The Fayetteville-Manlius girls rowing team delivered an impressive showing at the New York State Championships this past Sunday on Mother's Day, bringing home multiple medals and securing two additional berths to the SRAA National Championships in Camden, NJ.
Junior 8+ Punches Ticket to Nationals
The Girls Junior 8+ crew continued their strong season with a fourth-place overall finish and second place among scholastic teams, earning them an automatic qualification to Nationals. With a time of 5:36.67, the crew of Madeline Davidson (stroke), Maggie Lindars, Grey Kim, Emily Batick, Abbigale Browning, Surin Bong, Quincey Hack, and Minabelle Nolan (bow), coxed by Phoebe Giberman, finished behind only Niskayuna among scholastic competitors.
The girls have been pushing each other all season, and it really showed today. They closed the gap behind Niskayuna, dropping 11 seconds between the time trials and finals, showing there is continued room for improvement.
The FM B boat also had a strong showing in the same event, finishing seventh overall with a time of 5:58.42, good for fifth among scholastic entries. This crew, consisting of Abigail Richards (stroke), Chloe Knutsen, Lily Marr, Amelia Worthan, Jessica Beasley, Alexa Duda, Lila Mittelstaedt, and Sarah Dotger (bow), with Isabella Weinberg as coxswain, demonstrated the impressive depth of the FM program.
Junior 4+ Qualifies for Nationals
The Girls Junior 4+ crew secured their spot at Nationals with a strong performance, finishing seventh overall and third among scholastic teams with a time of 6:03.13. Being among the top three scholastic teams earned them an automatic qualification to the SRAA National Championships. The crew of Marley Dabulewicz (stroke), Domenica Scalzetti, Sophie Johnson, and Riley Sugar (bow), with Elizabeth Feulner as coxswain, showed they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.The Junior 4+ will be joining the Junior 8+ and Boys Varsity 4+ at Cooper River, giving FM three boats in the national competition - a testament to the program's continued strength and depth.
Novice 8+ Captures Bronze
Another of the day's highlights came from the Novice 8+ boat, which secured a silver medal with a time of 5:55.20. The young crew of Maia Pavlov (stroke), Lucille Pletcher, Noelani Introne, Nora Teelin, Zoey Wakefield, Penelope Pletcher, Lillian Squire, and Sarah Daniels (bow), coxed by Tekla Ford, showed tremendous promise for the future of FM rowing.
These novice rowers have come so far this season. To medal at States in their first year of competition speaks volumes about their work ethic and the bright future ahead for our program.
Twin Connection
The Pletcher twins, Lucille in the 7 seat and Penelope in the 3 seat, are continuing a remarkable twin tradition at FM. They join two other current sets of twins on the team, including the Graff twins in the Boys Varsity 4+ and the Prendergast twins in the Boys Junior 4+. This twin legacy extends beyond high school, with another set of Hack twins who graduated last year now rowing together in college.
Senior 4+ Caps Off High School Careers
Finishing seventh among scholastic teams in the B final, the Girls Senior 4+ deserves special recognition as they competed in their final high school state championship. The crew of Elizabeth Kawa (stroke), Annika Scuderi, Ella DeParde, and Ava Schrader (bow), coxed by Isabel Christen, has been strong leaders of the program during their four years on the team.
This group of seniors has been instrumental in building our program to where it is today. Through four years of tough practices and countless races, they've shown what it means to be dedicated teammates and leaders. They've left an indelible mark on FM rowing that will benefit crews for years to come.
Complete Team Effort
The girls novice B boat also represented FM well, finishing as the 6th scholastic team in their event. Their performance, along with those of all FM boats, contributed to an impressive overall showing at the state championship level.What's most encouraging is seeing strong performances across all of our boats. From our newest rowers to our most experienced, everyone stepped up and performed well against the best teams in the state.
Looking Ahead to Nationals
With three boats now qualified for the SRAA National Championships at Cooper River in Camden, NJ, FM will be well-represented on the national stage. The Junior 8+, Junior 4+, and Boys Varsity 4+ will now focus their training on peaking for this prestigious event.
Having multiple boats qualify for Nationals speaks to the strength of our program. These athletes have put in countless hours on the water, and it's rewarding to see that dedication pay off with the opportunity to compete against the best in the country.
FM crews handled the weekend weather conditions admirably, capping off a Mother's Day to remember for the program. As the qualified crews prepare for Nationals and the rest of the team looks toward summer training and the fall club season, the future looks bright for FM rowing after such a strong showing at the state level.
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