The Women's Varsity Second 8 at the Noxontown Regatta.
Alexandria — Half way through their season, the T.C. Williams Men’s and Women’s Crew teams traveled to different regattas on Saturday, April 22 and continued to build and refine their boats. The Men went south to Occoquan for the Ted Phoenix Regatta, with 37 other clubs and over 270 entries. The TC Women and boats from half a dozen other elite rowing programs headed east to Middletown, Del. for Noxontown Regatta # 4 at St. Andrews School. These rain-soaked events came at the mid-point of the Titan rowing season, as TC gears up for the Virginia State Championships in mid-May and potential invitations to national regattas later in that month.
At Occoquan, the TC Men’s Varsity First 4 won their qualifying heat and finished second in their final with a time of 5:40.8, 3.8 seconds behind Bishop O’Connell. The Men’s Varsity Second 4 also claimed the second spot in their race with a time of 5:38.6, 3.3 seconds behind Lake Braddock. The TC Men’s Frosh 8, in their best race of the season, rallied to post a second-place time of 5:30.2, 2.6 seconds behind Oakton’s Frosh. The Men’s Varsity Lightweight 8s “raced up” against 13 Varsity First 8s and one other light boat, posting a time of 5:09.4, 27.2 seconds ahead of the other light boat.
In Delaware, the TC Women’s Second Varsity 8 boat led the charge with a 2.5 second win over Merion Mercy and a time of 5:20.2. After the race, TC Senior Tori Cook said that she and her teammates “knew the [2V 8] category would be competitive going into it, but we were confident because of all the hours we spent practicing.” Teammates and fellow TC Seniors Caroline Hill and Ella Benbow said the team “really got into a good rhythm and connected during the race. Our boat has a strong bond, which really shows on the water.”
“I think the reason we won is that this boat has a really positive energy,” continued Cook. “We have one goal and one mindset. We're building each other up. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my last race at St. Andrews.” Other rowers on the Women’s 2V 8 include Ailysh Motsinger, Grace Fluharty, Grace Hogan, Emma Carroll, and Charlotte Carey, and coxswain Camila Cardwell.
Other senior TC Women’s boats in tight races on Saturday included the Varsity Third 8, which posted a second-place time of 5:46.7, 2.7 seconds behind Merion Mercy. The TC JV 4 finished third in their race with a time of 6:33.2, behind Whitman and St. Andrews.
In their third match this season against other freshmen boats, the TC Women’s Frosh 8 claimed their third victory with a time of 5:45.5, 2.5 seconds ahead of Whitman. The TC Women’s Frosh 8 features Ava Elkins, Lydia Greenwood, Madeline Toaso, Madeleine Allen, Julia Clements, Felicity Brock, Lila Arnold, Alaina Browand, and coxswain Sara Rider.
Joining their more senior teammates as Noxontown Regatta winners on Saturday were the TC Women’s Novice 8A boat, with a time of 6:33.3 and a roster that included rowers Libby Padilla, Katherine Donnellan, Grace Yokitis, Claire Kenealy, Anna Hill, Katie Rose Milone, Riley Bucholz, and Olivia Carroll, along with coxswain Caroline Miles. TC dominated the Women’s Novice 8s competition, with the TC Novice 8B and 8C boats finishing second and third, respectively.
On Saturday, April 29, the Titan Women and Men compete together again at the Charlie Butt Regatta on the Georgetown Waterfront.