Gold Rush of Medals for High Point at Clemson Sprints – Masters & Collegiate Regatta

High Point rowers were rewarded for their efforts with boatloads of medals at the 2018 Clemson Masters & Collegiate Regatta at Clemson University.

Clemson University, South Carolina – High Point rowers travelled to the Clemson Sprints for Masters & Collegiate rowers on Saturday and returned home with medals won in a number of masters and open events.

High Point’s masters women’s coxed four of Jackie King, Erin Sanders, Shelli York and Beverly Snively opened racing on Lake Hartwell with a silver medal just a boat length behind one of Asheville rowing club’s two entries.

Women’s Masters Four
Asheville B 4 minutes 3 seconds
High Point 4:06
Asheville A 4:16
Belmont 4:23
Cape Fear 4:26

Coach Gene Kininmonth with his silver medal crew of Jackie King, Erin Sanders, Bev Snively, and Shelli York at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.

William Hundley then took gold in the lightweight single sculls event with a race time of 8 minutes 11 seconds over the 2,000 meter race course. He beat out Belmont and Atlanta in the final.

William Hundley won three gold medals at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.

Next up for High Point was the women’s open pairs event. High Point entered three crews in this event and High Point rowing coach Katie Eliades raced in a High Point University pair as well. Nine crews entered the event in two heats in which the first three in each heat would qualify for the final. All three High Point crews and HPU qualifed for the grand final in the afternoon and finished 1-4!!!

Women’s Open Pairs Final
High Point (Junior Ognovich/Scarlett Hanna) 8 minutes 17 seconds
High Point (Molly Hilemn/Lindsay York) 8:27
High Point (Ainsley Fox/Charlotte Curri) 8:32
HPU (Coach Katie Eliades) 9:00
Univ of Tennessee (Chattanooga) 9:12
NC State – Scratched

Junior Ognovich and Scarlett Hanna won gold in the women’s open pairs event at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
Lindsay York and Molly Hilemn row to the start at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.
Charlotte Curri and Ainsley Fox are all smiles after winning bronze in the open pairs final at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.

Following lunch High Point rowers returned to the water for the mixed masters eights final. Charlotte Curri exchanged her sweep oar for the rudder strings of the coxswains seat for this race with Jackie King and Erin Sanders setting up the rhythm from the stern. Dave Gignac, Gene Kininmonth, Kiwi Mike Hitchcock, and Jerald Winter powered the pistons from the engine room with Shelli York and Traci Loria providing finesse from the bow pair in what would be a seven boat final on Lake Hartwell. It was nip and tuck all the way with results still pending following a forensic examination of age related handicaps. Regardless, well rowed High Point!

The medals kept coming for High Point rowers with Junior Ognovich and Arte Blythe finishing first and second in the Women’s Open Singles final.

Men’s Open Pairs Final
High Point (William Hundley/Harry Capizzi) 7 minutes 41 seconds
Clemson University 8:11
Liberty U 8:13
Auburn U 8:31
Tennessee 9:33
Georgia State Scratched

Will Hundley and Harry Capizzi won the men’s open pairs event at the 2018 Clemson Sprints against collegiate competition.
Beverly Snively, Jerald Winter, Dave Gignac and Traci Lori teamed up to race the mixed masters quad sculls race at the 2018 Clemson Sprints.

High Point rowers also finished first and second in the mixed Open DoubleSculls Final.

Mixed Open Double Sculls Final
High Point (Will Hundley/Scarlett Hanna) 7 mins 52 seconds
High Point (Harry Capizzi/Emily Winberg) 8:02
Belmont A 8:04
Belmont B 8:49

William Hundley won his third gold medal at the 2018 Clemson Sprints when he teamed up with Scarlett Hanna in the Mixed Open doublesculls event. The duo won with a time of 7 minutes 52 seconds.

High Point Rowers to Open Season on Olympic Race Course on Sunday

High Point Rowing Club’s youth squad will open its 2018 season on the 1996 Olympic race course at the John Hunter Regatta in Gainesville, GA this weekend.

Combining with Greensboro rowers the squad will race as HPG Rowing and is expected to be competitive in a number of key events.

“High Point rowers will have a sculling focus on Sunday while Greensboro will focus on the sweep events,” says head coach Gene Kininmonth.

The team’s U17 squad will open racing in the morning in the sweep events. HPG has crews entered in the boys and girls U17 eights and four-oared events.

In the sculling events High Point will be well represented in the girls and boys single sculls events by Arte Blythe and William Hundley.

“We also have two extremely strong women’s quad sculls,” says Kininmonth. “These scullers have all put in so much work and both crews are capable of winning their races on Sunday. Selecting the fastest combination has been the biggest challenge.”

On the boys sculling squad William Hundley is combining with Harry Capizzi in the double scull and those two will also combine with Govind Harish and William Scarpa III in the quad scull later in the day.

BOAT ASSIGNMENTS

HEAT SHEETS

High Point varsity rowers Will Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa III, and Govind Harish won bronze in the youth varsity quad sculls event at the 2017 Head of the South.

 

Three High Point Rowers Earn Top 10 Results at World Indoor Rowing Championships

Alexandria, Virginia – Three High Point youth rowers earned top ten results at the World Indoor Rowing Championships today.

2527 competitors from 23 nations raced over the weekend in the two-day international rowing event.

Junior Ognovich, Ainsley Fox, and Molly Hilemn all earned top 10 results in deep international fields in each of their junior age classes. The results were also personal best results for the three rowers over the 2000m distance adding to their satisfaction.

William Hundley also represented High Point Rowing Club in Alexandria, finishing in 15th place out of 79 rowers in the Junior 17 and under lightweight event. He covered the 2,000 meter distance in a personal best time of 6 minutes 55.4 seconds.

HIgh Point rowers Ainsley Fox, William Hundley, Molly Hilemn, and Junior Ognovich all broke personal records at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.

