What a difference a year makes! After foul weather caused the cancellation of the event last year, this year’s weather could not be more different. Under sunny skies in the morning and temperatures in the 50’s, Saline High School rowers joined clubs from Northville High School, the Detroit Boat Club and the Rockford High School rowing club on Saturday at the Don Lubbers Cup Regatta (www.lubberscup.com) in Spring Lake, Michigan.
Named after former Grand Valley State University President and rowing supporter, Arend D. (Don) Lubbers, the annual event features hundreds of high school and college rowers and some of the top rowing teams from all over the Midwest. Since its origin in 1995, the Lubbers Cup Regatta has grown to an event that attracts over 500 student athletes to Spring Lake to kick off the regatta season. The Lubbers Cup is produced in partnership with The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Grand Valley State University Club Sports, Grand Valley Rowing Club, and the communities of Spring Lake and Ferrysburg and is hosted by the Spring Lake Yacht Club.
While the main rowing action is at the collegiate level with teams from Clarkston University, Colorado State University, Drake University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Purdue University, University of Illinois and University of Cincinnati, Saline rowers competed in six 1,500 meter events on Saturday and medaled in four of the events.
The Saline Women’s Varsity 8 (A) boat (Allie Fiske, Sara Loughman, Francesca LaChance, Michaela Wells, Elizabeth Walsh, Rachael Weidmayer, Alexis Wolf, Jenna Jansa and Coxswain Sarah Carter) fought to a first place finish in its race with a time of 5:04, 4 seconds ahead of the second place boat from Rockford and 16 seconds ahead of the third place boat from the Detroit Boat Club. The Saline Women’s Varsity 8 (B) boat also earned a respectable second place finish in its race.
The Men’s Varsity 8 (A) boat (Sean Hutfles, Ian Marlow, Matt Eby, Michael Torssell, Julian Rodriguez, Oliver Mepham, Travis Krause, Ben Friman and coxswain Victoria Wellings) provided for excitement in its race finishing a mere 17 seconds off the winning boat from the Detroit Yacht Club and 12 seconds behind the boat from Rockford. . The Saline Men’s Varsity 8 (B) boat also earned a strong third place finish in its race.
Next weekend is the Skyline High School hosted Regatta on Barton Lake on May 3, 2014 followed by:
- Wi-Hi Regatta, Wyandotte, MI – May 9-11, 2014
- Michigan High School Championship Regatta, Grand Rapids, MI – May 17, 2013
- London Ontario Regatta – May 24, 2014
- Grand Rapids High School Regatta – May 31, 2014
- Canadian School Rowing Championship (St. Catherine’s, ONT) – June 6-9, 2014
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