Crew Sends off High School Seniors and Celebrates Spring Racing Season

It is now tradition for High Point's youth rowers to close out the ceremonies of the spring banquet with a team photo on the dock.
It is now tradition for High Point’s youth rowers to close out the ceremonies of the spring banquet with a team photo on the dock.

High Point, NC – High Point Rowing Club celebrated the 2015 spring racing season for its youth program tonight at Oak Hollow Lake with the ‘Last Row & Crew Banquet’ at which the team honored its high school senior rowers and recognized individual and team achievements.

Following a delicious pot luck feast, the evening’s celebrations were kicked off by Grimsley HS students, Quinn Eury and Aliute Udoka, and Kiana Davis, who sang an inspiring version of the National Anthem.

Mary Hollingsworth, who is parent liaison to the team and a director of the non-profit board, then proceeded with introductory remarks by thanking parents of the rowers for their generous support of the team, in particular those who hosted the food tables at all crew regattas, the ‘Duck Committee’ of fathers, who ran the on water activities of the club’s regattas, and the group of mothers, who managed the timing systems and greatly assisted crews in launching and returning the boats to shore at home regattas.

 Fine silver cups are a hallmark of the sport of rowing and the awards table at the High Point Rowing Club Spring Crew Banquet did not disappoint.

Fine silver cups are a hallmark of the sport of rowing and the awards table at the High Point Rowing Club Spring Crew Banquet did not disappoint.

The evening then took on a humorous twist with the traditional rower awards based on fitting superlatives, following which coach Gene Kininmonth thanked Mary Hollingsworth and the coaches Maria Santoyo, Scott Jones, and Allie Davis for their service to the Crew. Gene then presented The York Cup to the crew that recorded the fastest time from Skeet Club bridge to Johnson Street bridge during the previous twelve months. Coach Gene and Coach Allie Davis then presented awards to rowers for ‘Most Improved’, ‘Rookie of the Year’, and ‘Rower of the Year’.

The most important part of the ceremonies then arrived as seniors Andrew Wright, Bethany Brake, Kim Pollard, and Addy Millsap were honored and thanked for their service to the crew. Emotions ran high as the four seniors made stirring individual speeches, each reflecting on their own personal experiences of High Point Rowing Club.

 High Point Rowing Club sent off its 2015 seniors Andrew Wright, Bethany Brake, Addy Millsap, and Kim Pollard with commemorative silver champagne buckets at the Spring Crew Banquet.

High Point Rowing Club sent off its 2015 seniors Andrew Wright, Bethany Brake, Addy Millsap, and Kim Pollard with commemorative silver champagne buckets at the Spring Crew Banquet.
 High Point Senior rowers Kim Pollard and Addy Millsap present the senior gift to the team, a plaque commemorating each senior of the team since the club was formed.

High Point Senior rowers Kim Pollard and Addy Millsap present the senior gift to the team, a plaque commemorating each senior of the team since the club was formed.
 The High Point Alumni Banner was also a gift from the Senior Class of 2015.

The High Point Alumni Banner was also a gift from the Senior Class of 2015.
 The Middle School squad enjoyed its most successful spring season ever in 2015.

The Middle School squad enjoyed its most successful spring season ever in 2015.