Junior Ognovich, a junior at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, finished 4th in the Women’s Junior category for 18 year olds.  Racing against 60 other rowers, Junior earned her 4th place result with the time of 7 minutes 22.4 seconds. Coincidentally, her older sister Katie Ognovich recorded the exact time in February of her junior year to win the 2013 Durham Indoor Rowing Championships. Katie is now a senior on the women’s rowing team at the University of Oklahoma.

Ainsley Fox earned High Point’s next top 10 finish. Racing against 47 competitors in the women’s junior lightweight class for 17 year olds, Ainsley completed the 2,000 meter distance in 7 minutes 52.2 seconds to finish in 5th place.

Molly Hilemn raced in the women’s 16 year old junior competition in Alexandria. Her 8th place finish against 77 other competitors was another tribute to her hard work throughout the winter months.

High Point head coach Gene Kininmonth says the results are awesome for the club and a testament to the hard work each of the rowers has put in. “Each of them has truly taken ownership of their path in this sport,” says Kininmonth. “They can be proud of their results this weekend.”

Congratulations High Point youth rowers!

High Point Rowing Club will host a new round of Learn to Row classes in early March and the team is hoping more middle school and high school students from years 9-12 will be inspired to join.

March 12-16 (4:30pm – 6pm each day) – Sneak Peek Week
Learn to Row ($20 for the week for new students)
Oak Hollow Lake – 3700 Waterview Road in High Point.

Students and parents interested in learning more about the program should email contact@highpointrowing.com

Junior Ognovich finished in 4th place in the women’s 18 and under event at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.
William Hundley earned a top 15 ranking with a personal best time at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.
Ainsley Fox finished 4th at the World Indoor Rowing Championships for the 17 and under lightweight category.
Molly Hilemn places 8th out of 77 rowers at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.

 

Registration Now Open for Boys & Girls Middle School Rowing

Registration is now open for the upcoming spring middle school rowing clinic.

Email Coach Gene with questions: contact@highpointrowing.com

When students join the Middle School program they are also joining a community of young students from public and private schools from across the Triad, which make High Point Rowing Club so special. They are at the beginnings of a sport in which they will forge friendships that can accompany them throughout their entire life.

High Point – Greensboro Rowing Club 5th Anniversary Row from Carolina SkyWorks on Vimeo.

REGISTER HERE for Middle School rowing spring 2018 for $385.

Registration is not complete until receipt of payment and waivers received, so parents are strongly encouraged to register quickly to avoid disappointment.

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

WHEN: The middle school spring season begins on Monday, February 26 and runs through to the third week of May.   Rowing sessions are offered Tuesday & Thursday afternoons from 4:15pm until 6:15pm and on Saturday mornings from 9:00am – 11am. During the week we can accommodate Winston-Salem rowers arriving as late as 4:35pm.

WHERE: Initially the team will meet in the Club’s Jamestown Erg Room and then move practice to Oak Hollow Lake as the weather warms. Click for DIRECTIONS.

RACING: In 2018 the Middle School squad will race at the Hunter Regatta in Gainsville, GA on March 24, the State Championships in High Point on April 14 and the Middle School Regatta in Greensboro on April 21. Select middle school rowers may participate in the Dogwood Regatta in Tennessee on April 27-28 and Southeast Regionals in Florida on May 12-13. Please note, it is not mandatory that students participate in all races.

WHAT TO WEAR: Students should wear normal athletic attire suitable for the weather and flip flops rather than running shoes as participants will walk the boat into the water.

This program is designed for students in Grades 6 – 8.  No experience is necessary but participants must be confident swimmers for safety reasons. New members must have a parent complete the waiver and swim form found on the registration page.

FAQS:
Is rowing for both boys and girls? 
Yes!

 Where does the team row? 
The team rows at beautiful Oak Hollow Lake and during inclement weather trains inside at our Jamestown Indoor Rowing Studio. For directions see this link

Are all practices mandatory? 
No. So, if you cannot make it to all practice sessions that is OK. Keep in mind that like anything in life you only get out of something what you put into it. We find that the longer our rowers are on the team the more committed they become. If you cannot make a practice on a certain day please ask the coach if you can row on a different day instead.

Does everyone get to race? 
Everyone who regularly attends rowing practice gets to race at Clemson Sprints and the NC State Championships. A student will not be eligible to race if he/she has missed practices and their rowing ability is deemed by the coaches to potentially have a negative affect the performance of their fellow rowers.

What if I cannot start February 26 due to other sports commitments? 
No problem. Students can begin as late as April 1. Late comers will have fees pro rated. Just email Coach Gene with the date you are available to begin.

The middle school crew at the 2015 High Point Regatta.
The middle school crew at the 2015 High Point Regatta.

Rowers Hope to Raise $30,000 from Ergathon

We are raising funds to build a stronger fleet for High Point Rowing Club!

To kick off fundraising the Crew will host its annual Ergathon by rowing 100 kilometers in our erg room at 124C Wade Street in Jamestown on March 3, 2018. The purpose of this year’s Ergathon is to raise funds to build a floating dock and upgrade the Club’s fleet of boats and equipment. We ask all our rowers, Masters and youth, to vigorously seek financial support from friends, neighbors and family. We hope you will support them!

Last year the Ergathon raised over $24,000 and allowed the team to purchase new shells. Individual rowers who raise over $500 from family and friends will be recognized with some special exclusive apparel. Family’s who contribute over $125 will see their name proudly displayed on the team banner in the erg room and on race day at regattas.

“High Point rowers really step up for this vital event for the club,” says club founder Gene Kininmonth. “The Ergathon is not only the most important event we do for the development of our team, it is also one of the most fun events of the year.”

Donation/Ergathon forms will be handed out to rowers next week.

The 2016 Ergathon raised funds to install boat racks at Oak Hollow Lake.

