We had fantastic results against strong competition.  We also had some teachable moments that cost us a few victories, but that is why this regatta exists.”

Sarasota Crew left Orlando with gold medals in the:

• Women’s Novice Eight,

• Women’s Freshmen Eight,

• Women’s Novice Quad,

• Women’s Novice Four,

• Women’s Novice Double,

• each of the three Women’s Freshmen Four events,

• Men’s Novice Eight,

• Men’s Novice 4x, and

• two in the Men’s Freshmen Four. 

Sarasota Crew boats won silver in:

• Men’s Freshmen Eight,

• Men’s Novice Double,

• Men’s Novice Single,

• Women’s Freshmen Eight,

• Women’s Freshmen Four,

• Women’s Novice Four,

• Women’s Novice Double, and

• Women’s Novice Single and

Crew won bronze medals in the

• Women’s Novice Quad,

• Women’s Freshmen Four,

• Women’s Single,

• Men’s Freshmen Eight,

• two in the Men’s Novice Eight,

• two in the Men’s Novice Quad,

• Men’s Novice Four,

• Men’s Freshmen Four,

• Men’s Novice Double, and

• three in the Men’s Novice Single.

In the Freshmen Eights, Sarasota Crew’s Women’s ‘A’ entry – comprised of rowers Cami Berlin, Eliza Culp, Allie Pitchford, Katie Molinari, Gena Narcisco, Lauren Mitchell, Michelle Konecny, Lily Donoghue, and Erin Schineller, finished first out of 10 entries with a time of 4:57.2.

Sarasota’s Men’s ‘A’ entry in the Novice Eight – comprised of rowers Alex Tate, Nick Weibel, John Oravec, Robbie Dykstra, Jacob Lowther, Andor Dezsi, Jonathan Mitchel, Jaxon Wiberding, and Sean Mack, finished first out of 20 entries with a time of 4:43.8.

“The results during this regatta are truly outstanding,”  said Freshmen Coach Pam Wall.  “Both the men’s and women’s squads were able to best all of the Florida teams that had their respective numbers this fall.  We spent quite a bit of time revisiting some of the fundamentals of rowing and it has clearly paid off in a big way.”

Sarasota Crew returns to action in two weeks for the Sarasota Invitational to be held Feb 24-25 at the Nathan Benderson Park.

Founded in 2002, Sarasota Crew is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide middle and high school-aged Sarasota County youth with positive, competitive rowing experiences that cultivate high standards of personal integrity and self-esteem, promote teamwork and sportsmanship, and instill a lifelong commitment to a healthful lifestyle and serving the community.

To learn more, visit www.sarasotacrew.org or call 941-966-9791./end