Our Junior Varsity 4+, consisting of Isabelle Gain, Mariana Avila. Jazzandra Betances, Sophie Selwood and Madelin Salce earned third place at the Florida State Championship in Sarasota on April 28! These five girls worked very hard to earn this medal. They started rowing together as a boat only three weeks prior to the State Champiosnhip. They got better with each practice and really showed just what teamwork is all about – giving it 100% day after day to make your boat the best it can be!
At States, they got put in the fastest heat where they had to get 1st or 2nd to go directly to the Grand Final. They got 3rd. This meant they had one more shot in the repechage to earn a place in the Grand Final. Here they would have to get 1st or 2nd again. This time, they got 2nd with a picture perfect race and took 10 seconds off their heat time. This secured them a spot in the Grand Final.
In the Grand Final they stayed in contact with the leaders the entire way. Going into the last 250, they were in 4th place but they executed the sprint of their lives and edged out their competition to earn 3rd and a bronze medal by just one second. All of these rowers will be back next year and we can’t wait to see what they do!