By Bob Mortenson
Herald Writer
Months of training early, late and every chance in-between has paid off for a group of local athletes.
The Everett Rowing Association earned three second-place finishes at the United States Rowing Northwest Junior Regionals in Vancouver last Saturday.
Nineteen clubs competed at regionals. All of the races were 2,000 meters.
The men’s varsity lightweight eight, the women’s varsity eight and the women’s lightweight eight crews each qualified for the United States Rowing Youth Invitational Regatta to be held June 7-9 in Cincinnati.
“I am so impressed with the coaching and the program itself,” Everett Rowing Association board member Brad Quast said. “The kids come from all over Snohomish County to row with the club.”
In the men’s lightweight eight competition Everett Rowing placed second with a time of 6:24.89, just behind Green Lake Junior Crew, which finished in 6:23.90.
The boat was manned by coxswain Jason Conover, Jeff Williams, Adam Quast, Pat Hebner, James Daust, Jack Wells, Jacob Simons, Travis Van Overbeke and Andy Elias.
The women’s varsity eight boat finished second with a time of 7:02.93. The women’s varsity eight won the gold medal at nationals last year.
Team members are Holly Wolfe, Ashley Duncan, Allie Langus, Stacey Plummer, Liz Harrison, Kelly Foster, Cortney Plitt, Jenna Froberg and coxswain Megan Buckalew.
In the women’s lightweight competition Everett picked up another national qualification with a third second-place finish.
The lightweight crew included coxswain Justine Bell, Megan Laizure, Katie Ferguson, Elisabeth Bauman, Emily Bailey, Lisha McGinty, Anna Whitson, Beth Desmonie and Kristen Austin.
“I have seen these kids grow in team building and self confidence,” Quast said of the rowers, who are students at local high schools. “But, more importantly, I have seen how much work and dedication these kids show. These kids row every day after school, often on Saturday mornings and even before school sometimes to prepare for a big race. But, they look like they have so much fun. I rarely hear them complain.”
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