FH Central a champ in regatta
Sunday, April 20, 2008
By Kelly Hill
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- When three of your top rowers are sophomores, the future looks promising. The future looks promising for the Forest Hills Central boys crew team as the Rangers, powered by three sophomores and a senior, won the senior lightweight 4 as well as the senior lightweight 8 on Saturday afternoon in the annual Grand Rapids High School Invitational Regatta at Riverside Park.
FHC sophomores Alex Myers, Brandon Streb and Freddie Morgan were joined by senior Andrew Cooper and coxswain Matt Killman as they won the boys senior lightweight 4 by 2.53 seconds over runner-up Riverview. That foursome was joined by Kyle Sherman, Nick Updegraff, Joe Hong and Anthony Hage in winning the senior boys lightweight 8 by 4.06 seconds over Ann Arbor Huron.
Each of the rowers in the lightweight division must weight fewer than 155 pounds. That mark will be lowered to 150 later in the season. "The guys who won the 4 are four of our strongest guys," FHC coach Don LeBlanc said. "We knew they would be strong this year, but we are really looking forward to next year. If they can keep their weight, by the time they are seniors, they could be competing with teams on the East Coast."
LeBlanc, who brought high-school crew to West Michigan, organizes the regatta and who almost canceled this year's event because of the height of the river earlier last week, believes that at least six of the eight Rangers in winning lightweight 8 should be able to maintain a maximum of 150 pounds throughout their senior seasons.
"They are young, and they have to hold their weight, but if they wanted to compete nationally, I think they have the potential," LeBlanc said. "They have to get serious about it, though. I think six of the eight probably can, but we also have some younger kids who can fill in well for the guys who can't hold that weight."
With crew teams traveling to from St. Catharines, Ontario, the Chicago area, Indiana and the east side of Michigan, LeBlanc had until Thursday afternoon to decide whether or not to stage the regatta. At the time, the docks in Riverside Park were flooded.
Ann Arbor Pioneer won the overall boys and girls championships Saturday afternoon, while Forest Hills Central's boys team finished tied for second with Ann Arbor Huron. Rockford's girls team finished second. The senior girls double from Grand Rapids Crew Saturday afternoon by 7.12 seconds over Culver and Rockford's junior girls 4 won by 10.06 seconds over Forest Hills Central.
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