stories / masters nationals 2021, oak ridge, tennessee
by Matthew Broder
Thirteen hardy NHRC souls made the fraught journey to Tennessee (complete with travel snafus galore) for four days of racing at Masters Nationals 2021 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The venue was lovely and efficient, and, despite the omnipresent heat and humidity, the regatta was a true pleasure for competitors.
As a club, we punched above our weight—again. With a mere baker’s dozen competitors (plus a couple of friends), New Haven landed 14th (out of 38) in the overall points trophy, 24th (out of 48) in the women's points trophy (with only two female competitors!), 8th (out of 65) in the men's points trophy, 11th (out of 30) in the Clubs-only points trophy.
Add it all together, and NHRC was the model of efficiency (points per competitor): 7th out of 79.
What this means is that literally everyone who went to Tennessee came back with hardware. It was a joyous regatta with daily trips to the medals tent.
To the individual honors, including those for NHRC members who rowed under other flags:
GOLD
Women's Lightweight E 2x: Laura, Ann
Men’s H-K 4x: Baxter, Peter, Ned, R. Sargent
Men’s Club G-K 4+: Becca, Mark, Matt, Dave T., Dave V.
Men’s Club I 4x: Norm (rowing as Sarasota)
Women’s Lightweight D 2x: Laura, Ann
Men’s Open H-K2-: Ned, Norm (I category); Peter, Baxter (J category)
Men’s Open I-K 4-: Baxter, Peter, Ned, Dave V.
Men’s Club F 4+: Becca, Mark, Matt, Dave T., Charlie
Men’s Club H-K 4x: Baxter, Peter, Ned, Dave V. (I category)
Men’s Club H-K 4x: Dan Schley (H category, rowing as Saugatuck)
Women’s Open H-K 2x: Andrea Schley (H category, rowing as Saugatuck)
Mixed E 4+: Gerry Friel (rowing as Chinook)
SILVER
Men’s Open F 2-: Mark, Matt
Men’s Open F 4-: Mark, Matt, Gerry, Charlie
Men’s Club I 4-: Norm (rowing as Sarasota)
Men’s Open H 2x: Dan Schley (rowing as Saugatuck)
Mixed G 2x: Dan Schley, Andrea Schley (rowing as Saugatuck)
Mixed G 4x: Dan Schley, Andrea Schley (rowing as Saugatuck)
Men’s Open E 8+: Gerry Friel (rowing as Chinook)
BRONZE
Mixed E 4x: Leonti, Charlie, Laura, Ann
Men's Open H-K 8+: Becca, Gerry, Matt, Dave T., Dave V., Norm, Peter, Ned, Baxter
Men's Open G 4x: Dan Schley, David Frost (San Diego), Dave T., Dave V.
Women's Open A 8+: Laura, Ann (in a composite boat)
Mixed G 4x: Dan Schley (rowing as Saugatuck)
There were too many special moments to recount over the four days. Two that will stand the test of time were watching Ann Panagulias and Laura Nowacki, a lightweight E 2x, stalk the leader of the younger lightweight D 2x event all the way down the course and blow past them in the sprint for gold, winning by one second; and defeating Riverfront's fearsome men’s F 4+ by 1.5 seconds on Sunday, after having lost to them by 1.7 seconds on Friday in the F 4-.
It’s also important to extend a couple of special thanks. To Harry Gigas, for graciously ferrying the NHRC boats to and from Hartford for transshipment to Tennessee, and especially to Dave Thomas for organizing the team, making the entries, and providing the competitive spirit and enthusiastic sportsmanship that give NHRC such a great reputation in the rowing community.
Masters Nationals 2021 was a special experience.
