Long Lake Rowing competes at Minneapolis regatta

The Minneapolis Rowing Club once again hosted the Minneapolis Sprints Regatta on beautiful Lake Nokomis. While it was a rainy day, the lack of lightning allowed races to run the entire day. The race course was 1380 meters extending from the north to the south shore of Lake Nokomis. There were 12 clubs from the US involved in the regatta with Juniors (under age 19), Masters (over age 21), and Open (age 19+) races. Races took place in the sculling format where each rower holds two oars, and the sweeping format where each rower has one oar and competes with or without a coxswain.

Long Lake Rowing Crew (LLRC) had a great showing at the event including the following highlights [note: “x” denotes a sculling event and “+” indicates the presence of a coxswain.]:

• Junior Girls 2x: Raina Hartman (Roosevelt 12th) and Ava Illingworth (Wayzata 11th) took second place.

• Junior Boys 4+: Sebastian Osle (Minnetonka 10th), Oscar Murtha (Wayzata 12th), Koen Holwell (Orono 10th), Justin Galloway (Wayzata 11th), and coxswain Ania Fernandez took second place.

• Open Women’s 4+: Lauren McQuillan, Ellie Clark, Caitlin Coffee, Ava Winkels, and coxswain Cecelia Cohen placed first.

• Master Women’s 1x: Sara Whicher and Liz Luetmer took first and second place, respectively.

• Junior Girls 1x: Ava Illingworth (Wayzata 11th) took second.

• Junior Boys 2x: Wyatt Lorenz (Wayzata 10th) and Chris Burica (Wayzata 11th) took third.

• Open Women’s 4x: Sara Whicher, Elizabeth Luetmer, Amy Johnson, and Sandra McCarthy took first place.

• Junior Boys 1x: Sebastian Osle (Minnetonka 10th) took second.

• Junior Girls 4x: Liliana Magnuson (Minnetonka 12th), Kenzie Rector (Chanhassen 11th), Raina Hartman (Roosevelt 12th) and Ava Illingworth (Wayzata 11th) took second.

• Master Women’s 2x: Sara Whicher and Liz Luetmer took first while Rose Winkels and Amy Johnson took third.

• Junior Boys 4x: Wyatt Lorenz (Wayzata 10th), Chris Burica (Wayzata 11th), Koen Holwell (Orono 10th), and Sebastian Osle (Minnetonka 10th) took second.

“As a coach, I am happy that we won all the master’s women’s events, but I feel it is more important to keep fostering the amazing team dynamic that allowed us to get our newer members successfully down the race course. I expect that teamwork to continue and hope it brings us even more success throughout our season.”, said Master’s Coach Sandi McCarthy.

Next on the schedule for LLRC: Participation in the Thunder Bay Sprints Regatta on June 29, 2024, in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

LLRC youth rowers represent several area high schools, including Benilde-St. Margaret, Breck, Minnetonka, Orono, Providence, Wayzata, Chanhassen, Prior Lake, Roosevelt, Lakeville South and Westonka. During the summer, collegiate rowers also participate, and the club has a vibrant master’s program that serves adults from across the Twin Cities Metro.

Long Lake Rowing Crew is a volunteer-driven, non-profit club committed to expert instruction, personal and competitive achievement, and strives to enrich its members and the community through the sport of rowing. For more information, visit www.longlakerowing.org .