Tigers’ Junior 4+ third in nation
Marietta girls boat claims bronze in Tennessee
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OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- Marietta's Women's Junior 4+ claimed a bronze medal at the Scholastic Association of America National Regatta on Melton Lake Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers finished the course with a blistering time of 5:42.063, just 4.136 seconds behind the first-place team from Mount St. Joseph.
"It was a really gritty final to finish with the bronze medal," said MHS coach Tanner O'Connor. "They absolutely maxed out on the water and didn't have anything left to give. All four rowers collapsed at the finish line from exhaustion."
The Marietta boat includes five juniors -- Eden Ingram, Wilkey Smith, Katie Lovejoy, Maddie Lovejoy and coxswain Mo Caslow.
Baylor School, a prep school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, finished second with a time of 5:41.441. Finishing fourth through sixth were: West Springfield (5:45.109), Rockford (5:49.329) and Baldwinsville (5:53.137).
Following the race, the rowers shared the following statement.
"It means the world to us to feel so much support from back home. We come from a little town, yet we have made such a huge splash. We are proud of how successful our season has been. We've worked hard for this, and with that we have really surprised our competitors. The only reason this is all possible is because of our supportive coaches who have been by our side. They see our capabilities and help us build upon them and with that we are now ranked in the top three of our whole country. We have worked really hard to appreciate every moment and cherish the little things. All of the days we spent rowing in the blazing sun with aching legs have led us to this achievement. Let the nation know that they need to be ready for next year."
The Tigers advanced to the finals by winning their semifinal race with a time of 5:48.428. Marietta outpaced Baylor School, a prep school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which finished at 5:50.480, and Lower Merion (5:55.780). The final three in the semifinal were Thomas Aquinas (6:06.330), South County (6:08.650) and Manhasset (6:19.952).
"These five girls gave everything they had and then some to represent Marietta well and finished the year as the fastest four in Ohio, fastest in the Midwest and third fastest in the nation," O'Connor said.