The High Point Rowing Club Donors of 2017

Club Patrons
$5,000 & greater
Jackie & Herschel King
City of High Point

HPRC Masters are generous supporters of the club.

The Stewards Society
$2,500 to $4,999

Kiwi Mike Hitchcock
Erin & Richard Sanders
High Point CVB

Power 10 Club
$1,000 to $2,499

Beth & Russ Heer
Kim & Gregory Hundley
Steve McCusker
Shelli & Brandon York

The Last 500 Club
$500 to $999

Anonymous
Mandy, Eric & Colin Greene
Gene Kininmonth & Amy MacArthur
Beverly & Lawrence Snively
Nancy Yohn

Gifts from rowers & friends helped get Junior and Maddie to Nationals in 2017.

Oak Hollow Club
$250 to $499
Kristen Bremer
Robbin & Jerry Bryant
Bruce Cantrell
Henry Dorn
Nandita & VC Harish
Anne & Parker Huitt
Catherine & John Li
Bobbi Long
Debbie & Matthew O’Connell
Girl Jeanne McPherson
Elizabeth Nowell
Jerald Winter

Family Banner Club
$125 to $249

Marlena & Joshua Abantollans
Therese Blewitt & Therese Keaton
Jacqueline Broach
Ann & George Clendon
Connie & Mark Curri
Elizabeth & Mark Davidson
Paul Delaney
Katherine & Christopher Dickson
Lori & David Gignac
Leslie & Duncan Hicks
Julie & Gregory Higgins
Michele Krantz
Traci Loria
Alisha & Arthur Maynard
Susan Michel
Kellie & Todd Owsley
Rebecca & John Parker
Ashley & Matt Pipkin
William & Catherine Scarpa
Courtney Sparrow
Sarah & Donnie Sparrow
Susan Stephenson
Premalata & Komal Sundaram
Laura Tanley
Anu & Venky Venkatesh
Greta & Jason Tilley

Varsity Blues Club
$50 to $124

Anonymous
Rachel & Haywood Alexander
Tracy Bragdon
Jackie & Jerry Bryant
Jane Critchley
Mack Duncan
Deborah & Alan Gale
Mr & Mrs Paul Gibson
Paula Guenther
Lauren Hawthorne
Brenda & Robert Hilemn
Nanette Hutchison
Allie Jannetta
Kimberlie Kaltenbach
Tony Meyers
Christopher Murray
Brenda Planes
Erica Reisberger
Michael Shea
Lindsay York
Caren & Greg York

*Note, some of these names reflect gifts designated to Greensboro Crew

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GENEROUS DONORS FOR THESE 2017 GIFTS!
Please email contact@highpointrowing.com to note any errors or omissions.

2017: Another Boom Year for High Point Rowing

2017 will be remembered fondly as another boom year for High Point Rowing Club. We hosted the inaugural North Carolina State Championships, won our first regional youth title and witnessed our rowers in finals at national championships for the first time.

Club Founder Gene Kininmonth says from start to finish there were many wonderful moments this past year. “Since the formation of the club in 2012, each year at this time I actually worry about how we can improve things even more in the new year. Thanks to our amazing rowers and their families we continue to see new high water marks.”

We kicked off the year in Virginia with the MidAtlantic Erg Sprints where Junior Ognovich, Molly Hilemn and Matthew Hronich each won medals in their age class.

Junior Ognovich, Morgan Epling, and Molly HIlemn are all smiles at the 2017 Mid Atlantic Erg Sprints in Alexandria, VA on Saturday.

Our youth and masters were then out in force in late February for the High Point hosted annual 124C Erg Sprints in Jamestown. This annual indoor rowing event continues to attract rowers from across the region.

Following 124C’s our rowers were ready to once again put their erging abilities to good use, this time for the annual Ergathon. This important fundraising campaign saw our rowers and Greensboro Crew divided into three groups to race 100 kilometers. The club’s rowers and families raised well over $20,000 to fund upgrades to the fleet of boats and equipment.

In early March the crews were eager to return to the water and it wasn’t long before we hosted the US Naval Academy women’s rowing program at Oak Hollow Lake for that team’s spring break training. Navy feel right at home in High Point – so much so that this year they invited Army to race them right here on our home waters of Oak Hollow Lake in a historic first ever duel. The inaugural Army – Navy Boat Race was held at Festival Park with Navy sweeping the regatta.

High Point Rowing Club hosted Navy Women’s Crew to a potluck feast in its Jamestown Erg Room during the Midshipmen’s spring training camp.
Two Navy Women’s Crews raced Army in the two programs’ historic first ever encounter on Saturday, March 18, 2017 on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, NC.

While returning to the water was a refreshing change for the rowers it wasn’t without challenges for the ranks of our coaches, who were now challenged with also staffing the new team of Greensboro Crew rowers at Lake Brandt. With head coach Gene Kininmonth dividing his time between the two cities each week, a huge responsibility was placed on the High Point youth varsity rowers to step up and maintain standards whilst not under his watchful eye.

“The irony is that most of our rowers performed better when left alone,” says Gene looking back. “They took ownership of the process and this led to even greater success for them.”

High Point Hosts Inaugural North Carolina State Youth Championships

Our volunteers, led by Mandy Greene and Girl Jeanne MacPherson, hosted the inaugural North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships in April, which drew hundreds of rowers and thousands of spectators to High Point.

Coaches from across the state unanimously voted High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake as the championship venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events.

Racing as HPG Rowing to reflect the addition of the Greensboro chapter of the organization, High Point/Greensboro rowers cleaned up in the Olympic class of sculling events and ultimately won 7 out of the 14 state titles it entered.

Cheers to us!

Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.

Success at the state championships led to the club earning its first ever medals at the USRowing Southeast Regional Championships. Racing on the Olympic rowing course at Lake Lanier just outside of Atlanta, Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich struck gold in the women’s pair. Hours later Ainsley Fox, Lindsay York, Molly Hilemn, and Charlotte Curri won bronze in the women’s Under 17 quad sculls final.

