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| Back Row: Gavin Siegert, Mac Bendickson, George Esau, Ryan Rudow, Olivia Zoner, Christina Anderson, Sam Fischer, Brayden Cadwallader Front Row: JJ Heflin, Halcyon Brown and Grace Beck |
“The Boys (and Girls) in the Boat” swept their way to four podium finishes at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships earning spots to compete in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals.
Wayzata residents JJ (Jarrett) Heflin (junior, Wayzata High School) and Halcyon Brown (sophomore, Breck) will be heading to Sarasota Florida to compete in the US Rowing Youth Nationals, June 12-14th. JJ and Halcyon row with the Long Lake Rowing Crew, a non-profit start up community team that they both have helped develop and grow.
The LLRCrew took 12 rowers to compete at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships in Batavia, Ohio, competing with a record number of participants. 36 Midwestern clubs were represented from 10 states with 446 entries and over a thousand rowers. The team kicked off their rowing season by competing where many teams end. All twelve rowers qualified for the finals, with 6 rowers (4 boats) qualifying to compete in the premier youth rowing event in the United States, the U.S. Youth National Regatta, in Sarasota Florida on June 12-14th with over 1500 athletes competing from over 150 clubs across the country, all vying for National titles.
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| Mac Bendickson, Gavin Siegert, George Esau, JJ Heflin placing 3rd in Midwest Jr. Championships; Qualifying for Nationals |
Senior Mac Bendickson (Orono) stunned the competition and finished First in the Mens Youth Single competition. Sophomore Halcyon Brown (Wayzata/Breck) and Senior Olivia Zoner (Orono) placed Second in the Women’s Youth Double and Juniors JJ Heflin (Wayzata) and George Esau (Orono) placed Third in the Mens Youth Double competition. Mac, JJ and George added junior Gavin Siegert (Blake) to their 4X boat, racing and placing Third in the Mens Youth Quad, which qualified the boys in the boat to compete at Nationals in that event.
To achieve the national level results in such a short time is almost unheard of in the rowing world where most clubs have long traditions and histories. When asked about the recent performance Coach Nicholas Miller responded, “I am thrilled by how well these kids have represented our program and our community. They have put in a great deal of hard work and it’s paying off. I am very proud of all of them.”
The Long Lake Rowing Crew (LLRCrew) makes it’s home at the new Birch’s On The Lake (opening late summer/fall), known to most area residents as the old Billy’s Lighthouse.
For more information on how to join the LLRCrew: www.longlakerowing.org
Face Book: Long Lake Rowing Crew
Twitter: @LLRCrew
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