By David Nelson
Four boats from Bainbridge Island Rowing qualified to compete at US Rowing Nationals with performances at the Northwest Youth Championships in Vancouver, Washington on May 16 and 17.
The Varsity Boys Lightweight Four (Michael Aber, Schuyler Westerhout, David Goon, John Michael Najarian, cox Nathan Johnson) placed third on the 2,000-meter course to qualify for the championship race, which will be held in mid-June in Florida.
Also, Varsity Boys Pair (Konner Vander Leest and Michael Aber) placed third to qualify, the Varsity Girls Lightweight Four (Alexina Boudreaux-Allen, Tica Drury, Jemma Blazina, Sam Dore, cox Chrina Munn) placed third, and the Varsity Girls LightWeight eight qualified for nationals with a second place finish (Emma Pazoff, Alexina Boudreaux-Allen, Anneke Karreman, Jessie Sheldon, Elsa Derrickson, Tica Drury, Jemma Blazina, Sam Dore, cox Chrina Munn).
Although two girls boats qualified, coaches determined only the Lightweight Four will represent Bainbridge at nationals.
Nearly 100 kids in the club rowed at the Vancouver meet, bringing home 19 medals from the three-day regatta.
Photos by Anna Bernhard Carson