Winning the regional championship qualified Maddie and Junior for the USRowing Youth National Championships – another first for our club. “This was in itself an incredible achievement for Maddie and Junior,” says Coach Gene. “But they then proved that they and their club belonged at the national championships.”

This year’s youth national championships were held in Sarasota, Florida and began with a time trial to seed the top 12 crews and dismiss the remaining. Maddie and Junior finished with the 6th fastest time and from there qualified for the final with a top 3 finish in the semi final round. By the time racing was complete High Point’s finest were ranked sixth in the nation!

High Point’s ‘Fab Five’ crew of Kristen Bremer, Jackie King, Erica Reisberger, Shelli York, and Morgan Epling won silver at the Dogwood Masters Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN.
High Points Masters enjoyed racing and socializing over the summer at the Ist annual Staygatta.

High Point’s masters rowed to a new standard as well in 2017, winning silver in the women’s coxed four at the Dogwood masters Championships and then racing at the Masters National Championships.

With the change of season from Summer to Autumn, the 5th Anniversary Row & Potluck showed off the growth of the club with the addition of Greensboro Crew. Rowers from both chapters united for an exhibition Row and races by class year for youth and age by decade for the Masters. We like to think of Oak Hollow Lake as beautiful one day, perfect the next. And the 5th Anniversary Row was no exception.

High Point and Greensboro again united in September, this time for the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. A record 500 rowers and an estimated 1,500 spectators again gathered at Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake.

But this year’s regatta will be most remembered for the brisk 15 mile per hour winds at the start of racing, which lifted the regatta’s iconic giant inflated rubber duck from its anchors and sent it flying down the lake.

Mayhem ensued, as the first round of crews, fearing possible disqualification for not ’rounding the duck’, began chasing the duck down the lake at full speed.

The giant duck soon ended up on land by Centennial Avenue and rowers were directed back on the race course. HPG led the day with the most gold medals won.

High Point closed out the racing season with historic performances at the Head of the South, winning gold and bronze in the women’s quad sculls, gold in the youth lightweight single sculls event, bronze in the men’s quad sculls, women’s novice eight and U16 mixed youth eight and women’s masters eights. The squad also won two silvers in the middle school eight and fours event.

High Point quad scullers Charlotte Curri, Ainsley Fox, Ashley Walker, and Junior OGnovich with Kira Grinko (center) widow of the late great sculling coach Igor Grinko, who coached the United States to silver at the 1996 Olympic Games. The High Point scullers were presented with the Igor Grinko plate for posting the fastest women’s sculling time at the 2017 Head of the South.
Molly Hilemn, Lindsay York, Anna Lewis, and Emily Winberg showed off the depth of the High Point women’s sculling squad with a bronze medal finish at the 2017 Head of the South.

 

High Point varsity rowers Will Hundley, Harry Capizzi, William Scarpa III, and Govind Harish won bronze in the youth varsity quad sculls event at the 2017 Head of the South.

Nothing caps off the racing season better than the Celebration of Rowing banquet and this year’s gala, chaired by Jackie King at Sedgefield Country Club, lived up to reputation. High Point prides itself on inviting legendary guest speakers for the dinner and this year Jason Read wowed guests with his story of tragedy to triumph.

A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.

Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.

911 Hero and Athens Olympic gold medalist Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.

But the year 2017 wasn’t over yet. In December the good times continued with two more social events, the Masters Mingle and Holiday Youth Dance.

We have much to be grateful for at High Point Rowing Club – not least is our wonderful rowing members. 2017 was certainly a year to remember for High Point rowers for the wonderful bonds of friendship and fast rowing by our crews – may there be many more!

The Erg Room at 124C has become more than just a place for working out. In December it was the venue for the Masters’ Mingle and Youth Holiday Dance.

Triad Rowers and Families Gather for 2017 Celebration of Rowing Banquet

Greensboro, North Carolina – American hero and Olympic gold medal winning rower Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet held at Sedgefield Country Club on Saturday night and he did not disappoint.

Almost 200 rowers, parents and friends from across the Triad gathered into the Sedgefield Country Club ballroom for what has quickly become the most prestigious social event on the rowing calendar.

High Point Masters rower ‘Kiwi Mike’ Hitchcock, serving as Master of Ceremonies, opened the evening by introducing Greensboro youth rower Benjamin Huitt to give the invocation.

After enjoying a delicious feast, Kiwi Mike then returned to the podium to begin the formal ceremonies, which began with High Point rower Charlotte Curri, who recited “The Oarsman’s Poem” by legendary rowing coach Steve Fairbairn.

Mary Hollingsworth then presented the High Point Parent of the Year award to Conni Curri for her service to the crew. Greensboro parent Julie Higgins then presented the Greensboro Parent of the Year award to Sara Nichols.

Jackie King, last year’s Masters MVP winner and this year’s chair of the Celebration of Rowing banquet, was then invited to the podium to introduce the 2017 recipient – ‘Girl Jeanne’ MacPherson. Congratulations Girl Jeanne – Masters Rower of the Year! Unfortunately, Jeanne could not be at the banquet due to work commitments.

Greensboro coach and 2004 Olympian Lisa Schlenker then talked about the progress of Greensboro Crew and concluded by presenting the Katherine Dickson Award for youth service to Greensboro Crew to MaryBlake Murphy.

Maddie Mullins then presented the Caroline Howard Cup for youth service to High Point Rowing Club to Junior Ognovich. Words can not do justice to the inspiration that Maddie filled the ball room with her theme of excellence and giving to your team mates.

Jason Read was then introduced to guests by club founder and High Point Coach Gene Kininmonth, who shared his own personal experience of 911: “As we wondered how we would flee this madness, elsewhere a small number of others were heading straight for it….driving directly into this abyss with full expectations in that moment that the horror would only get worse. Jason Read was one of those few. I am looking forward to hearing Jason’s story from tragedy to triumph this evening.” 

