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High Point Women Sweep Charlotte

High Point Rowing Club swept the women’s events in dominant fashion at the Charlotte Erg Sprints on Saturday with championship victories in the women’s varsity, varsity lightweight and novice indoor rowing events.

Indoor rowing competitions take place on rowing machines, called ergometers, and the Charlotte Erg Sprints, hosted by the Charlotte Youth Rowing program, is now the most popular competition of its kind in North Carolina.

In the Women’s Novice (1st year high school rower) event, High Point’s Aliute Udoka won the championship in a time of 7 minutes 56 seconds.

“Novice rowers are so new to the sport you really never know what to expect,” said head coach Gene Kininmonth. “Aliute’s performance was more on par with a very experienced high school varsity rower and yet she is still a sophomore. There is no question that Aliute has a wonderful career ahead of her in rowing.”

Aliute Udoka with her father, Silvanus, after winning the women's novice indoor rowing championship in Charlotte.
Aliute Udoka with her father, Silvanus, after winning the women’s novice indoor rowing championship in Charlotte.

The next win for High Point came in the Women’s Varsity Lightweight event when Kim Pollard led from wire to wire to row to victory in 8 minutes 35 seconds.

“It felt amazing to win!” said an exhausted Pollard after the race. “I felt like all of my winter training had paid off and made a huge difference in my performance on the erg. In addition to the erg, I’ve mainly been doing crossfit workouts to incorporate into functional fitness.”

A junior at Northwest Guilford High School, Pollard says she is now looking forward to the spring boat racing season and winning medals with her High Point crew mates.

High Point rower Kim Pollard led from wire to wire to win the Women's Varsity Lightweight Championship at the Charlotte Erg Sprints.
High Point rower Kim Pollard led from wire to wire to win the Women’s Varsity Lightweight Championship at the Charlotte Erg Sprints.

In the final event of the day, High Point’s Catherine Thompson put on the most dominating exhibition of rowing seen at the competition when she won the Women’s Varsity Championship in a time of 7 minutes 32 seconds, besting her previous personal best erg time by 11 seconds.

“Catherine Thompson is truly one of the founders of High Point Rowing Club and she will leave a legacy of inspiration with this team when she goes to row for the Wisconsin Badgers in the Fall.” says head coach Gene Kininmonth. “Catherine was a member of our very first crew. Her first stroke propelled our team into existence and her first boat race victory was this team’s historic first victory. Now, here she is today, continuing to be such a positive force for her team and performing at a level she can be so proud of.”

A senior at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, Thompson represented her high school in volleyball and Track & Field before making the switch to rowing. On Saturday in Charlotte she led the field right from the outset, setting a blistering pace that none of her competitors could follow.


In the men’s competition in Charlotte, High Point Rowing Club was represented in the Men’s Novice event by Josh Dasnoit and Adam Alt, with Alt finishing in third place with a personal best time of 7 minutes 29 seconds.

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High Point Regatta Set for March 29th

High Point – Oak Hollow Lake will be the venue for High Point Rowing Club’s inaugural rowing regatta on Saturday, March 29th, the program’s Board of Directors has announced.

The 2014 High Point Regatta marks the opening day of the rowing season and costs will be underwritten thanks to a generous sponsorship from Atlas Lighting corporation. Competition will take place between High Point Rowing Club’s youth crew and Triangle Rowing Club of Raleigh.

“We issued an invitation to Triangle Rowing Club to a test of boat speed and they accepted,” said High Point coach Gene Kininmonth. “Triangle is one of the premier youth crew programs in North Carolina and so it is a great honor to have a team of this calibre choose to travel here to race us.”

Until the High Point Regatta, High Point rowers will rely on intra-squad scrimmages for competition.
Until the High Point Regatta, High Point rowers will rely on intra-squad scrimmages for competition.

“Oak Hollow Lake is a tremendous venue for crew and especially for hosting aquatic events,” says Kininmonth. “The City of High Point is very supportive of emerging sports and recreational activities and I expect future High Point Regattas to draw hundreds of competitors and spectators from across the region.”

Racing will commence at 8:30am in the following boat classes:

Women’s Youth Varsity Four
Women’s Youth Varsity Eight
Women’s Youth Novice Four
Women’s Youth Novice Eight
Women’s Youth Second Novice Eight
Men’s Youth Novice Four
Men’s Youth Novice Eight

Crews will launch from Oak Hollow North Ramp and this location will also provide for the best spectator viewing. Free parking is available. Directions.

