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Community Corner

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association Qualifies Three Boats for Youth National Championships

Atlanta Junior Rowing Association (AJRA) has qualified three boats for the nation’s premier youth rowing event based on their finishes at the SE Regional Youth Championship held May 10-11 in Sarasota , FL.   Rowers from the three qualifying boats – Varsity Men’s 8, plus coxswain; Varsity Women’s 8, plus coxswain; and Varsity Men’s pair -- will participate in the National Youth Championship to be held June 13-15 near Sacramento , CA .  At this regatta, the AJRA crews will have the opportunity to compete with the top boats in the country for a national championship.  Crews qualify for the national bid by placing in one of 18 events at a recognized qualification regatta such as the SE Regional competition, which included competitors from seven Southeastern states. The Men’s 8 qualified for Nationals by finishing third at Regionals.  Rowers who will represent AJRA at Nationals are Kevin Bower (Blessed Trinity HS); Chandler Boyd (Riverwood HS); Joe Cecil (Johns Creek HS); Joe Milley (Walton HS); Matt Morelli (Roswell HS); Michael Stagnaro (Cambridge HS); Jack Tucker ( Westminster ); James Virgo (Milton HS) and coxswain McKenzie Parks ( Westminster ). The Women’s 8 placed third at Regionals.  Rowers are Isabelle Babb, Anna Ellis and Annie Jachthuber ( Westminster ); Kathryn Cosgrove and Hayley Liebenow (Johns Creek HS); Paige Earhart (North Springs HS); Nicole Lane (Northview HS); Aja List (Chattahoochee HS) and coxswain Zoe Canaras (Milton HS). The Men’s pair earned fourth place at Regionals.  Rowers and their respective high schools are Rob McKenzie (Roswell HS) and Hunter Smith (Wheeler HS). The AJRA Head Coach is Sam Greenblatt.  He also coaches the Varsity Men’s squad along with Zach Smarr.  The Varsity Women are coached by Skye Elliot with Christine Waite as assistant. AJRA was founded in 1988 as a nonprofit club sport dedicated to providing opportunities for high school students throughout metro Atlanta to participate in the Olympic sport of rowing.  Today, AJRA has more than 130 rowers from approximately 30 high schools who row in spring and fall seasons at regattas across the Southeast.  In addition, AJRA has a developmental team of some 60 rowers from local middle schools.  This summer, approximately 200 students are signed up to participate in one or more of the club’s two-week “Learn to Row” co-ed sessions offered for 13-18 year olds.

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