TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Local Rowers Find Solo Success

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

Four local rowers took gold medals at the Head of the South regatta in Augusta, Ga., on Saturday, while Hillary Schmidt of Berkeley Prep and Kiersten DeHaven of the Academy of the Holy Names took gold in the junior double sculls.

Taylor Athan, who rows for Plant High, won the junior single sculls, while Schmidt won the junior lightweight sculls and DeHaven the junior novice sculls. On the boys side, Raphael Blanco from Berkeley Prep won the junior novice sculls.

"They all performed very well, and I couldn't be happier," Coach Call Collins said. Collins has coached all four of the rowers privately, to add to the work they do with their schools. With no bay area program attending the Head of the South in its own right, Collins led the group in Augusta. Collins said she was pleased with the races each had completed, with all four winning being a nice by-product of their performances.

"It's not really about wins," Collins said. "It's always good if that happens, but what's more important is that they perform to the best of their abilities, and that's how I explain it to them."

Collins, an accomplished rower in her own right, began coaching junior rowers when she coached Plant High's program for a spring season a number of years ago, and while she didn't have the time due to family commitments to continue, the idea of coaching junior rowers appealed to her.

As a result, she began instructing individual rowers. Athan was the first of her current group to join her, three years ago, as she learned to row as a 13-year-old. Athan is a part of the Panthers' varsity 8, but also has found success as a sculler.

Another in Collins' group is Hillsborough standout Katie Burke, who didn't compete in Augusta after a heavy fall schedule. Among her previous students, Collins had two scholastics state champions in Tampa Catholic's Shannon Hoffman, who earned a scholarship to Wisconsin last year, and Berkeley Prep's Steven Cutler, who is now at Princeton.

Collins said she offers a simple message to those she trains.

"You get out of this what you put into it, you really do," she said. "It's not easy, it's very, very difficult, but the anything in life you do is not going to be easy."

RSL Squad Ready For North American Finals

TAMPA - A year ago, RSL Florida's girls Under-17 squad reached the semifinals of the United Soccer League's Super-Y North American Championships. This year, a number from that squad is back to try and win it all.

"The team we've got going to nationals, we've been playing together all summer long," midfielder Ana Cate said. "It's not like it's a new team, we have a lot of confidence in each other and we've playing with each other for a long time."

Cate, who has committed to Auburn for next season, is joined on the RSL team by Newsome teammates Ashley Evers and Morgan Sammons. Plant High also has a large contingent, with Ellen Moore, Amy Werdine, Lexi Rakestraw and Courtney and Connor Zwetsch on the RSL roster. But while the team gets split up once high school season comes around, Cate said it isn't hard for everything to click back into place when they reconvene.

"Once we get back to practicing, it's like we never left," Cate said. "Everybody's friends with each other off the field and on the field, so when you get back, it's like a bunch of old friends getting back together."

For Moore, the experience of playing for a national title is one she is looking forward to. She wasn't a member of the RSL squad a year ago, and is hoping this year's team can live up to their predecessors standards.

"We're hoping to live up to that," Moore said.

There is also the opportunity to play in front of the college coaches that attend the event. As a junior, Moore is about to enter an important time as far as recruiting is concerned.

"With all the college coaches there, it's going to be pretty intense," she said. "It would be pretty cool to win."

Courtney Zwetsch, who has committed to Florida Atlantic, thinks she and her teammates have a chance to bring home a title.

"Last year we won state cup," she said. "We have a lot of confidence. We just need to go out on the field and work hard every time."

Cate agrees, and is eager to get on the field.

"Just saying 'national champions' should give you goose bumps," Cate said. "So to have a chance to play for it in our back yard, it's a good feeling, exciting."

Wolves, Patriots Set For Faceoff

BRANDON - In a rematch of last season's championship game, league leader Newsome Blue and Freedom will square off again Saturday at the Ice Sports Forum, with both sides looking to hand the other its first regulation loss of the season.

Newsome Blue, who face a Lakeland Jenkins team it was tied with on 10 points Tuesday night, had a perfect record after having Saturday off. The Wolves have only conceded two goals in five games, with all but two of their skaters having found the net this season, Scott Vargas leading the way with seven.

Freedom lost in a shootout to Jenkins to open the season, but since then have won four straight, including a 4-1 win against the Tigers on Thursday. Shaun Dickinson scored a hat trick for the Patriots in that game, giving him a team-high seven on the season, while Spencer McNabb has six.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 Keyword: Youth Sports, for more news, notes and live-game stories.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT