USRowing Nationals 2025 wrapped up on Sunday June 15th with an outstanding performance across the board by the River Rats! While the weather was spotty the Nationals organizers did an incredible job finding a way to continue the big stage racing.
CBC qualified 6 boats, each in a different event. The 4- was a completely new crew of girls with the exception of Sophie Bell (whom was in the 4- boat in 2024 where the boat won gold medals). With captain Bell (and returning champion, familiar with the event) leading the crew from the bow the crew had great races across the board. Layla Sisca stroked the boat fearlessly, followed by Camilla Calderwood, Senior leader Reagan Weneck in 2 seat. The straight four finished in second place at the A Final and were all smiles, super proud of all of their hard work!
The teams youngest gals were the U16 4x+ led by coxswain, Mishi Khamish from Staples High School. Stern pair was a returning duo from last years event, LeeLee Alix and Emily Goertel. With bow pair being Catherine Parent and Kate Surette (whom finished her novice season in the spring!). Khamish’s boat finished 5th in the country on the grand stage of the A final. It sure was a nail biter at the finish line as a photo finish took place with both CBC and Parati’s boats within a second of finishing in 3rd place.
It was a great 6th in the nation finish for the U17 4x! The boat was led by Westport’s Skye Coats, New Canaan’s Leighton Busby in 3 seat, in 2 seat Darien’s Brooke LeBaron, and bowed by Noelle Basta of Stamford. This diverse Fairfield County representation was exciting to see blend together and perform as outstanding as they did. The girls worked so hard all season and deserved to be top 10 in the country.
Under primarily coach Steve Baranoski’s leadership, the club’s V4x also had a great nationals experience! The crew finished 8th in the country, 2 seconds behind 7th place finisher. It was a tight race as 9th place finisher, Nereid finished with a time difference of .8 behind the CBC boat led by Captain, Iso McCoy in bow seat. Christina Charnin rowed in 2 seat, Charlotte Mickelborough (3 seat), and stroked by Sophia Dranchak.
A crew primarily of rising seniors earned their seats in the 2V4x event. Sophia Kearns sat in stroke seat, followed by Alex Maniatty in 3 seat, Holly Hulme in 2 seat and Tanaya Dixit in bow seat. Their finals race didn’t require a photo finish but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a strong race/battle down the course. Baranoski’s boat fought off the start line and hung in the race, pushing themselves to new limits and learning new skills in racing at the Nationals level.
The Varsity 4+ event is one of the toughest events to race in at Nationals (in my opinion). Head Coach Liz Trond and Steve Baranoski put together an incredible 4+ to race this challenging event. Coxswain, Allison Murray steered and instructed the boat down the course. Murray had her close friend, Kam Morgenstern in bow, Katie Estabrook in 2 seat, Ohio State commit Avril MacHale in 3 seat, and stroking the boat was Norah Surette. The crew finished 22nd in the country, ahead of local competitor, Row America Rye.
The club is so proud of all of the girls that raced at Nationals and the girls that stayed home and continued training. Summer Camps are running all summer long so don’t forget to sign up!
Congrats to the River Rats and to all crews at USRowing Nationals 2025!