Bainbridge varsity boys 8 receives final instructions from Assistant Coach Zoe Lewis before their race at Brentwood Regatta. From left to right: Cox Keith Carlson, Keegan Dymoke, Alex Derry, Walker Hauptman, Trevor Wikstrom, Bryson Allen, Gabe Schulz, Cole Sander and Connor Teddy.
Bainbridge Island Junior Rowers turned in a strong effort last weekend as they won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 44th annual Brentwood Regatta in scenic Mill Bay on Vancouver Island.
The competition attracted approximately 1,600 rowers and coaches to the 1,500-meter course, including more than 90 Bainbridge High School rowers.
The varsity boys heavyweight 4 was the third fastest U.S. crew at the regatta, placing them with a chance to qualify for the U.S. national championships at the Northwest Regional Regatta May 15-18 at Vancouver Lake in Vancouver. Trevor Wikstrom, Alex Derry, Walker Hauptman, Keegan Dymoke and coxswain Keith Carlson comprised the four-person crew.
The varsity boys 8 also qualified for this weekend’s Opening Day Regatta in Seattle for the third consecutive year. Connor Teddy, Cole Sander, Gabe Schulz, Bryson Allen, Trevor Wikstrom, Walker Hauptman, Alex Derry, Keegan Dymoke, and cox Keith Carlson comprised the varsity boys 8.
The varsity boys lightweight 4 were third in a close finish. Lars Erickson, Schuyler Westerhout, Talbot Miller, Thomas Musselwhite and coxswain Nathan Johnson competed on the lightweight 4.
Four of the varsity girls boats earned silver medals – the high school 8, the varsity lightweight 8, the varsity B 4 and the varsity B lightweight 4. They also placed in five out of eight events and had two fourth-place finishes.
The high school 8 also qualified to compete in the Opening Day Regatta. Elisabeth Chun, Abby Leigh, Liz Fawley, Faith Eckford-Prossor, Rosie Brown, Hannah Schneiderman, Kylie Van Aken, Justeen Komok, and cox Natassja Haught comprised the high school 8.
“It’s important to have this kind of success and near-success,” varsity girls coach Chris Lane said of the close margins between the top crews. “Now we know how close we are to our goals and what it will take to reach them. The open weight field this year for the girls is incredibly competitive. We have our work cut out for us for regionals.”
The novice boys’ performance at Brentwood was the best for Bainbridge Island Rowing. The boys medaled in three of their four events, with two of the boats posting the highest U.S. finishes.
The novice boys A 8-plus placed second despite being a mostly freshmen squad competing against older crews in the under 18 race. Aidan Stearns, Dan Queen, Jack Carson, Konner Vander Leest, Matthew Derry, Scott Musselwhite, Will de Rubertis, Colin O’Keefe and cox Sam Bryant made up the team.
The novice girls 4-plus won first, beating 11 U.S. and Canadian teams in the final. Alexina Boudreaux-Allen, Kayla Buchmeier, Erin McGee, Carly Lant and cox Sophie Bodlovich comprised the boat. Sophie finished the race with almost no voice left as she continued to yell commands throughout the race despite the boat’s cox box – used to amplify the coxswain’s voice so rowers can hear their commands – breaking as they launched.
Bainbridge lightweight girls 8 crosses the finish line and takes silver, beating out a Sammamish crew at the Brentwood Regatta held in Canada last weekend. The boat included Tica Drury, Anneke Karreman, Jessie Sheldon, Emma Pazoff, Samantha Dore, Julia Denlinger, Jemma Blazina, Kate Hathaway and coxswain Sydney Gibbs.
