By: Julia Valencia

Opinion Editor 

At Lexington Reservoir, Los Gatos Rowing Club (LGRC) athletes and coaches alike are gearing up for the most intense weeks of their spring season. After eight months of training, millions of meters rowed, and countless hard-fought races, LGRC is approaching its final days before the Southwest Youth Championships (SYC), the qualifier for Youth National Championships (YNC) in Sarasota, Florida. 

In March, LGRC traveled to Redwood City to compete in a dual regatta with Redwood Scullers, arguably its strongest competitor for sculling in the nation. Over the weekend, both the LGRC men and women put up fast times, further justifying their title as one of the premier clubs for youth rowing.

LGRC also made an appearance at the more recent and highly competitive San Diego Crew Classic (SDCC). With more than four thousand athletes and 126 clubs, SDCC is considered the largest spring regatta in the United States. LGRC sent 87 athletes across 16 boats to San Diego, and 21 took home gold medals across four events. The Women’s Varsity Quad, the Men’s Varsity Quad, and the Men’s Second Varsity Quad, all defended their titles from last year, while the Men’s Under 16 Eight had an exciting victory with a close finish to the favored Marin Rowing Association. The Women’s Youth Varsity Quad, with senior Jenna Yoder and sophomore Chloe Stopford, won with a commanding lead over the rest of the field, garnering a seven-second margin on second-place Redwood Scullers. Both the Men’s Varsity Quad, with seniors Cameron Brown and Jasper Powell, and Second Varsity Quad, with senior Milton O’Brien and sophomore Matthew Willey, won by at least half a boat length in their final races. 

The Women’s Second Varsity Quad, with junior Sophia Juarez, the Under 17 Quad, with sophomores Ada Dawson and Norah Toet, and the Under 16 Quad, with freshmen Makayla Kelley and Annette Lee, all finished in second place. With very close times to the winners, these boats are looking forward to racing again at SYC.

At the beginning of May, youth rowing clubs from Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah will travel to Lake Natoma in Sacramento to race at SYC. Over seventeen hundred athletes will come together to compete for the same coveted spots that will send their crew to YNC for the chance to compete for a national title. Last year, LGRC sent 66 athletes to Sarasota, where six boats placed in the top three for the nation, three of which brought back national titles. 

As LGRC ramps up its training in preparation for SYC and YNC, they remain committed to bringing home medals, with the goal of “national champion” in its sights. Be sure to follow along as these rowers bring their season to a close.

(Sources: HereNow, Regatta Central, San Diego Crew Classic)