NA Turns In Top Performances at USRowing National Championships

 

Sunday, July 23, 2006

 

Black and gold uniforms were a frequent sight at the medals dock during the 135^th USRowing National Championships held in Indianapolis last week.  North Allegheny’s Brittney Kelly, Erin Dauson and Briana Pittman, along with Steel City Rowing Club boatmate Suzanne Maddama, captured a national title in the women’s junior A (18 & under) quadruple scull race.  They also took a bronze medal in the women’s senior (adult) quad race and placed fourth in the women’s intermediate (college-age) quad race, and Madamma separately captured the women’s junior A single scull title.

 

The NA men contributed a national title of their own as well as a silver medal and two more bronze medals.  Brian Marcus and Ryan Mohan took gold in the men’s B (16 & under) double scull, then came back to join boatmates Jim Rectenwald and Dan Jefferies to take the silver in the junior B quadruple scull competition.  Teammates Joel Mackay, Mark Dissen, Kameron Palagi and Andrew Spirk took their turn at the medals dock to collect the bronze medal in the same event.  In the men’s junior A quadruple scull, the foursome of Mark Nolfi, Alan Meininghaus, Steve Marcus and Bill Francis brought home the bronze medal.

 

“The girls accomplished everything we hoped they could,” said NA coach Don Heckenstaller, referring to the women’s quad.  “By taking the US national title in their own age bracket and rowing strong against more experienced competitors they proved they’re ready for Junior Worlds.”  The four girls and Heckenstaller will travel to Amsterdam, The Netherlands this week to represent the United States in the women’s quad event at the Junior World Rowing Championships.

 

16 boys from NA’s optional summer sculling camp combined to enter 14 boats across five sculling events at the National Championships.  All but one went on to semi-finals and five competed in the finals. 

 

NA coach Aaron LeDonne was very pleased with the boys’ team performance.  “These guys were phenomenal.  This is a young team, with most of them concluding only their first or second year of rowing. To have 13 out of 14 boats go past heats at a national competition is quite a testament to their skill and drive to win.”  He also noted, “Every one of our boys made it to at least one final, and we’re coming home with three medals.  I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

 

The NA rowers will be on summer break until school resumes.  Team try-outs will be held in early September.

 

 

Full results:

 

1^st Place

Women’s Junior A 4x – Brittney Kelly, Erin Dauson, Suzanne Maddama, Briana Pittman

Men’s Junior B 2x – Brian Marcus, Ryan Mohan

 

2^nd Place

Men’s Junior B 4x A – Brian Marcus, Dan Jefferies, Kameron Palagi, Ryan Mohan

 

3^rd Place

Women’s Senior 4x - Brittney Kelly, Erin Dauson, Suzanne Maddama, Briana Pittman

Men’s Junior A 4x A – Mark Nolfi, Alan Meininghaus, Steve Marcus, Bill Francis

Men’s Junior B 4x B – Joel Mackay, Mark Dissen, Jim Rectenwald, Andrew Spirk

 

Other Finals Finishes

4^th Place - Women’s Intermediate 4x – Brittney Kelly, Erin Dauson, Suzanne Maddama, Briana Pittman

6^th Place - Men’s Junior A 4x B – Logan Ellis, Jeremy Tischuk, Gordon Palagi, Zac O’Neill