Day one of the SRAA National Championships at Cooper River in Camden, NJ concluded with Fayetteville-Manlius securing advancement to Saturday's semifinals in one event while gaining valuable experience competing against the nation's elite crews.
Girls Junior 4+ Advances to Semifinals
The highlight of FM's opening day came from the Girls Junior 4+ crew, which punched their ticket to Saturday's semifinals with a solid third-place finish in their heat. The boat, stroked by Marley Dabulewicz and coxed by Elizabeth Feulner, along with Domenica Scalzetti, Sophie Johnson, and Riley Sugar, posted a time of 6:15.91 to secure their spot among the top boats advancing.
Racing in a competitive field that included St. Johns College HS (6:05.55) and Pine Crest (6:06.40), the FM crew showed they belong on the national stage. Their third-place finish puts them in the morning semifinals, where they'll have the opportunity to race for a spot in Saturday afternoon's grand final.
Boys Senior 4+ Concludes Strong Season
The Boys Senior 4+ crew of the Benjamin Graff, Nicholas Graff, Nolan Krukin, and Bennett Terchowitz, with Dan Summers as coxswain, wrapped up their impressive season and extraordinary high school careers with a fourth-place finish in their heat. Their time of 5:15.06 placed them behind Episcopal Academy-PA (5:01.56), Berkeley HS (5:06.09), and Holy Ghost (5:13.68).
This race marked the end of a special two-year journey for this crew, which competed together at Nationals last year in the Junior 4+ category. For graduating seniors Krukin, Terchowitz, and Summers, this represented their final race in FM colors after years of dedication to the program. The Graff twins, who will return next season, have been integral to the boat's success over both campaigns.
Girls Junior 8+ Gains National Experience
The Girls Junior 8+ crew, led by Madeline Davidson in the stroke seat and Phoebe Giberman as coxswain, faced tough competition in their heat but gained invaluable experience racing on the national stage. With a time of 5:46.11, they finished fifth in a field that included Ocean City (5:10.65), James Madison (5:16.74), Saint Joseph Academy (5:21.14), and Alexandria City (5:39.93).While not advancing to the next round, the crew's performance provided important experience for the sophomore and junior athletes, who will return next year with this national championship experience under their belts.
Looking Ahead to Saturday
With the Girls Junior 4+ advancing to the semifinals, FM will have representation in Saturday's racing for the fourth year in a row. The semifinals will determine which crews advance to Saturday afternoon's grand finals, giving the FM boat another opportunity to showcase their skills on rowing's biggest high school stage.
As the championships continue, the Junior 4+ will look to build on their opening day performance and continue their pursuit of national honors. Saturday's semifinals will be crucial for the advancing crew, as they aim to secure one of the coveted spots in the afternoon grand final.
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