Mountain Lakes Rowing Wins at Nationals

West Windsor, NJ June 12, 2016

Despite high winds and an unpredictable race schedule, The Women’s Youth 2- crew wrapped up the season with a victory in the Women's Youth 2- C Finals on Saturday, June 11 at the US Rowing Youth National Championships in West Windsor, NJ. Holly Butrico (The Pingry School, Warren) and Emma Wolkenstein (Mountain Lakes High School) crossed the finish line first in a race against 4 other boats from teams across the country, placing 13th in the nation. The Women’s Youth Lightweight 4+ competed in the C Finals earning 3rd place in their race and 15th in the nation overall. Rowing for the first time in a National competition was coxswain Olivia Matalon (Mountain Lakes High School) and rowers Kathryn Abbott (The Pingry School, Basking Ridge), Sarah Flower (Mendham High School), Emma Murphy (Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown) and Ellie Thomson (Mountain Lakes High School). Coach Rob Welsh reflected on the team’s performance: “The kids rowed with a ton of heart all season. This year’s performance has been among the best that the girls have done at the national level. I’m extremely proud of them.”

USRowing Youth National Championship competitors qualify from seven separate national districts, and they represent powerhouse rowing programs from the East Coast to the West Coast and the northern United States to the southern United States. The event boasts 411 entries with more than 1,771 athletes competing for eighteen national titles in the largest youth national championship ever. For more information visit: www.mlrowing.org and www.usrowing.org.