GC rowers make a splash at US Youth Rowing Nationals

Three Garden City High School rowers for Port Rowing crew club competed at the US Youth Rowing Nationals competition, which brings together the best rowers in the country to compete for national titles. The competition, held this June in Sarasota, Florida, serves as the premier youth rowing event in the United States and features over 2000 athletes from over 700 teams selected to participate following a series of state and regional qualifying regattas.

Freshman Katherine Pupke rowed stroke seat on the U16 coxed quad, which finished 5th in the B Level Final and 13th overall. Katherine said “It was such an incredible experience to be at Nationals. I am so proud of my team.” Juniors Alexandra and Olivia Burke both faced fierce competition in their varsity level races. Alex, who started rowing as a sophomore, rowed stroke seat for the Women’s

Varsity 4-, finishing 6th in the C Level Final and 22nd overall. Her sister, Olivia Burke, who just started rowing in fall, competed in Women’s 1st Varsity 8+, finishing 3rd in the D Level Final and 27th overall.

The Port Rowing Girls Varsity coach, Isa Rahman, describes Nationals as “really competitive. Crews come from all over the country. It’s the top boats. Even the boat that finishes in the bottom works hard to even be the last team at the event. You show up and everyone is the fastest from where they train.”

Port Rowing is one of the largest rowing teams in New York State and welcomes rowers of all levels who are passionate about the sport and community. The team rows out of Hempstead Harbor during the spring and summer, and is open to all middle and high school students. For more information, visit www.portrowing.com.