Dallas United Crew - The sport of rowing tends to be dominated by coastal teams in the Northeast and the West. Yet, believe it or not - Dallas United Crew, rowing from White Rock Lake, sent four boats to the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, FL last weekend. It was a Texas-sized record of 27 high school men and women racing, more than any other team in the state of Texas. This is the first time in Dallas that a team has sent four boats to Nationals representing both men and women’s divisions - Women’s Varsity 8+, Women’s Lightweight 8+, Men’s Varsity 8+ and Men’s single.
Overall, it’s a relatively young group of rowers and coxswains - many of these rowers have only been rowing for a few years. It’s great testament to their strength, power and dedication to compete at a national level. These athletes have a rigorous practice schedule – six days a week, with two a days leading up to Nationals. “Our athletes had a strong showing on the national stage this year, and many of our seniors will be continuing their rowing careers at top ranked schools across the country”, says Men’s Head Coach Randy Dam.
DUC Men’s Single Brings Home the Silver Medal
- Drake Deuel, a 2017 graduate of Highland Park High School, won a silver medal in the Men's single. While Drake has been rowing for four years, this year was his first year to race in a single. Incredible to now be the second fastest in the country! Drake is the 2016 World Indoor Rowing Champion and holds six world records on the indoor rowing machine. Drake will attend Harvard this fall to continue his rowing career
DUC Men’s Varsity 8+ Ranks 13th in the Nation
- They raced in a hard-fought competition becoming the 13th fastest in the country. They were edged out of the semifinals in a photo finish with mere .2 seconds separating the competition. The crew was comprised of six seniors, two juniors and one sophomore representing four high schools - Highland Park, Science & Engineering Magnet, Bishop Lynch and St. Marks. Eric Martin, a sophomore, along with David Slear, a senior rowing with Princeton next fall, were selected to attend the prestigious USRowing selection camp for the chance to row with TEAM USA later this summer.
DUC Women’s Lightweight 8+ Ranks 21st in the Nation
- This boat is a relatively young boat with four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and one freshman representing Bishop Lynch, Highland Park and Hockaday. It was a special race for two of these ladies – the Wellborn sisters - Mimi, a senior, at stroke seat and Georgia, a freshman, at bow seat; they were the bookends of the boat! Rowing is a family affair at the Wellborn house!
Women’s Varsity 8+ Ranks 22nd in the Nation
- This boat is a very young boat by national standards with two freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and four seniors representing five area high schools – Woodrow Wilson, Bishop Lynch, Highland Park, Hockaday and Ursuline. Incredible accomplishments for these ladies as many were racing on the national stage for the first time! Rachel Craycroft, a sophomore, was selected to attend USRowing High Performance Camp and Gracie Condon, a freshman, was selected to attend USRowing Development Camp. Seniors, Kate Hettrick and Cecelia Manganello will be continuing their rowing in college at University of Texas and Bucknell University.
“Of the 27 DUC student athletes that qualified and competed in Youth Nationals Competition this year, 15 are underclassmen who will be returning to DUC’s program in the fall,” according to DUC Women’s Head Coach Rebecca George. “We look forward to this coming season as we have a strong bench of talent returning to the team!”
Stay tuned as fall racing resumes in September and these rowers get back to competition, building on all that they learned about themselves and their sport from their experience at Nationals.
About USRowing Youth National Rowing Championships
The 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships was held on June 9-11, 2017 and hosted by the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates at Nathan Benderson Park. The championships, which serves as the premier junior rowing event in the United States, saw approximately 1,500 athletes competing in more than 350 crews, representing some 150 teams from across the country – all vying for national titles in 18 boat classes.
About Dallas United Crew
Dallas United Crew’s mission is to transform lives and build community through teamwork in oar and paddle sports. DUC offers a variety of rowing and dragon boating programs for adults and youth age 11+ on White Rock Lake located in East Dallas. Since 2002, DUC has been building community, fostering leadership and teamwork and having fun through oar and paddle sports. These programs challenge, strengthen and empower people both mentally and physically. Both novice and experienced rowers and paddlers are welcome. DUC is a registered 501c(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. For complete information on getting out on the water with DUC, visit www.dallasunitedcrew.org.
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