New Canaan Crew Takes Silver At National Regatta

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – New Canaan Crew won a silver medal in the Men’s Quad and had several other strong showings as it sent four teams to the USRowing Youth National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The New Canaan Crew team of Graham Mink, Glen Wolyner, Coach Yan Vengerovskiy, Steven Gerasimoff and Mike Senf celebrate after winning silver at the USYouth Nationals.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Tom Renner

06/18/2013 4:00 a.m.

New Canaan’s team of Graham Mink, Glen Wolyner, Mike Senf and Steven Gerasimoff of Stamford won silver. After winning its first race, the team faced rival Narragansett in the semifinals. Narragansett, which beat New Canaan for the Northeast Championship, won by 7 seconds over New Canaan.

Both teams hooked up in the final, and New Canaan pushed Narragansett again. New Canaan was charging late but could not catch its New England rival. “I could not be prouder of these boys," said Coach Yan Vengerovskiy. "They really came together at the end to be the boat I knew they could be. Of all the races the entire season, this effort was their best.”

New Canaan qualified six boats for Nationals; the Men’s Quad, Women’s Quad, Men’s Lightweight Four and the Men’s Lightweight Double. In addition, Bea Tobey and Veronica Hoeft qualified in the Women’s Lightweight Double and Mary Campbell in the Women’s Single. In the end, the decision was made that it would be difficult for Tobey and Campbell to row a possible eight times in three days, so New Canaan entered four boats in order to maximize results.

Juniors Cara Hoelzl, Mary Campbell, and Bea Tobey along with eighth-grader Claire Campbell advanced through prelims and semis to qualify for the A final. They took sixth place overall and show bright promise for next year.

The lightweight double is one of the most competitive races of the weekend. As there isn’t a lightweight quad event, the best lightweight scullers compete in the double. Blake Lange and Merritt Cullman advanced to the B final and took eighth place overall in the Men’s Lightweight Double.

Carson West, Jackson Vogt, Jack Hall-Tipping and Max Kantor along with their cox, Ashwini Rao placed fifth in the C final of the Lightweight Four. Their near photofinish at the end with three boats finishing within a second made it one of the more exciting races of the day.

“All of our athletes worked hard to accomplish their goals. I am so proud of all of them.” Vengerovskiy said.

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