2014 High Point Regatta: crews will race over a 1,500 meter course on Oak Hollow Lake.
2014 High Point Regatta: crews will race over a 1,500 meter course on Oak Hollow Lake.
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Upcoming Season

All rowers, please note the upcoming schedule of rowing activities.

February 15-16 subject to weather constraints and lake water temperatures, we will begin rowing sessions on the weekends for rowers with prior racing experience.

March 1-2 our team will host Learn to Row sessions at 1pm. We already have a number of students signed up and quite a few more are expected. All rowers should make plans to be at these sessions. Weekend rowing will continue in March for all rowers Year 9-12 regardless of prior experience.

Mid-week rowing will begin on Monday, March 10 following the beginning of Daylight Savings Time on March 9.

In the third week of March the Middle School rowing program begins for students in Years 7 & 8. This new group will need assistance getting boats on/off the water so experienced rowers please be ready to help.

Our race schedule is still very tentative as other teams have yet to commit to come to High Point to race. Announcements will be made as events are scheduled. 16

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High Point makes National Impact in Rowing

Prepare for launch: a High Point crew carries its shell to the dock in Chattanooga, Tenn for the 2013 Head of the Hooch.
Prepare for launch: a High Point crew carries its shell to the dock in Chattanooga, Tenn for the 2013 Head of the Hooch.
Chattanooga, Tenn – High Point Rowing Club’s scholastic youth program is rapidly moving up in the national ranks following a strong performance at the Head of the Hooch, Nov 2-3, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

In addition to two top-10 finishes by the boys sweep squad, the girls sculling squad earned silver and bronze medals in the novice single sculls event and the girls lightweight eight crew also finished in the top-10. The Head of the Hooch is the second largest rowing regatta in the the world with over 2,000 crews racing downstream on a 5,000 meter winding river course over two days.

High Point varsity crew swings down the river course in Chattanooga. Pictured (from left) Maddie Mullins, Hayden Davis, Gabby Reenstra, Cheyenne DeLaney and Aliute Udoka. Photo credit Scott Davis
High Point varsity crew swings down the river course in Chattanooga. Pictured (from left) Maddie Mullins, Hayden Davis, Gabby Reenstra, Cheyenne DeLaney and Aliute Udoka. Photo credit Scott Davis
High Point’s girl’s sweep squad continues to improve with the team competing in the high school varsity ranks for the first time. The varsity squad faced unexpected challenges in the women’s varsity fours event, however, when strong winds and chop caused the team’s top crew to almost sink after taking on water thoughout the race due to waves crashing over the side of the boat.

Katie Ognovich and Catherine Thompson quickly rebounded from the disappointment of the fours race the next day though to earn silver and bronze medals respectively in the novice single sculls event.

For full results of all the racing action in Chattanooga visit the official website for the Head of the Hooch.

High Point's varsity four of Sarah Catto, Emma Lloyd, Katie Ognovich, Catherine Thompson and coxswain Cheyenne DeLaney continue to row despite their boat being almost completely swamped by waves in Chattanooga.
High Point’s varsity four of Sarah Catto, Emma Lloyd, Katie Ognovich, Catherine Thompson and coxswain Cheyenne DeLaney continues to row despite their boat being almost completely swamped by waves in Chattanooga.

High Point Rowing Club offers competitive rowing for youth ages 13-19 attending any Triad area high school. The program prepares young rowers for competition across the nation and also for potential collegiate and national team possibilities. The team is the only rowing club for high school students in the Triad cities and rowing takes place on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point from February through November. For more information contact program director Gene Kininmonth via email at contact@highpointrowing.com
High Point rowers load the shell trailer following a successful campaign at the 2013 Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tenn.
High Point rowers load the shell trailer following a successful campaign at the 2013 Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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High Point Mums ‘Row for the Cure’

Mother’s of High Point Rowing Club’s scholastic youth team emerged as a crowd favorite at the Head of the Hooch Regatta in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Saturday when they raced in the “Row for the Cure” event.

Known locally as the Mum’s Crew, the team first formed last year when the fledgling High Point program for high school students was just getting started and parents of the students were asked to fill empty seats in the boat to row.

