In its first contest of the season versus Virginia and Washington D.C. competition, Yorktown men's and women's crews finished first or second in almost every category entered at the Darrell Winslow Regatta on April 9 on the Occoquan Reservoir race course. This was the top team performance by a Virginia school.
The Patriot freshman women's 8 won its event over National Cathedral School of Washington and three Virginia schools, with the fastest time of the day in this category, 5 minutes, 36.3 seconds.
The men's third varsity 8 also won in strong fashion winning its event by 8 seconds over Robinson, Oakton and South County, in a time of 5:09.9. The men's freshman 8 finished second to W-L of Arlington, besting teams from South County, Forest Park and Thomas Jefferson.
The men's novice 8 notched a second-place finish behind a crew from Madison, with Great Bridge, McLean, Robinson and Forest Park trailing.
The women's third 8 also picked up a second place finish behind Robinson, followed by W-L, TC Williams and Thomas Jefferson.
In the top-level boats, the Patriots locked in tight hard-fought contests with private school rivals St. Albans and National Cathedral. In the men's junior 8, Yorktown battled St. Albans the whole length of the course and finished just 1.2 seconds behind the Bulldog crew. Thomas Jefferson was a close third, with crews from Langley, Woodbridge, T.C. Williams and Oakton well back.
The Yorktown women's first 8 powered out to an early lead in the final of the premier women's event, but a powerful crew from Madison rowed through the lighter Yorktown crew, which held on for second, ahead of Robinson, last year's VASRA Champion and National Cathedral, last year's VASRA runner up.
In the men's first 8 it was St. Albans that took the lead off the start, leaving Yorktown in third, trailing both Oakton and St. Albans at the halfway point. The Patriot crew kicked into high gear over the last half of the race and rowed through Oakton and closed on St. Albans to finish 4.5 seconds behind last year's VASRA Champion. Trailing the leaders were W-L, Woodson, Robinson and South County.
"This was a great start for us," said Yorktown Coach Andy Bacas. "We are farther along relative to our top rivals like St. Albans and NCS than we were same time last year. They have had their intensive Spring Break training and we haven't, so I expect we will be a good bit faster when we meet them again at the Charlie Butt Regatta on the Potomac on April 30. Madison will be there, too. It should be a great event this year."
<b>Soccer Camps</b>
Challenger Sports will be conducting its nationwide British Soccer training camps at over 70 different locations across Virginia this summer June 6-Sept. 2. The camps run Monday through Friday and each child will be coached by a member of Challenger’s British coaching staff flown to the U.S. exclusively to work on these programs. Each day the children will practice and master new individual skills and understand small group and team tactics through Challenger’s camp curriculum. Campers will also scrimmage each day in the Camp World Cup. Lessons on respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and leadership are taught at camp with discussions on how these core values relate to soccer, family and school. Teams are also welcome to attend and receive a week of focused instruction to prepare them for the fall season.
Each camper will receive a free camp t-shirt, soccer ball, player evaluation and end of camp gift. In addition, any child who registers online at www.challengersports.com at least 45 days prior to camp will receive a British Soccer replica Jersey (value $30). To find the camp location, visit www.challengersports.com or call Simon Ambrose in The Challenger office on 877-439-9195 or email at sambrose@challengersports.com.
<b>Wakefield Golf Fundraiser</b>
The Wakefield High School Booster Club and Alumni Association is looking for gift certificate, item or service donations to be auctioned at the Fourth Annual Wakefield High School Golf Tournament Fundraiser on May 7 at Virginia Oaks Golf Club in Gainesville. Financial contributions are also welcomed. For more information contact tournament director Paul B. Greenfield at 703-928-0228 or greenfieldpb@yahoo.com.
<b>Softball League</b>
Arlington County Coed female softball players needed for Saturday spring league. Contact 703-499-3816 for more information.
<b>Sports Updates On Twitter</b>
Follow sports editor Jon Roetman on Twitter at @jonroetman for sports updates around Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Md.