Crew: Oakton High Program Continues to Improve

The Oakton High School Crew team entered the season looking to build from their momentum achieved by the varsity boats during 2011. Last season, the varsity boats raced in the finals at 2011 Virginia State Championships (first place for women’s Lightweight 4, fifth place men’s first varsity eight, fifth place for men’s second varsity eight) and achieved places in the semifinals at Stotesbury Regatta, SRAA Nationals and Canadian Scholastic Nationals on both the men’s and women’s teams.

This year, with the team doubling in size from two years ago to almost 120 athletes, Oakton was able to be competitive at all levels of boats varsity, JV and novice/freshman on both the women’s and men’s squads. 

In 2012, the Oakton women’s team returned to racing the Varsity 8 categories fielding a women’s first varsity eight and second varsity eight that consistently placed in the top five during the regular season. During the VSRC Regatta (Virginia State Championships), the women’s first eight place first in the petite finals and seventh overall of 15 entries and the women’s second eight finished sixth place overall. This is the best place for both women’s eight boats in club history at the annual championship regatta. In addition, the women’s first eight finished a club best of 14th at the Stotesbury Regatta (known as the largest high school regatta in the nation) in Philadelphia.

"This year, we took a new approach to training by building a stronger cardio base than years before. The benefits of our new training paid off in the championship season,” said women’s co-captain Jeannie Evans. “We had a lot of experience in our 1st boat with 25 years combined experience between the eight of us. I can only hope that in years to come we improve even more.” 

The Oakton men’s first and second varsity eight boats continued 2011’s crusade to challenge top area schools. This season the men’s first eight placed in the top 3 and the men’s second eight in the top 4 in every regatta this season on the Occoquan. After finishing seventh at the Virginia State Championships, the men’s first eight repeated last year’s mark by making the semifinals in both the Stotesbury regatta and the SRAA Nationals.

"All the Oakton men pushed themselves to improve throughout the season," said Michael Becker, senior co-captain and a First Team All-Met rower. "We had our good and bad races alike, but by the end of the season at Nationals our racing was at its best."

Brian Evans contributed this report.