“We need nine rowers to row the boat and some days back then only four students would show up to practice,” recalls rowing coach Gene Kininmonth. “I’d look at the mothers and I think some of them just wanted to leap back in their cars and scream out of the parking lot. But you know a mother will do almost anything for their child and before they knew it they were trying a new sport. And these mothers have proven that rowing is a competitive sport for life.”

On Saturday, High Point’s Mum’s Crew raced through Chattanooga’s winding river course in blazing pink T-shirts, finishing the 5,000 meter race with a time of 25 minutes 41 seconds. Despite finishing in last place, the time was 40 seconds faster than the crew’s time the previous year.

The boat races are a philanthropic event in support the Susan Komen Foundation’s fight against breast cancer. With a breast cancer survivor on board the High Point boat, the Mum’s Crew brought many in the 25,000 strong crowd on the shoreline to their feet with applause. The crew is comprised of coxswain Kim Pollard, stroke Angela Antrim, Mary Horan, Angela Mangus, Barbara Pollard, Debra Catto, Kim Mullins, Chrstine Wright and bowman Marianne Benett.

Pretty in pink: The Mum's Crew improved their time by forty seconds at the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN on Saturday.
Pretty in pink: The Mum’s Crew improved their time by forty seconds at the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN on Saturday.

The Mum's Crew of High Point Rowing Club are (from left to right) Debra Catto, Kim Mullins, Christine Wright, Angela Mangus, Barbara Pollard, Mary Horan, Marianne Bennett, and Angela Antrim. Being held is the crew's coxswain Kim Pollard, a high school junior.
The Mum’s Crew of High Point Rowing Club are (from left to right) Debra Catto, Kim Mullins, Christine Wright, Angela Mangus, Barbara Pollard, Mary Horan, Marianne Bennett, and Angela Antrim. Being held is the crew’s coxswain Kim Pollard, a high school junior.
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High Point Rower Commits to Oklahoma

High Point Rowing Club’s Katie Ognovich has made a verbal commitment to row for the University of Oklahoma, head coach Gene Kininmonth has announced. Ognovich has been offered a full-ride scholarship to row for the Oklahoma Sooners.

“I am so excited to study and row at the University of Oklahoma,” says Ognovich. “I looked at some great colleges but the opportunities Oklahoma offers to their athletes and especially their rowers is what makes this decision right for me. I can’t wait to spend my next four years at such an amazing University and with such a competitive Division I rowing program.”

Under NCAA rules, university athletic departments cannot legally sign female high school rowers to a National Letter of Intent until November 13th but athletes can make a verbal commitment to the college of their choice at any time prior to this date.

A senior at Greensboro Day School, Ognovich entered the fall season as one of the most prized rowing prospects in the nation. In the summer, Ognovich won gold against Canada and Mexico on board the United States’ junior women’s eight crew at the 2013 CanAmMex Regatta. The victory was the first international class win for Ognovich, who is only the second rower in history from the Triad to make a United States rowing team. She follows Caroline Lind, the two-time gold medalist in the USA women’s eight at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Ognovich was selected to Team USA following a standout performance at a three week USA High Performance Camp in Connecticut, where she led the squad in fitness testing with an erg score of 7 minutes 11 seconds. The time is currently the best of any high school senior in the country.

“We are so pleased for Katie and her family. She has an incredible collegiate rowing career in her future,” says High Point coach Gene Kininmonth.

High Point Rowing Club is only a year old and Kininmonth says Katie’s success is proof of just how powerful the scholarship opportunities are for female students with rowing experience. “Women’s rowing is the sport selected by hundreds of university athletic departments as the counter sport to men’s football. Colleges want female rowers and there are more places on college teams for female rowers than there are high school rowers to fill them right now,” Kininmonth says. “This is the greatest educational opportunity outside of the classroom for girls in High Point.”

Katie Ognovich has been offered a full ride scholarship to row at the University of Oklahoma.
Katie Ognovich has been offered a full ride scholarship to row at the University of Oklahoma.

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Crew Catches Tail of the Tiger

High Point Rowing Club caught the Tail of the Tiger in Clemson, SC on Saturday when the team swept all the novice racing events entered. The Tail of the Tiger is a head race regatta with winners determined by time trial. Novice events are for rowers in their first year of racing.