And our keynote speaker did not disappoint.

A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.

Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.

After his speech, which received a standing ovation from the 200 guests, rowers and parents alike approached the rowing legend to thank him for sharing his story of inspiration.

911 Hero and Athens Olympic gold medalist Jason Read gave the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.

JR continues a banquet tradition of introducing world renowned rowing leaders to the Triad. Rowing Blazers author and archaeologist, Jack Carlson spoke in 2016, while cutting edge rowing boat maker Misha Joukowsky spoke in 2015. Double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind was the 2014 guest speaker.

Mary Hollingsworth presented the High Point parent of the year award to Connie Curri at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Julie Higgins presented the Greensboro Crew Parent of the Year award to Sara Nichols (Ella’s mum) at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Former High Point Masters MVP’s Erin Sanders, Mandy Greene, Jackie King, and her daughter Alexis holding the MVP trophy and a camera picture of 2017 MVP Girl Jeanne MacPherson.
Greensboro coach Lisa Schlenker (center) presented the Katherine Crowley Dickson award for youth service to MaryBlake Murphy (right)
Maddie Mullins presented the Caroline Howard Cup for 2017 to Junior Ognovich at the Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Greensboro Sports Commission CEO Kim Strable, with his wife Cindy and Olympic champion Jason Read.
Jamie Atkinson is all smiles at the Celebration of Rowing banquet with fellow rowers Katie Todd and Sidney Briggs.

Greensboro Crew oarsmen were out in force at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet to meet 911 hero and Olympic gold medalist, Jason Read.

High Point rowers Lindsay York and Giacomo Arnaboldi at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
 

Registration is Open for Youth Winter Indoor Rowing

Watching movies makes for a fun way to train in a group on the rowing machines, known as ‘ergs.’

Jamestown, NC – High Point Rowing Club is excited to announce a new season of Youth Indoor Rowing for high school and middle school students at its Jamestown Indoor Rowing Studio. The purpose of the Youth Indoor Rowing is to foster healthy living in a fun team environment for students through the wonderful sport of rowing. Students will be be prepared for the challenges of the spring boat racing season after completing the indoor rowing program.

No prior rowing experience is necessary. 

“Indoor rowing has taken off as the new spinning and we have received lots of interest from students wishing to try out this sport,” says club organizer Gene Kininmonth. “Rowing is low-impact making it safe from the types of head and knee injuries we see in other sports.”

In addition to indoor rowing, students will also participate in strength and conditioning as well as a boxing fitness regimen (which does not involve students hitting each other).

Format: Participants with no prior experience will start with a learn-to-row format on the Concept2 rowing machines.  As technique and stamina improve, a more competitive format will be adopted.

Dates and Times: Each day, Monday – Friday from 4:30pm – 6:00pm (students travelling from further away can arrive later) and at 9am on Saturday mornings. Students are not expected to be at every session. The season begins on Monday November 13 and will go through to February 24, 2018

Attire: Tee shirt, form-fitting shorts, and running shoes are usual attire. Loose fitting shorts will likely catch in the “slide” (where the rowing seat moves back and forth on the rower). Bring a water bottle too!

Address: 124-C Wade Street, Jamestown, North Carolina.

Cost: $275 per participant. No partial refund for missed sessions or weather related cancellations.

More Info: Email contact@highpointrowing.com

REGISTER NOW

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911 Hero and Olympic Champion Jason Read will Give Keynote Address at Rowing Banquet

Jason Read serves as flag-bearer for Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Games.

American hero and Olympic gold medal winning rower Jason Read will give the keynote address at the 2017 Celebration of Rowing banquet, event chair Jackie King is pleased to announce.

The banquet is scheduled for Saturday, November 18, at Sedgefield Country Club with admission open to the general public.

“Jason Read’s life story is one of unwavering dedication, representing his country proudly and with courage at moments of unimaginable tragedy and great triumph,” says Jackie King.

A volunteer rescue squad fire chief from the age of 21, Read received the call to Ground Zero on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.

Just three years later Jason Read represented his country again, bringing home the Olympic gold as part of the men’s eight rowing crew at the 2004 Athens games.

King says it is an incredible honor to have Jason Read join the Triad rowing clubs for this occasion. “Earlier this year High Point Rowing Club purchased an eight-man shell bearing his name from his alma mater Temple University. None of us knew who he was then. We do now and we are so looking forward to welcoming Jason to North Carolina.”

Jason Read (standing) served as a rescue squad chief at Ground Zero on 911. Less than three years later he won gold with the USA men’s eight at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

 

B U Y   T I C K E T S

The Celebration of Rowing banquet is in its fourth year of recognizing an appreciation for our sport and our local rowing community. Celebration of Rowing is the one time each year when the Triad rowing community gathers to honor its own and enjoy hearing from a keynote speaker who has made a national impact on the sport of rowing.

Read will follow a illustrious line of guest speakers in recent years who have each had a national impact on the rowing community:

2014 Caroline Lind, 2X Olympic gold medalist
2015 Misha Joukowsky, Resolute shells
2016 Jack Carlson, Rowing Blazers
“The Celebration of Rowing banquet is a special night for rowers,” says the event chair Jackie King. “It is about coming together to celebrate the sport we all love and for many of us a sport that has held a profound transformational effect on our lives.”

Double Olympic gold medalist Caroline Lind was inducted into the Triad Rowers’ Hall of Fame at the High Point Country Club on November 19, 2016.
Maddie Mullins was awarded the Caroline Howard Cup for service and inspiration to her fellow rowers at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Almost 200 rowers and their families gathered at High Point Country Club for the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet.
Author, archeologist, and international rower Jack Carlson regaled the almost 200 rowers at the Celebration of Rowing banquet with his historical account of rowing’s social attire.
Caren and Greg York hold their silver cup for ‘service above and beyond’ to the youth rowing program at the 2016 Celebration of Rowing banquet at High Point Country Club.
Former Masters MVPs Erin Sanders and Mandy Greene presented the 2016 MVP Cup to Jackie King (center).

