2021 FSRA Sweep Championship Regatta

April 24-25, 2021

Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, FL

 

With Ransom Everglades other girls team sidelined by COVID protocols, Raider Crew saw just one girls varsity pair entry take to the water at the 2021 FSRA Sweep Championship, and what an historic entry it was!

 

Having won the Scholastic State Championship in the girls junior double two weeks ago, in a weather shortened regatta,  sophomore Kathryn Serra '23 (stroke) and Mollie Forand '22 (bow) switched disciplines from sculling to sweep rowing to race in the pair this past weekend. The pair is traditionally recognized as the hardest boat to row and race well, and it was with a steep learning curve of less than two weeks of practice time.

 

Serra and Forand were able to emerge victorious from their heat by five seconds against seven other boats in a clean but “rocky” performance. After all heats were completed by all teams the Raiders found themselves in second place behind Melbourne Race Club having to make up 15 seconds in the final for victory. In the final race, both  MRC and RE both immediately and somewhat surprisingly fell behind off the start to three other crews who were pushing to get out early and take the lead to force the faster crews’ pace. Slowly, both MRC and RE moved themselves into the two lead positions with MRC taking a ½ boat length lead on RE by the 500 mark. With both boats keeping the stroke rating very high between 35-38 strokes per minute, the rest of the pack fell behind. The next 700 meters of racing saw MRC on three separate occasions attempt to break contact into a clear lead over the RE crew. However, racing at a much higher rating than they had trained for, but doing what had to be done, the Raiders kept contact  with MRC. Countering MRC’s third push to break them, RE stopped the move and pulled to even with about 300 meters left in the race. With great determination and having equaled everything MRC could throw at them, the RE crew then pushed though and stretched out to an impressive open water, four second victory!

 

Earning both the State Championship and the Scholastic State Championship title in the girls varsity pair, Kathryn and Mollie became only the second crew in RE Crew history to become outright FSRA State Champions. RE Crew members past and present wish to congratulate these two rowers for their exemplary achievement this past weekend.

 

Having earned a petition bid to the prestigious Stotesbury Cup Regatta the evening before this race, Kathryn and Mollie will switch back into the double and compete for acclaim to the national title in the girls junior double in Philadelphia May 14^th & 15^th. Congratulations!