The regatta also marked the debut of the men’s crew to scholastic rowing competition.

After a brief delay to racing due to fog, High Point opened the morning with a victory in the women’s junior novice four. Comprised of coxswain Kiana Davis, stroke Emma Lloyd, Katharine Komsa, Quinn Eury, and bowman Aliute Udoka, the foursome got out to a strong start in the 3-mile race before settling into their rhythm and winning by over a minute.

Women’s Junior Novice Four
1st High Point Rowing Club 24 minutes 20 seconds
2nd Lake Lanier (GA) 25:21
3rd Triangle ‘B’ (Raleigh) 25:41
4th Charlotte ‘B’ 26:22
5th Charlotte ‘A’ 27:54
6th Triangle ‘A’ 28:46

Coxswain Kiana Davis instructs her crew of Emma Lloyd, Katharine Komsa, Quinn Eury and Aliute Udoka as they push off to race in Clemson.
Coxswain Kiana Davis instructs her crew of Emma Lloyd, Katharine Komsa, Quinn Eury and Aliute Udoka as they push off to race in Clemson.
Next up for High Point was a victory in the women’s junior novice eights event. High Point entered two crews into this event. As the temperature heated up in Clemson so did High Point’s rowers.

Women’s Junior Novice Eight
1st High Point Rowing Club 23 minutes 03 seconds
2nd Asheville ‘A’ 23:51
3rd Asheville ‘B’ 24:58
4th Charlotte 26:32
5th High Point Rowing Club B 26:37
6th Triangle 27:18

From front Emma Lloyd, Bethany Brake, Maddie Mullins, Olivia Mangus, Gabby Reenstra, Aislinn Antrim, Cheyenne DeLaney, Hayden Davis, and Morgan Sheehan combined to win the women's junior novice eight event in Clemson, SC.
From front Emma Lloyd, Bethany Brake, Maddie Mullins, Olivia Mangus, Gabby Reenstra, Aislinn Antrim, Cheyenne DeLaney, Hayden Davis, and Morgan Sheehan combined to win the women’s junior novice eight event in Clemson, SC.
In the next race, history was made by High Point with the club earning its first ever victory for the boy’s side of the program. The history-making crew, comprised of stroke Colin Howard, Andrew Wright, Adam Alt, Charles York, Austin Young, Josh Dasnoit, Henderson Beck, and James Bennett won the Men’s Junior Novice eight event by a healthy 40 seconds over second place Charlotte.

Men’s Junior Novice Eight
1st High Point Rowing Club 21 minutes 44 seconds
2nd Charlotte 22:24
3rd. Asheville ‘A’ 22:46
4th Triangle 22:42
5th Asheville ‘B’ 24:30
6th Riverside Military Academy 26:58

Making history: High Point men's junior crew of Colin Howard, Andrew Wright, Adam Alt, Charles York, Austin Young, Josh Dasnoit, Henderson Beck, and James Bennett. The crew was steered by Katharine Komsa.
High Point men’s junior crew of Colin Howard, Andrew Wright, Adam Alt, Charles York, Austin Young, Josh Dasnoit, Henderson Beck, and James Bennett. The crew was steered by Katharine Komsa.
The final event of the day for High Point in Clemson was the Women’s Open for single scullers. High Point was represented by Katie Ognovich, who only recently switched from sweep rowing (one oar) to sculling events (two oars). Katie competed for the United States in the women’s eight this past summer at the CanAmMex Games where she won gold against Mexico and Canada. On Saturday in Clemson, the Women’s Open event featured several experienced USRowing high performance junior scullers as well as veteran rowers and Katie finished second, an incredible feat for a rower that had only just begun sculling. Well rowed Katie!
In only her first ever sculling competition, Katie Ognovich finished second in the Women's Open in Clemson, SC on Saturday.
In only her first ever sculling competition, Katie Ognovich finished second in the Women’s Open in Clemson, SC on Saturday.
Following the races the team continued a time-honored tradition of throwing the winning coxswains into the lake.
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High Point to Open Season in Clemson

High Point Rowing Club will open its season in Clemson, South Carolina this weekend.

The team will compete at the ‘Tail of the Tiger,’ a time trial ‘head race’ on Saturday. The regatta is hosted by Clemson University.