High Point’s Junior Ognovich to Race for Southeast Region at Youth Regional Challenge

Junior Ognovich has been selected for the Southeast Region crew to race at the Regional Youth Challenge as part of the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida.

Sarasota, Florida – The 2017 World Rowing Championships kicks off today and High Point rower Junior Ognovich has been selected to race in the women’s quad sculls for the Southeast region in the first ever ‘Youth Regional Challenge’.

The Youth Regional Challenge event will feature 312 of the top Under-19 rowers from across the United States, racing in eights and quadruple sculls. The Southeast region team comprises the best athletes from Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.

Junior Ognovich was picked for the Southeast squad from over 900 rowers who applied for selection. Her race in Sarasota this weekend will no doubt feel like a home course for her. Earlier this spring she teamed up with Maddie Mullins to finish 6th in the nation at the women’s U19 pairs event.

2017 has been an incredible year for Junior Ognovich.  In addition to the finals appearance at youth nationals, she and Maddie won the North Carolina State Championships in the women’s double sculls and then were crowned regional champions in the women’s pair. The win was the first in history for High Point.

Smiling in Sarasota: Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins enjoyed a successful outing on Day One at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.

Junior is not short of athletic genes in her DNA. Her older sister Katie won gold on board the United States women’s eight at the CanAmMex Games Regatta and is now rowing at the University of Oklahoma. Her grandfather is Nick Ognovich, the renowned Wake Forest University Hall of Fame “blocking quarterback” in the 1940s when the program was regarded as one of the toughest in the South.

When not rowing, Junior lives in Greensboro and attends Bishop McGuinness High School. Junior will return to the Triad next week in time to prepare for the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Oak Hollow Lake on Saturday, September 30.

Back to School Sneak Peek Week Coming Up: Youth ages 12 – 18 can try rowing for one week for free!

Come try out youth rowing for free!

If you are in grades 6-12, and maybe looking for a new sport then come give rowing a try. Six days of rowing for free. Just register and show up. It is that easy!

No experience necessary but you must be able to swim as a safety precaution. Participants must also be at least 12 years of age.

REGISTER HERE FOR BACK TO SCHOOL FREE SNEAK PEEK: August 28 – Sep 2, 2017 from  4:3opm to 6pm.

WHAT? Sneak Peek Week is one week of rowing, where students will learn the technique needed for rowing in racing boats on the water.

WHEN? 4:30pm to 6pm from Monday, August 28 though Saturday September 2. You do not have to participate every day.

WHERE? Oak Hollow Lake: 3700 Waterview Road, High Point, NC.

COST? FREE!

Also, be sure to have a parent sign the waiver and swim form certifying that you can swim. These can be downloaded on this page. Bring these forms with you.

Also bring the following:
• flip flops and normal athletic attire
• water bottle

Questions? Just email our coach, Gene, at contact@highpointrowing.com or call him at (336) 257-9009.

 

Mullins, Ognovich Place 6th at Rowing Nationals

High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich (far boat) are quick off the start in the final at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.

Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich capped off a historic season by improving on their best time by 7 seconds and finishing sixth in the women’s pair final at the USRowing Youth National Championships on Sunday.

Connecticut Boat Club won the event with a time of 7 minutes 30 seconds, nearly 21 seconds ahead of the field.

Ognovich and Mullins, who qualified for the final with a third place semi-final finish on Saturday, finished Sunday’s race with a time of 8:06.866.

The High Point duo were elated with their performance after the race.

“We really had a great last row,” said Junior as her boat returned to dock. “I felt Maddie behind me rowing hard every stroke of the race. That’s everything you can ask of your pair partner.”

“We just want to say thank you to everyone for all the support and love. We definitely would not have done this well without all the support from back home,” said Maddie after the race. “It’s a good last race to end my rowing career at High Point Rowing Club.”

The top six national ranking caps off a season that saw Junior and Maddie win the women’s double sculls final at the North Carolina state championships in April, as well as the Southeast Region title in the women’s pair in May. The regional win qualified the two for nationals.

Maddie was also the club’s 2017 Female Rower of the Year.

Maddie and Junior advise today’s High Point/Greensboro rowers to “work hard and love the process and you too can go to Nationals.”

Top 6 in the nation: High Point rowers Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins with coach Gene Kininmonth at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.

 

 

 

High Point Progresses to Semi Finals at USRowing Youth National Championships

Smiling in Sarasota: Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins enjoyed a successful outing on Day One at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.

Sarasota, Florida – High Point rowers Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich finished with the sixth fastest time in the initial time trial of the women’s pair on Day One at the USRowing Youth National Championships.

The result places them among the top 12 crews from the field which will race in the semi final round on Saturday morning. The fastest six boats in the semi final round will then race in the grand final on Sunday.

“This was an emotional part of the process,” said High Point coach Gene Kininmonth after the morning time trial. “For our club, competing at the national championships for the first time, you’re way out of your comfort zone coming in because it is all new territory and there are so many crews from all across the country you have never raced before. So today’s result was both a relief and reaffirming for all of us.”

Saturday’s semi-final race will take place at 9:12 am.

The race will be live streamed by USRowing here: https://www.youtube.com/user/usrowingorg

For live results click here: https://www.herenow.com/results/#/races/20374/results

High Point’s Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins launch for the 2017 USRowing Youth Nationals in Sarasota, Florida.

High Point Rowers Make Final Preparations for Youth Nationals

Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich are heading to Sarasota, Florida this weekend for the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships.

High Point, NC – Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich will row their final practice on Oak Hollow Lake this evening ahead of this weekend’s 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida.

The two qualified for nationals by winning the women’s pair event at USRowing’s Southeast Regional Championships in Georgia last month.

