Oakland Artemis Rowing Off to Strong Start this Season

By Carolyn Jones

Oakland’s Artemis Rowing is off to a championship spring after great shows at two recent regattas. Rowers from all levels brought back medals and set personal records at the Pacific Invitational Regatta at Lake Merced on March 2 and a meet against Stockton Rowing Club at the Oakland Estuary on March 24.

“We are moving in the right direction,” says Head Coach Will Stevens.

At the Pacific Invitational, Artemis competed against 13 strong Northern California crews, bringing home four 1st-place finishes, two 2nd-place and numerous third place.

“We work hard to integrate the new kids with the more experienced rowers, so they can learn from each other. That pays off,” said Novice Coach Sarah Tinsley. “I was so excited to see how well they all did in their first spring race. Everyone worked really hard and was so supportive of each other, it was great to see them do so well.”

The varsity crews did especially well. The Women’s Varsity 2x, with Maryse Suppiger and Milena Robles-Wong, placed first in their flight with a time of 6 minutes, 41.3 seconds. First-place honors also went to the Women’s Varsity 4+, with Nile Wynar, Natalie Foster, Olivia Walsh and Sarah Newsham. Their time was 6 minutes, 38.2 seconds.

In the top flight of the Women’s Varsity 2x competition, Artemis rowers Christine Hovermale and Blanca Seiter placed second. Their time was 6 minutes, 18.7 seconds.

The freshmen and novice men and women also shone at the Pacific Invitational. The Mens Frosh 8, in a strong flight placed 3rd, just 5 seconds out of first, after leading the field until the last 200 meters of the race. First place awards went to the Womens Frosh 8 “A” boat and the Womens Novice 4 “B” boat, while the Frosh 8 “B” boat won second place.

The Mens Frosh 8 rowers were Josh Morgan, Isaiah Thomas, Evan Kerr, Jordan Corona, Anthony Bee-Martinelli, Charlie Thudium. Rudi Skowronski was coxswain.

The Womens Frosh “A” boat rowers were Maryse Suppiger, Christine Hovermale, Blanca Seiter, Milena Robles-Wong, Chloe Wanaselja, Olivia Walsh, Natalie Foster and Katie Snodgrass. Molly Hetherwick was coxswain. The winning time was 5 minutes, 49.8 seconds.

The Novice 4+ “B” rowers, who finished in 6 minutes, 19.9 seconds, were Jackie Christie, Maura Phillips, Chloe Wanaselja and Mako Williams. Jiya Ridgway was coxswain.

The Frosh 8 “B” boat was Sophia Moore, Vanessa Wittmer, Riley Moore, Avery Andrews, Maura Phillips, Sierra Shea, Mako Williams, Kira Marshall. Moire Bruin was coxswain. They finished in 5 minutes, 50.8 seconds. 

Next up for Artemis is the Long Beach Invitational, followed by the 510 Sprints on the Estuary and the Southwest Regional Championship at Lake Natoma near Sacramento. In July the team heads to Vancouver for the British Columbia Championships as the culmination to its summer season.

Artemis Rowing, formerly Oakland Youth Rowing, includes over 90 rowers from middle school through adult, at all skill levels, for recreational and competitive rowing. The club emphasizes  inclusiveness of all East Bay youth, providing high-caliber training and camaraderie for rowers of all backgrounds.

For information, go to http://www.artemisrowing.org/