First Coast Rowing News

Senior	Joseph "Ty" Crews
High School	Atlantic Coast High School
Years Rowing	7
Favorite Rowing Memory	Sprinting in the 4x at OARS
Favorite Boat/Position	Singles
Future Plans	Ty will be attending Jacksonville University and will be studying Marine Science.
Final Thoughts	“Take care of your body outside of practice.”

Senior	Gannon Nolan
High School	Stanton College Preparatory School
Years Rowing	6
Favorite Rowing Memory	Bowing the quad at Head of the Charles 2018 because we qualified that boat for next year. It’s hard to put into words just how special of a regatta Head of the Charles is, and I take pride in the fact that I helped next year’s rowers be able to experience it too.
Favorite Boat/Position	3 seat in the quad
Future Plans	Gannon will be rowing for Syracuse University and will be studying Journalism.

Senior	Ireland Johnson
High School	Fleming Island High School
Years Rowing	4
Favorite Rowing Memory	My boat winning the costume contest at the Head of The Lafayette (2016). We were characters from the Wizard of Oz. Our coxswain was the witch.
Favorite Boat/Position	Stroke seat. I have been fortunate enough to stroke strong boats. We won State Gold in VA WJr4+ (2017), FL State Gold WV4+ (2019), and Regional Silver WV4x (2019).
Future Plans	Ireland will be rowing for Jacksonville University and will be majoring in Aviation Management & Flight Operations. She will be in a 4+1 (MBA) curriculum. Ireland received a $100,000 merit-based scholarship for aviation and an athletic scholarship for crew.
Final Thoughts	“I was extremely lucky to have athletic scholarship offers for crew from 6 competitive rowing programs across the United States. Fantastic coaches in both Virginia and Florida taught me how to be a competitive rower; I will be forever grateful! Rowing is more than just a sport, it's an "Opportunity" and will forever be a part of me.”

Senior	Sarah Gayle Thornton
High School	Bishop Kenny
Years Rowing	4
Favorite Rowing Memory	There are way too many good memories so I’ll pick the most recent: crossing those last buoys at states this year. I just remember instantly crying and everyone yelling and it was just a perfect way to end my coxing career.
Favorite Boat/Position	Coxing eights.
Future Plans	Sarah Gayle will be attending Florida State University and will be studying Psychology with a minor in Political Science.
Final Thoughts	“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” -Ryunosuke Satoro

The 2019 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships was held May 11-12, 2019, at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

First Coast Rowing Club brought four boats with three in the top three and the team ranking 15th overall in total points. 

• Women's Youth Leightweight 2x: 2nd (8:14.375)
• Women's Youth 4x: 2nd (7:30.018)
• Men's Youth Lightweight 2x: 3rd (7:21.186)
• Men's Youth 4x: 5th (6:45.484)

View Race Results

First Coast Rowing Club Southeast Regionals Team

Women's Youth 4x (Silver Medalists): Ireland Haueter, Anabel Gidcumb, Isabel Bushey, Ella Kemna

Women's Lightweight 2x (Silver Medalists): Danielle Forbes and Ansley Gibson

Men's Lightweight 2x (Silver Medalists): Joseph "Ty" Crews and Sanjay Mohka

Men's Youth 4x: James Meschia,  Gannon Nolan, Antonio Valentino, Aidan Diaz

USRowing Southeast Regional Championships, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Race Course

First Coast Rowing's Tony Valentino, Christian Keiter, Lucy Kemna and Irma Accius have been selected to participate in the inaugural USRowing U17 Olympic Development Program Southeast regional camp taking place this summer. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to develop as athletes, receive top-level instruction, be exposed to regional, collegiate and national team coaches, race against top-level competition and represent the Southeast region in competition. Forty girls and forty boys from each region (Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest) will complete the month long training, culminating in an ODP Regional Cup regatta in Sarasota in mid July.