The youth national championship is the premier junior rowing event in the USA, and approximately 1,700 athletes will compete in more than 370 crews representing more than 150 teams from across the country vying for national titles in 18 boat classes.

Maddie and Junior are slated to begin racing with a time trial on Friday morning at 8:45am. The trial will reduce the field from 22 crews to 12. Should the pair successfully proceed through this initial trial they will then race in Saturday morning’s semi final round. The top 6 crews from the semi-finals will race in Sunday morning’s final just before 9am.

Qualifying for nationals highlights a year of highs for the High Point duo and for Maddie, who recently graduated high school, the final regatta is a wonderful finishing touch to her high school rowing career.

Maddie was the club’s female Rower of the Year this year. In April she and Junior won the youth doubles event at the North Carolina State Championships.

Events at this weekend’s championships will be live streamed by USRowing here: https://www.youtube.com/user/usrowingorg

Full race schedule is here: http://www.usrowing.org/event/2017-youth-national-championships/

Youth Crew Celebrates Season and Seniors at Spring Banquet

Highly polished silver awards are now a Spring Crew Banquet tradition thanks to the generous philanthropic support of the Club’s Patron Jackie King.

High Point Rowing Club’s youth rowers celebrated the end of spring with coaches and parents at the annual Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake on Monday evening.

Connie Curri, who is Charlotte’s mum and parent liaison to the team, thanked parents of the rowers for their generous support of the team, in particular those who hosted the food tables at all the 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. Connie then passed the baton of parent liaison to Sierra’s mum Beth Heer for the 2017-18 season.

“This is always my favorite annual rowing event of the year,” said coach Gene Kininmonth following a delicious pot luck feast. “We are here this evening to celebrate victories won, battles hard fought, and to send off three incredible high school seniors.”

Coach Gene thanked Jaclyn Hronich, Paul Herger, Mandy Greene, and Connie Curri for their service as coaches to the Crew and then welcomed the team’s alumni, Katie Ognovich ’14, Addy Millsap ’15, Andrew Wright ’15, Adam Alt ’16, and Kyle Koval ’16, who had returned to the crew for the evening.

Then it was time to pay tribute to the rowers themselves.

“We have many victories to celebrate tonight,” said Gene. “We opened our Spring season at the Clemson Sprints, where we won countless medals before returning to High Point for the State Championships where our club won 7 state championships.”

“To add to this success, our rowers won bronze in the women’s U17 quadsculls event and gold in the women’s pair event at USRowing’s Southeast regional Championships in Georgia. This remarkable win by Maddie Mullins and Junior Ognovich was a first for High Point Rowing Club.”

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. The York Cup crew of 2017 was coxswain Charlotte Curri, stroke Ainsley Fox, Molly Hilemn, William Hundley, Nick Rieker, Matthew Hronich, Jake Bryant, Sierra Heer, Kinkead Crotts. The crew set a time of 16 minutes 38 seconds.

The 2017 York Cup Crew with their silver awards at the Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake.

Coach Gene then presented the club’s Rower of the Year awards to Charles York and Maddie Mullins, who themselves then presented individual awards to rowers for ‘Middle School MVP’, ‘Most Improved’, and ‘Rookie of the Year’.

The most important part of the ceremonies then arrived as seniors Charles York, Maddie Mullins, and Lizzy Knorr were honored and thanked for their service to the crew. The evening then took an emotional turn with each senior passing on their jersey to a younger rower before reflecting on their personal rowing experiences with High Point Rowing Club.

Of course, no Crew Banquet would be completed until the traditional crew photo on the dock was taken.

2017 HPRC Seniors Charles York, Maddie Mullins, and Lizzy Knorr with their silver awards at the Crew Banquet at Oak Hollow Lake.
HPRC rowers William Hundley and Molly Hilemn won awards for ‘Most Improved’ at the 2017 Crew Banquet.
Matthew Hronich and Charlotte Curri won awards for Middle school MVPs at the 2017 HPRC Crew Banquet.
Benjamin Huitt was presented with the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award at High Point Rowing Club’s 2017 Crew Banquet.
Rowers assemble on the dock at Oak Hollow Lake for the traditional team photo at the spring Crew Banquet.

High Point Rowers Prepare for Southeast Regionals

Charles York and Govind Harish prepare for the 2017 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships.

High Point, NC – High Point rowers will make their final preparations on Oak Hollow Lake this week in advance of the upcoming USRowing Southeast Regional Youth Championships taking place this weekend at the Lake Lanier Olympic Rowing Center in Gainesville, GA.

High Point will be represented by four crews of rowers at the regional event.

Opening racing for High Point will be Charles York and Govind Harish who will compete in the Men’s double sculls event. Charles and Govind were members of High Point’s quad scull crew that won the state championships in April.

Next up Junior Ognovich and Maddie Mullins will race in the women’s pair event. Maddie and Junior won the double sculls event at the North Carolina state championships and return to sweeping for the regional championships.

Kiki Davis will steer her crew of Will Hundley, Jake Bryant, Matthew Hronich and Jacob Messick in the men’s lightweight fours event in Georgia. Lightweights must all weigh under 150 pounds making it one of the most competitive events as athletes.

Rounding out the fleet for High Point will be Ainsley Fox, Lindsay York, Molly Hilemn, and Charlotte Curri, who will be racing for a medal in the women’s U17 quadscull event.

Free Sneak Peek Week. Try Youth Rowing for Free!

Come try out youth rowing for free!

If you are in grades 6-12, and maybe looking for a spring sport then come give rowing a try. Five days of rowing for free. Just register and show up. It is that easy!

No experience necessary but you must be able to swim as a safety precaution. Participants must also be at least 12 years of age.

WHAT? Sneak Peek Week is one week of rowing, where students will learn the technique needed for rowing in racing boats on the water.

