Every year, during the first weekend in November, CYC rowers travel to Chattanooga, TN for the Head of the Hooch, a national regatta that this year attracted 180 clubs from as far away as Tempe, Arizona.
And, once again, CYC punched above its weight, coming in Fourth overall! We earned 3 gold (Mixed 4X, M’s 8+, W’s 1X), 3 silver (M’s 4+, M’s 2X, Mx 8+), and 3 bronze (W’s 1X, M’s 4X, Mx 4+) medals.
Best of all, we had a great time. Here are the details.
SATURDAY
Saturday started off strong with the Women’s Quad taking fifth out of ten in an Open race, meaning they were rowing against a field including collegiate competitors and received no age handicap. Rowers were Casey McKenna-Monroe in stroke seat, Jenn Moore, Ona Gilmore, and Sharon Arnett.
In the next race, the Mixed 4X took Gold. The boat was stroked by Carl Parziale, followed by June Lambla, Melissa McGuire, and bowed by Phil Gilmore.
A second Catawba mixed quad came in fourth in the same race. The boat was stroked by Kevin Dalton, with Nancy Teaff, Peter Hunt, and Denise Cenit.
The Women’s 8+, which included some new CYC rowers came in 13th out of twenty. The 8 was coxed by Katie Vogel and rowers included Rhonda Stewart at stroke seat, followed by Celeste Knittel, Ashley Lamano, Joan Dalton, Serena Apostal, Carolyn Stevens, Caitlin Cary, and Emma Jang.
In the Men’s 4X, CYC took Silver. The boat was stroked by Pete Stanislaw, followed by Rich Rabassa, Dick Fuller and Bob Fuller.
To round out a medal-packed day, the Men’s 8+, coxed by Beth Geiger, took Gold and brought home a trophy now sitting in the CYC trophy case. The rowers were Tom Phillips at stroke seat, with Carl Parziale, Henri Durand, Phil Gilmore, Kevin Dalton, Phil Hughston, Pete Stanislaw, and Dick Fuller.
Other races Saturday included Ashley Lamano and Rich Rabassa in a Mixed Double, Tom Phillips and honorary CYC rower, Tom Hornick in a Men’s double, a Womens 4X with Casey McKenna-Monroe, Jenn Moore, Ona Gilmore, and Sharon Arnett and coxswain Katie Vogel. In addition, there were two boats in the Women’s 2X, one with Caitlin Carey and Emma Jang, and the other with Carolyn Stevens and Joan Dalton.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, CYC continued to collect medals, starting with two singles races. First, Casey McKenna-Monroe took Gold in the age 21 tp 42 category. Melissa McGuire followed with a Bronze medal in the over-55 category.
In the Mixed 4+, CYC came in third for a Bronze medal. The boat was coxed by Katie Vogel and rowed by Phil Hughston, Pete Stanislaw, Jenn Moore and Sharon Arnett.
CYC’s third Bronze medal came in the Men’s Quad stroked by Carl Parziale, with Kevin Dalton, Henri Durand, and Phil Gilmore. Another CYC boat came in 7th in the race with David Lewis, Peter Hunt, Rich Rabassa, and Doug Villaret.
The Fuller Brothers came through once again, winning Silver in the Men’s 2X.
CYC’s third Silver medal came in the Mixed 8+, coxed by Katie Vogel, with Phil Houghston at stroke seat, followed by Pete Stanislaw, Celeste Knittel, Ona Gilmore, Doug Villaret, David Lewis, Rhonda Stewart, and Carolyn Stevens.
Other events Sunday were Tom Phillips with his daughter, Annie, who came in 9th out of 20 in the Parent-Child event after having to come to a stop in the middle of the race when an official’s boat crossed their bow. Also, there were 2 CYC boats in the Women’s 4X race. The younger boat was rowed by Caitlin Cary, Serena Apostal, Ashley Lamano, and Emma Jang. The older boat, which came in 9th out of 19 was rowed by Jenn Moore at stroke, June Lambla, Nancy Teaff, and Melissa McGuire.
All in all, it was a great race weekend!! Thanks to everyone who helped launching and catching our boats.