High Point Rowing Club will be represented in the following events:

9:00am Women’s Jr Novice Four
Coxswain Kiana Davis
Stroke Emma Lloyd
3. Katharine Komsa
2. Quinn Eury
Bow Aliute Udoka

10:30am Women’s Jr Novice Eight
White Boat
Coxswain Kiana Davis
Stroke Maria Donadio
7. Kim Pollard
6. Jessica Critchley
5. Megan Critchley
4. Cara Mills
3. Zoe Kelley
2. Alice Nafekh
Bow Lydia Stoops

Red Boat
Coxswain Emma Lloyd
Stroke Bethany Brake
7. Maddie Mullins
6. Olivia Mangus
5. Gabby Reenstra
4. Aislinn Antrim
3. Hayden Davis
2. Cheyenne DeLaney
Bow Morgan Sheehan

10:40am Men’s Jr Novice Eight
Coxswain Katharine Komsa
Stroke Andrew Wright
7. Colin Howard
6. Charles York
5. Adam Alt
4. Josh Dasnoit
3. Austin Young
2. James Bennett
Bow Henderson Beck

11:20am Women’s Open Single Scull
Katie Ognovich
joeboat

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Crew Celebrates 1st Anniversary of Rowing

cropped-1239413_10151562816261856_186577719_n2.jpgHigh Point Rowing Club celebrated its first birthday this weekend with a morning row followed by a potluck brunch for rowers, families and friends at Oak Hollow Lake.

In contrast to a year ago when eight high school students launched the team’s first boat, today’s team boasts almost 40 athletes from public and private high schools across the Triad.

The poignancy of the occasion was captured in a stirring speech to the Crew by team co-captain Sarah Catto, a senior at Westchester Country Day School. “I was not here a year ago for the first row, but neither were most of us,” said Catto. “That is part of what makes this first year of the team such a remarkable story. Everyone here has had their own experience from their first day to today and for all of us here it has been a new love of this sport from the very first stroke.”

“We ask ourselves “WHY THE HECK DO WE DO THIS?”

“You are with a group of your best friends who are all in the same boat…literally…striving for the same goal of doing your best and succeeding! I mean I don’t think there is a better feeling of knowing that every single person you’re in the boat with is working towards the same goal! And I wish there was a better way to describe the feeling you get from crew. But there are really no words to describe the amazing bond between crew members. The definition of a team sport is crew because there are definitely no other sports out there where you literally are relying on everyone in the boat, and need every single person there to reach that goal. I know every single one of us have never felt more blessed to be able to not only find the sport of rowing but to have found each other on our home here on Oak Hollow Lake. High Point crew all the way!”

Team founder Gene Kininmonth says there is an extraordinary community building around the club. “This first year we have laid a cornerstone. There is no question that the sport of rowing is now here to stay in High Point. We are fortunate to have an incredible partner in the City of High Point’s Parks & Recreation department, which provides us with access to one of the most beautiful lakes in North Carolina in Oak Hollow Lake.”

Boys and girls attending any Triad area school (Yrs 9-12) are eligible to join the team. No experience necessary. Email contact@highpointrowing.com or see the Registration page for details.

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Fall Schedule Change

Please note the following change to the Fall Regatta Schedule:

The Beaverdam Regatta has been cancelled and so High Point Rowing Club has replaced the event with the Occoquan Chase.

Occoquan Chase Regatta
Sunday, October 13th
Sandy Run, VA

“We are pleased to be able to add this regatta to our schedule,” says rowing director Gene Kininmonth. “The Occoquan is one of the premier bodies of water in the United States for rowing, having in the past hosted the Olympic Trials. There is a huge youth rowing community in Northern Virginia and this will be a wonderful opportunity for our crew to race against some of the best scholastic rowers in the country.”

Katie Ognovich pushes off the dock with her crew at the USA Jr team ID camp on the Occoquan in March.
Katie Ognovich pushes off the dock with her crew at the USA Jr team ID camp on the Occoquan in March.

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Crew Sets Fall Schedule

2013 FALL REGATTA SCHEDULE:

Tail of the Tiger
Saturday, October 5th
Clemson, South Carolina

Beaverdam Regatta
Saturday, October 26th
14600 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest, NC

2013 Head of the Hooch
Saturday, November 2nd
Chattanooga, Tennessee

High Point Rowing Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation which focusses on providing rowing opportunities to Triad area high school students entering years 9-12 in 2013. All team members who regularly attend rowing practice sessions will race at all regattas.