WHEN? 4:30pm to 6pm on Monday, June 5 though Friday June 9.

WHERE? Oak Hollow Lake: 3700 Waterview Road, High Point, NC.

COST? FREE!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Also, be sure to have a parent sign the waiver and swim form certifying that you can swim. These can be downloaded on this page. Bring these forms with you.

Also bring the following:
• sneakers and normal athletic attire
• water bottle

Questions? Just email our coach, Gene, at contact@highpointrowing.com or call him at (336) 257-9009.

 

High Point to Host State Championships

Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake, – High Point Rowing Club will host the North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships on April 22, 2017, the regatta committee co-chairs Jeanne MacPherson and Mandy Greene are pleased to announce.

This will be the first ever state championship for youth rowing in North Carolina, which is the result of discussions among the head coaches of North Carolina’s premier rowing clubs: Ashevile Youth Rowing, Belmont Rowing Club, Charlotte Youth Rowing, High Point Rowing Club, and Triangle Rowing Club.

High Point’s Festival Park at Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for its central location and the local organizing committee’s proven success at hosting regional rowing events. In 2016 High Point hosted two spring regattas and also the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Oak Hollow Lake.

Festival Park offers spectators unobstructed views of the entire 1,500 meter race course from an elevated location.

Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake was unanimously selected by coaches as the venue for the 2017 North Carolina Youth Rowing State Championships.

In addition to Asheville, Charlotte, Triangle, Belmont, and High Point, a new crew, Jordan Lake Rowing Club, emerged in 2016 and will also participate in the state championships.

High Point will be racing as HPG Rowing, the umbrella for High Point and Greensboro Crew.

Whilst rowing is one of the oldest sports in America, it is still very new in the Tar Heel state. “With just six youth rowing clubs, North Carolina is still very much in the pioneering phase for this sport,” says High Point club founder Gene Kininmonth. “This presents us with lots of opportunities but also a lot of challenges when folks in our local communities are not familiar with rowing.”

Kininmonth says that in addition to the six teams racing Saturday, there have been perhaps another dozen failed attempts to start rowing clubs in North Carolina in recent years. “So, I am truly in awe of all the coaches running these successful rowing clubs. The state championship will be as much a celebration of rowing as it is a competition.”

The six clubs have entered seventy two boats to race in 35 events for the inaugural NC Youth Rowing State Championships.

Coxswains and coaches will meet with referees at 9am in front of the Command Center.

Racing is slated to begin at 10am.

All rowers, boat trailers, and spectators should enter the lake at Festival Park:

1841 Eastchester Dr, High Point, NC 27265. 

Rowing participants are advised to wear flip flops for ‘wet launching’ their boats.

A rowing crew returns to dock at Festival Park on Oak Hollow Lake.

 

Order Youth Team Uniform

The youth team uniform is now open for orders. See below for the complete HPRC Crew uniform for 2017. Purchasing the complete order online qualifies a rower for the team discount. Items may be purchased individually and should be paid for by check to “High Point Rowing Club”.

The 2017 uniform includes the following items custom fit for each athlete:

Track suit – $35

Racing compression shirt (no sleeves) – $25

Racing compression shirt (with sleeves) – $25

Team Rowing Vest – $25

Team practice tank – $20

Team bag with personalized name embroidered in large letters – $25

($40 –  Team discount)

Total cost $115.00

ORDER FULL TEAM UNIFORM

Track suits will be disbursed immediately with remainder of team apparel to arrive in time for the Clemson Sprints. These uniform items are available for current youth team members only. Items purchased individually are not eligible for the team discount.

Order Women’s Compression Racing Shirt $25

Order Men’s Racing Shirt

Rowers will have an opportunity to try on each apparel item for size upon receipt.

Navy Crew Concludes Week in High Point with Domination of West Point

Two Navy Women’s Crews raced Army in the historic first ever Army-Navy rowing encounter on Saturday, March 18, 2017 on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, NC.

High Point, NC – The United States Naval Academy’s women’s rowing program concluded its week long training camp in High Point on Saturday with a string of boat race scrimmages that saw the Midshipmen dominate West Point (Army) on Oak Hollow Lake.

Boat racing took place in eight and four-man rowing shells and Navy won each match up in decisive fashion.

While the Army – Navy rivalry is one of the biggest in college sports, in an intriguing twist this was the historic first ever match race encounter between the two rowing programs.

“Any time Army and Navy get together to compete it is a big deal,” says Navy head rowing coach Joe Schlosberg, adding that Oak Hollow Lake is an ideal setting for a training camp despite the past week’s cooler than average temperatures.

“Every one in High Point has been so welcoming to our rowers and that makes a difference,” says Coach Schlosberg.

The Naval Academy selected Oak Hollow Lake as its base camp for the second consecutive year for its protected waterway and the South’s normally temperate climate at this time of year.

“The fact that these two stories rowing programs somehow ended up in High Point to race each other for the first time is an immense personal reward to our High Point Rowing Club and all the volunteer efforts of our rowers and parents to make Oak Hollow Lake such a rower friendly venue,” said club founder Gene Kininmonth.

High Point Rowing Club loaned the Navy Crew motor boats for coaching during their stay and when one broke down High Point University stepped in to assist with an additional coach boat. High Point Rowing Club also hosted the Navy Crew to a potluck dinner in its Jamestown Erg Room during the week.

The Navy squad returned to Annapolis, MD after Saturday’s races where they will make final preparations for the Murphy Cup in Philadelphia next weekend.

The US Naval Academy won both the fours and eights events in its historic first ever scrimmage with Army in High Point NC on March 18, 2017.
High Point Rowing Club hosted Navy Women’s Crew to a potluck feast in its Jamestown Erg Room during the Midshipmen’s spring training camp.
High Point Masters and parents in the Erg Room after hosting the Navy Women’s Crew to dinner – special thanks to Jackie King (second from right) for her leadership in hosting this wonderful event.