New Trier Rowers Prove Tough to Beat

New Trier High School rowers again took to the water on September 28 at the Tough Cup where they placed second overall netting seven top-three finishes, including a first place medal for the Girls Varsity  4x, second place finishes for the Boy’s Varsity 8+, the Girls Varsity 8+ boats and the Boys Varsity 4+, and third place medals the other Boys Varsity 8+, Girls Varsity 4+, and the Boys Varsity 4+.   In their second regatta of the season, New Trier rowers displayed, once again, the significant depth of talent and determination that the team possesses.

Other boats posted noteworthy finishes, including a Girl’s Varsity 4+, and a Girl’s Varsity 8+ who placed 4th,  and another Boys Varsity 4+, who finished strong.

The Tough Cup was sponsored by the Chicago Training Center, an organization established in 2007 with the ultimate goal of bringing the sport of competitive rowing to underserved urban youth in the city of Chicago.  With support from the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, the program has undergone substantial growth, increasing both its geographical reach and the extent of its programs.   The Tough Cup itself was established as a way to bring together the Chicago Rowing Community and help support the development of Chicago’s waterways for positive recreation and use. This past weekend, rowers from all around the Chicago metropolitan area did just that as crews from Chicago Training Center, Chicago Rowing Foundation, Ignatius Chicago Crew, Alliance Rowing Club and Crystal Lake Rowing Club all competed on the three-mile course along the industrialized south branch of the Chicago River.   With the gorgeous and dramatic backdrop of Chicago’s magnificent skyline, the racers enjoyed an action-packed day of racing under sapphire blue, sunny skies and near-perfect water conditions.

Girls Head Coach Rose Marchuk commented, “New Trier's boys’ and girls’ crews performed well at this regatta but most importantly demonstrated that they are well conditioned. The double rowing by all crews was tiring but a necessary part of the overall conditioning to prepare the crews so that they are at their peak performance for their last race of the season.  In addition, venturing to a new venue in Chicago also proved to be educational.”   Speaking about the Girls 4x gold medal winning performance, Coach Marchuk added, “These girls were very tired after their race in the 8+ and literally had to launch as soon as they docked the 8+. They were passing boats down the entire course and finished ahead of the remaining 4 crews with a time of 21:45,” almost 3 minutes faster than the second place finisher. 

Coach Nate Kelp-Lenane, the Head Coach of the Boy’s team, was equally as pleased with the team’s performance.  “It was great seeing the depth of our program and to see the V8+ close the gap on CRF's top boat to under 20 seconds from more than 40 seconds a week ago.  To place 2nd and 3rd in both the Boys 8+ and 4+ events with small margins was a testament to how many fast guys are on the squad. We need to work on our top speed, but there is clearly a good number great athletes to work with. Having two 8s competing like this will help the crew gain speed as the season progresses. “

Looking forward, as both coaches alluded, the entire team is up to the challenges that face them.  Indeed, as they prepare for the season’s last few regattas, including the Head of the Charles, Head of the Rock and Blake Haxton Fall Invitational, they are making great strides and are poised to achieve impressive results.

Girls 4x,  1st Place, 21:45

4 Menley Denham

3 Katie Lashmet

2 Caroline Going

1 Alexis Braunrot

Boys 8+, 2nd Place, 16:32

C John Carberry

8 Josh Kuppersmith

7 Drew Flannery

6 Hunter Johnson

5 Ray Weeks

4 Jack Shelton

3 Kenny Michalec

2 Will Stogin

1 Billy Frank

Girls 8+, 2nd Place, 18:31

c Grace Anne D'Amico

8 Alexis Braunrot

7 Caroline Going

6 Isabelle Daellenbach

5 Heidi Conaghan

4 Grace Joyce

3 Katie Lashmet

2 Menley Denham

1 Gretha Olson

Boys 4+, 2nd Place, 18:13

C Zach Vlahandreas

4 John Dolan

3 Brendan Gridley

2 Kenny Michalec

1 Josh Kuppersmith

Boys 8+, 3rd Place, 17:04

C Zach Vlahandreas

8 John Dolan

7 Brendan Gridley

6 Quin Behles

5 Rourke Pattulo

4 Joe Dillon

3 Ryan Evenson

2 Andrew Chiao

1 Tom Lanphier

Girls 4+,  3rd Place, 20:52

c Grace Anne D'Amico

4 Grace Gagliardi

3 Isabelle Daellenbach

2 Grace Joyce

1 Gretha Olson

Boys 4+, 3rd Place 18:15

C Chris Cline

4 Drew Flannery

3 Hunter Johnson

2 Ray Weeks

1 Jack Shelton