The freshman girls’ 8 (forefront) won their heat and captured a silver medal in the final race. Members of the boat include Camila Cardwell (coxswain), Hope Parsons, Grace Vannatta, Madeline Gyllenhoff, Grace Hogan, Emma Carroll, Tess Moran, Cleo Lewis, and Rachel Sedehi. Photo Contributed
On May 2, the T.C. Williams boys’ freshman 8 captured a gold medal, winning the Virginia Championship Regatta for Lower Boats and claiming the Ted Phoenix trophy that is presented annually to the Commonwealth’s fastest freshman boys’ boat. Four other Titan boats also medaled, with three silvers and a bronze. The state competition took place at Sandy Run Park on the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax.
The boys’ freshman boat sprinted down the 1,500-meter course to win its heat in the morning in 5:11.07. Facing the fastest boats in the state for the afternoon final, the freshman boys once again turned on the power, crossing the finish line almost two seconds ahead of rival St. Albans. With a final time was 5:03.5, the boys claimed the gold medal and brought back to Alexandria the championship trophy.
Members of the boys’ freshman 8 include Zachary Khan, Ian Willmore, Wogan Snyder, Cole Towers, Bryce Cook, Julien Depeyrot, Jacob Souza, Connor McGivern, and Michaela Gleeson (cox). Enoch Cleckley guides the freshman 8.
The frosh 8 were not the only Titan boat to visit the medal dock at Saturday's Championship Regatta.
The T.C. Williams girls’ freshman 8 dominated its heat in the morning, advancing to the final. In a tightly contested final race, the Titan girls won a silver medal, finishing right behind National Cathedral School, with a time of 5:41. Members of the boat include Camila Cardwell (coxswain), Hope Parsons, Grace Vannatta, Madeline Gyllenhoff, Grace Hogan, Emma Carroll, Tess Moran, Cleo Lewis, and Rachel Sedehi. Titan head girls’ coach Patrick Marquardt guides the freshman 8.
The T.C. girls’ novice 8 boat won its heat and came in a close second behind Lake Braddock to capture a silver medal, with a time of 6:01.01. Members of the novice 8 include coxswain Paula Filios, Chloe Marsh, Anna Jane Guynn, Elspeth Collard, Blythe Markel, Charlotte Milone, Marley Osborne, Madeline Kasoff, and Sophie Rust. Their coaches are Cathy Hott and Chris Ottie.
The boys’ third 4 boat earned another silver medal for the team, with a strong showing of 6:21.2. McLean took the gold in this competition. Members of the boys’ third 4 include Anthony Burke, Hatem Elnahas, Ahmad Shujah, Dawit Haile, and Kai Linehan (coxswain).
The Titan girls’ fourth 8 fought a tough battle throughout the 1,500-meter course, crossing the finish line to capture third place for T.C. Williams. Members of the fourth 8 include coxswain Victoria Anthony, Tessa Bowman, Piper Bucholz, Ira Siwecki, Kendra Oguamena, Tenesae Asfaw, Veronica Araujo, Eden Prevost, and Abigail Warden. Their coaches are Cathy Hott and Chris Ottie.
The T.C. Williams crew team will compete next in the Virginia Championship Regatta for Upper Boats, which will be held at Occoquan on Saturday, May 10. Qualifying boats will then compete in major national competitions, including the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia on May 16 and the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championship Regatta in Cherry Hill, N.J. on May 23. The final race of the season is international: the Canadian Scholastic Championship Regatta in St. Catharine’s, Ontario on June 5-7.
The Titans are guided by boys’ head coach Pete Stramese and girls’ head coach Marquardt.