Los Gatos Rowing Club Competes in San Diego Crew Classic

The Los Gatos Rowing Club, whose members can be seen almost daily training on the 2.5-mile-long Lexington Reservoir, is traveling this weekend to San Diego to participate in the San Diego Crew Classic.

Among the competitors will be Los Gatos High School junior Levent Arabaci, who rows for the varsity team.

Coach Evan Bainbridge, who began rowing for the club while in high school, is leading the boys' varsity team in the major competition that takes place at Crown Point Shores on Mission Bay. Los Gatos Women's rowing will be there, too, said parent Christine Arabaci.

The club, founded in 1979, consists of local high school students and some adults who row in the masters categories, Arabaci said.

The San Diego Crew Classic is one of the biggest regattas on the West Coast with more than 25,000 spectators alone. There are also many college and university crews competing.

Many of LGRC's rowers go on to row in college, Arabaci noted.

The LGRC will be competing tomorrow in their first heats, Saturday, April 6, and the finals will be on Sunday, April 7.

Fans can find the race schedule online and event organizers will be streaming the competition live here.

"These are  hardworking boys and girls who practice all year long for this event," Arabaci said. "They are very special teenagers who are truly dedicated to their sport, leadership, teamwork, cooperation, and a healthy lifestyle. Go LGRC."

Approximately 4,400 athletes from more than 125 universities, clubs and high schools from across the country and world will participate in the regatta.

The athletes range in age from 14 to 84 years and compete in more than 100 races in various divisions, according to the event's website.