NA rowing for titles

TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, June 11, 2006

The North Allegheny rowing team went 4 for 4 on Saturday.

The Tigers advanced four boats in the U.S. National Youth Rowing Championships at Harsha Lake, outside of Cincinnati.

"We have never done that before," North Allegheny boys coach Melissa Titus said. "We looked pretty good and hope to race strong (today). The girls did well, too. Coach (Don) Heckenstaller deserves a lot of the credit for that."

North Allegheny will compete today in the Grand Finals, or A races, in the men's youth 1x, men's youth 2x, men's youth 4x and women's youth 4x 2,000-meter sprint races. The A races determine first through sixth place. The Tigers' first race today is at 9:16 a.m. They hope to complete all four races, but the forecast is not favorable.

"(Yesterday) it was cold and wet," Titus said. "It was about 50 degrees, and it pretty much rained all day. They are calling for wind (today), which could make it kind of rough out there."

In addition to North Allegheny, Fox Chapel had two boats competing at the championships -- the women's youth lightweight 4+ and women's youth lightweight 8+. The Foxes qualified for today's B races, which determine seventh through 12th places. There also are C races, which determine 13th through 18th place. The Steel City Rowing Club, which comprises rowers from many Western Pennsylvania high schools, also participated.

Fox Chapel coach Joe Setting said he also is concerned about the weather. He said reports are calling for lightning and thunder. He added he hopes the races go on.

"I hope we can get it in," he said. "I believe Western Pennsylvania is being well-represented. We did better than last year when only one boat qualified for this race, and we were eighth. We hope to better that and have the other boat do well, too. The four is the favorite."