Greenwich Crew Top 5 in National Championships

Last weekend, 14 high school students from Greenwich raced for the gold at the US Rowing Youth National Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio. Greenwich Crew, the rowing program at Cos Cob’s Greenwich Water Club, raced in the men’s pair (Palmer Foote and Alex Buck), a men’s double (Matt Lonski and Greg Riddell), and a women’s lightweight eight (Julie Sussman, Kirsten Lunder, Lara Tiramani, Chelsea Oarr, Maddie Harrison, Sophie Grueterich, Marina Kaneko, Nicole Birkhold, Glaura Paiva (coxswain), and Whitney Lees (alternate)). The race hosted over 1600 athletes from more than 160 clubs and schools from across the country.
This was Greenwich Crew’s first of hopefully many attempts at the National Championships, but it was more than beginner’s luck that earned the men’s pair a 5th place finish. In an amazing race from start to finish junior Palmer Foote and sophomore Alex Buck proved that hard work and talent do pay off. Foote and Buck only began training in the pair, one of rowing’s most challenging boats, in early May. Foote and Buck have already set their sights on returning next year, with Buck vowing to win more than one national medal by the time he graduates.
The women’s lightweight eight rowed to an exciting finish in their final race. Only a photo-finish could tell that the girls were the first of three boats crossing the line in less then 7/10ths of a second, earning them 14th out of the nation’s top lightweight women’s boats. Coach Marko Serafimovski was thrilled with the girls’ performance. “With only one senior in this lineup, we expect to be back next year with even more experience and speed” said Serafimovski. “The girls worked hard and it’s been a pleasure coaching all of them. Senior Kirsten Lunder, who has been a leader on the team for several years, will attend Skidmore College in the fall.
The double of team captains Lonski and Riddell chose Cincinnati over their senior prom. This final race was the last hurrah for both before graduation. Lonski who will be attending Columbia University in the fall and Riddell will attend USC have both made major contributions to the Greenwich Crew program, helping to establish the team as a national competitor. Unfortunately, Lonski and Riddell could not control Mother Nature. Stormy weather forced US Rowing to change the progression of the regatta eliminating the repechages, which would have given the boat a second chance at making top 10 after drawing the strongest heat. The way the events played out, the double rowed to a top 15 finish to end their high school rowing career. Both Lonski and Riddell felt it was a great experience to row with the fastest boats from all over the country, one we have been working for all year.
“Rowing is increasing in popularity all over the country. The level of competition is always being raised and Greenwich Crew is ready to be a part of it,” says Branan. “One of the great parts of the sport is that you can start at almost any age. We have a fantastic middle school program that feeds our growing high school team and we have adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are just beginning. It’s a life-long sport that benefits recreational participants and competitive rowers alike.”