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Sneak Peek Week is Here!

1111Come try out youth rowing for free!

If you are in grades 9-12 (rising), we’d love you to come give rowing a try. At the end of each summer season, we offer a free two weeks of rowing!

Sneak Peek Week starts tomorrow at Oak Hollow Lake in High Point and continues through mid-August. Oak Hollow Lake is located at 3700 Waterview Road. When you enter the park, our boats are located to the right end of the parking lot. We meet Monday through Saturday mornings at 7:15am at the lake.

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

Also bring the following:
• flip flops (we walk the boats into the water)
• water bottle
• dress in close-fitting shorts/t-shirt (Loose clothes get caught in the sliding seat of the boat.)

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

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Crew Announces Summer Camps

High Point Rowing Club is pleased to announce the first ever Summer Rowing Camps in the Triad. The camps are designed for high school students – NO ROWING EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.

Summer Rowing Camps will take place in the mornings at beautiful Oak Hollow Lake. For questions please email rowing director Gene Kininmonth at contact@highpointrowing.com

Register Online & Make Payment

Summer Camp Session I: July 8th – 12th, 2013

Summer Camp Session II: August 5th – 9th, 2013

General Summer Membership: June – Mid August, 2013

The following forms must be completed and returned to the club before participating in any practices or camps:

HPRC WAIVER & RELEASE

Parent Swim Formcropped-225577_10151460779534376_1802418754_n.jpg

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Parents Raise Funds for Oars

Just hours prior to the High Point Crew Banquet held in mid May, families of the youth rowing program rallied together to raise funds to purchase a much needed set of oars for the team.

In a surprise move, crew parent liaison Mary Horan presented the checks to Coach Gene Kininmonth at the banquet. “This is a sign of genuine appreciation from parents and grand parents for the positive impact this team has had on the lives of our children,” said Mrs. Horan. “We are all grateful to Gene and also Coach Caroline Howard for their service and I am  impressed that so many families have chosen to acknowledge their efforts with a gift to the team.”

The following families provided gifts and pledges to the equipment fund for oars:

Matthew & Kristin Lloyd (Emma’s parents)
E. M. Casey (Emma’s grandparent)
Brian & Michelle Kareis (Anna’s parents)
Debra Catto (Sarah’s mom)
Charles & Mary Alt (Adam’s parents)
David & Jacque Haenel (Elizabeth’s parents)
Joyce & Steve Eury (Quinn’s parents)
Barbara & Russell Pollard (Kim’s parents)
Cynthia Komsa (Katharine’s mom)
Mary Horan (Katie’s mom)
David Thompson & Janis Antonek (Catherine’s parents)
Siobhan & Michael Mills (Cara’s parents)

THANK YOU HIGH POINT CREW FAMILIES!

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High Point makes Finals at SE Regionals

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, – High Point Rowing Club completed its spring racing season with a Finals appearance at the USRowing Southeast Regional Rowing championships on Sunday.

Three crews of high school students represented High Point in Tennessee over the weekend with the crew of cox Bethany Brake, stroke Emma Lloyd, Katie Ognovich and Liz Haenel winning its heat at the championships and then qualifying through the sem-final round to race in the final on Sunday afternoon.

High Point’s crew of cox Katharine Komsa, stroke Aislinn Antrim, Anna Kareis, Olivia Mangus and Sarah Catto also raced in the fours event but were knocked out in the first round in a competitive field of teams from across the southeastern United States.

RESULTS – Women’s Junior Novice Four:
Round One Heats
1 High Point Rowing Club A 8:23.79
2 Charlotte Youth 8:27.77
3 Coconut Grove RC 8:29.59
4 Westminster 9:05.60
5 High Point Rowing Club B 9:26.05
6 Augusta Junior 10:12.63

Semi Final:
Place Name Time
1 Sarasota Crew 8:14.75
2 High Point Rowing Club 8:24.52
3 Miami Rowing 8:27.84
4 Revolution Junior Rowing 8:30.09
5 St. Andrew 8:32.11
6 Westminster 9:10.50

Final
Place Name Time
1 Sarasota Crew 8:21.08
2 SORA 8:24.86
3 Coconut Grove RC 8:26.73
4 Charlotte Youth 8:27.03
5 High Point Rowing Club 8:40.77
6 Miami Rowing 9:01.86

High Point's junior women's eight crew prepares its boat for launch at the USRowing Junior Regional Championships.
High Point’s junior women’s eight crew prepares its boat for launch at the USRowing Junior Regional Championships.

