Mercer Rowing Club’s women’s high school junior 8+ crew poses at the Navy Day Regatta Oct. 12. Pictured are Noa Rothstein (Council Rock High School), Rachel Calabro (Robbinsville High School), Rena White (Princeton High School), Kate Hickey (Notre Dame High School), Katie Sessa (Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung), Alex Natale (The Hun School), Christie Samios (PHS), Haley Bork (RHS) and Beatrice Sclapari (PHS).
Princeton National Rowing Association’s Mercer Rowing Club kicked off its fall racing season with a championship at the Navy Day Regatta Oct. 12.
The club’s women’s high school junior 8+ crew won first place in the two and a half mile race on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. More than 2,000 masters, collegiate and high school athletes compete at the regatta, which was started in 1986 as a way to promote awareness of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp.
PNRA/Mercer finished the race first out of 18 boats with a time of 14:08, 17 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, Merion Mercy Academy.
The women’s high school junior 8+ crew includes Robbinsville High School students Haley Bork and Rachel Calabro, Princeton HS students Rena White, Beatrice Sclapari and Christie Samios, Notre Dame HS student Kate Hickey, Mount Saint Mary Academy student Katie Sessa, The Hun School student Alex Natale and Council Rock HS student coxswain Noa Rothstein.
The PNRA/Mercer varsity girls are coached by Ted Sobolewksi.
Other notable PNRA/Mercer finishes included the women’s high school junior JV 8+ in third place, men’s masters 4+ in second place and women’s masters 8+ in second place.
The men’s high school junior 8+ crew was not able to defend its 2012 Navy Day championship. A log in the river severely damaged the boat and prevented the crew from finishing the race this year.
PNRA/Mercer is set to travel to Boston, Mass., to compete at the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday Oct. 20.
