BETHEL, Ohio - This season, the 2015 USRowing Club Nationals was a homecoming for New York Athletic Club's Head Coach Nick Dawes. Returning to his home course from his younger years of rowing, Dawes is excited to bring his diverse group of rowers from across the country to the lake he once called home.
"It is a special feeling getting to return to my home course and get to coach here," said Dawes. "We have a wide range of rowers this summer from all across the country and Club Nationals is a great opportunity to race with and against people you don't normally see."
"Coming to Club Nationals is different every year because club's programs can range differently over the summers from year to year. I think it is off to a great start and we are looking forward to some fast racing."
Racing at day one of the 2015 USRowing Club Nationals started smoothly as clear skies and fast racing filled the summer afternoon.
The morning began with time trials in 14 events Wednesday morning with the top-21 times advancing into the afternoon racing.
New York AC crews would go on to advance out of the heats in 10 events including the intermediate men's double sculls which posted on of the closest margins of the afternoon claiming second over the Peconic-Narraggansett composite double by .562-seconds.
While both crews moved on to the semifinals, the race was one of the first close-to-call races of the evening.
Of the 28 heats on Wednesday night, women's crews represented 10 events. Sarasota Crew, posting the most entries of the regatta with 70, secured their first spot in Friday's final as the women's pair of Monica Whitehouse and Morgan Weller crossed the finish line in front of crews from Seattle Area Rowing Association and the Badger Development Camp in 8:15.266.
"We went into the race looking to find our flow and just have fun," said Whitehouse. "Right from the start we knew it was going to be interesting as we battled against the Wisco and Washington boats. We all stayed pretty close together and it was a lot of fun working through them to pull ahead."
The win was especially sweet to Whitehouse who managed to keep her bow ball in front of her younger sister in the Badger Development Camp pair.
Racing continues tomorrow at 8 a.m. starting with semifinals in the men's intermediate eight. Finals for the first 37 events will be held Friday beginning at 8 a.m.