In other racing action, High Point also entered the women’s junior novice eights event in Oak Ridge. Despite covering the 2000m championship course with a time faster than 5 of the crews of the 17 entered, High Point’s crew of cox Emma Lloyd, stroke Maria Donadio, Bethany Brake, Cara Mills, Sara Catto, Quinn Eury, Katharine Komsa, Jessica Critchley and bow Zoe Kelley did not qualify for the semi final round.

Head Coach Gene Kininmonth said he was pleased with the efforts of the team at the Championships. “This is a highly competitive regional championship and for a first-year rowing program to come in and even make a dent in the results is incredible. I hope every rower on this team is really proud of how much progress they have made in such a short time.”

High Point Rowing Club is a youth rowing program open to all male and female students attending high schools in the Triad. For more information email Gene Kininmonth contact@highpointrowing.com or call (336) 257-9009.

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High Point Heads to Southeast Regionals

HIgh Point rowers are heading to Oak Ridge, Tennessee this weekend for the Southeast Junior Regional Rowing Championships.

In Oak Ridge, High Point will be racing in Race No. 31 the Junior Women’s Novice Four and Race No. 53 the Junior Women’s Novice Eight.

To review the full schedule click here: 

HIgh Point has two crews entered in the Coxed Fours event, which features a field of seventeen crews from Florida to North Carolina. High Point’s two crews are comprised as follows:

“Athena”
Coxswain Bethany Brake, stroke Emma Lloyd, Katie Ognovich, Catharine Thompson, and bow Elizabeth Haenel.

“BOBD”
Coxswain Katharine Komsa, stroke Aislinn Antrim, Anna Kareis, Olivia Mangus, and bow Sarah Catto.

Both High Point Crews will race in the same initial heat against Coconut Grove Rowing Club, Charlotte, Westminster, and Augusta (FL). The first four crews across the line will progress to the semi finals.

High Point’s crew for the Junior Women’s Novice Eight is comprised of coxswain Emma Lloyd, stroke Maria Donadio, Bethany Brake, Cara Mills, Sara Catto, Quinn Eury, Katharine Komsa, Jessica Critchley and bow Zoe Kelley.

High Point will race East Tennessee, Baylor and three crews from Atlanta in their heat. The first four crews will progress to the semi-final round on Sunday morning.

High Point will be highly favored to progress to the finals at Southeast Regionals after winning the Clemson Sprints Regatta in stunning fashion earlier this spring.
High Point will be highly favored to progress to the finals at Southeast Regionals after winning the Clemson Sprints Regatta in stunning fashion earlier this spring.

 

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Crew Receives Gift of Boat

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Mary Horan is a director of High Point Rowing Club. Her daughter Katie is a member of the team.

High Point, NC – Greensboro resident and High Point Rowing Club board director Mary Horan has a contributed a cash gift to the team to purchase the youth program a four-man racing shell.

The boat was much needed as until now the new program had been borrowing boats from other clubs on race day, with little opportunity to practice before hand. Despite this, the team recently enjoyed its historic first ever victory in the women’s junior novice fours event at the Clemson Sprints Regatta in South Carolina. Horan’s daughter Katie Ognovich was a member of the winning crew.

“The results are extremely impressive especially when you consider that they were in borrowed equipment,” said Horan. “We have great rowers – yes I am being a proud mom – now we have a shell that will allow them to show everyone else what their moms and coach know.”

Crew team founder Gene Kininmonth said he could not imagine a better way to honor the commitment and passion the students have displayed for rowing. “Mary has been instrumental behind the scenes in getting this program off to a strong start and this gift of a shell will allow for more high school students to row in the Triad. We are grateful to Mary for her spirited leadership and support.”

The team’s next fundraising goal is to purchase an additional set of oars ($1,200) and a second coach boat ($3,000) so that the rowers can receive more focussed attention from coaching staff who currently share a coach boat.

High Point Crew raises its shell in victory at the Clemson Sprints Regatta in early April.
High Point Crew raises its shell in victory at the Clemson Sprints Regatta in early April. The win was a historic first for the program.
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April Rower of the Month

Sarah Catto is High Point’s Rower of the Month for April.

Sarah Catto is a starboard oarsman for High Point Rowing Club.
Sarah Catto is a starboard oarsman for High Point Rowing Club.

A Junior at Westchester Country Day School in High Point, Catto joined High Point Rowing Club in the fall season and rowed on the team’s top scholastic crew at the Head of the Hooch Regatta, the second largest boat race in the nation for rowing.

Most recently, Catto was selected as part of the central core, known as the ‘engine room,’ of High Point’s women’s junior eight that finished in 4th place out of 16 teams at the Dogwood Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN earlier this month. The result was the best of any North Carolina crew at the event that featured 1,600 high school students competing.

Catto is also a member of the varsity school swim team at Westchester Country Day School. Outside of her athletic endeavors, she is known for being able to make almost anything out of duct tape.

Congratulations Sarah Catto!

Sarah Catto, wearing a pink head band, teamed up with Cara Mills, Olivia Mangus, Zoe Kelley, and Aislinn Antrim in the coxed four event at the Clemson Sprints Regatta.
Sarah Catto, wearing a pink head band, teamed up with Cara Mills, Olivia Mangus, Zoe Kelley, and Aislinn Antrim in the coxed four event at the Clemson Sprints Regatta.
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High Point Emerges at Dogwood

Oak Ridge, TN – High Point Rowing Club emerged as a new force in North Carolina rowing at the Dogwood Regatta on Saturday when its top crew qualified for the final of the women’s junior novice eights event.

Sixteen hundred high school juniors competed for medals in all classes of boats at the Dogwood Regatta, one of the biggest rowing events held annually in the Southeast region.

High Point’s crew of coxswain Kim Pollard, stroke Emma Lloyd, 7. Liz Haenel, 6. Catherine Thompson, 5. Katie Ognovich, 4. Cara Mills, 3. Sarah Catto, 2. Maria Donadio and bow Bethany Brake finished second in the first round of heats to the Rocket City Rowing Club (Alabama) squad to qualify for the final on Saturday afternoon.

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Cara Mills (left) and Bethany Brake carry their shell to the launch docks for the heats of the junior novice eights event at the Dogwood Regatta in Oak Ridge, TN.

High Point was the only North Carolina crew to qualify for the final,  and finished an outstanding 4th place overall out of a field of sixteen teams entered. The final was won by Chicago, followed by Rocket City, with St. Louis Rowing Club rounding out the medals.

In other racing action over the weekend, High Point entered crews in the first and second divisions of the women’s junior novice four event.

In the Div I event, High Point’s crew of coxswain Bethany Brake, stroke Emma Lloyd, 3. Katie Ognovich, 2. Catharine Thompson and bow Liz Haenel entered the race with high expectations having come fresh from a victory the previous week in Clemson, SC. The team had purchased a shell from Asheville Rowing Club for the regatta but without time for a practice row in the boat were unable to get it rigged correctly to fit the crew.

As soon as the crew launched it was apparent the riggers were set too high for the rowers and the crew struggled up the race course to finish a close third place behind St. Louis and Atlanta. Only the first two crews of the three heat races progressed to the final and St. Louis and Atlanta ultimately went on to finish first and second in the final.

With adjustments to the shell, the team is confident it will have the speed necessary to compete for a victory in its next outing at the Junior Regional Championships.

The final event for High Point at the Dogwood Regatta was the Div II women’s novice fours event. Representing High Point Rowing Club was a new line-up put together for the race of coxswain Aislinn Antrim, stroke Quinn Eury, Anna Kareis, Olivia Mangus and bow Katharine Komsa. The crew gained great experience from the race but missed qualifying for the final.

It was a tremendous regatta for High Point’s youth crew and the team would like to express its gratitude to volunteer coaches Caroline Howard and Gene Kininmonth and all the parents who came to support and provide food for the rowers.

Next up for the team is the USRowing Southeast Junior Regional Championships to be held in Oak Ridge on May 4-5.