Pictured: Rowers Sondey, Dicker, Langhoff, Cutaia and Lockwood

June 23, 2021: Five Bronxville sophomores competed at the premier US event for junior rowers, US Rowing’s Youth National Regatta, held in Sarasota, Fla. earlier this month.

The five athletes included Bronxville High School students Joseph Cutaia, Kate Dicker, Lizzy Langhoff, Timothy Lockwood, and Bronxville resident and Fordham Prep student James Sondey.

They all raced with Pelham Community Rowing Association, PCRA, a not-for-profit rowing club located at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, NY. They secured spots to compete at Nationals by winning the top three places in their events at the New York State Scholastic Championship Regatta in Saratoga Springs, NY in May.

At Youth Nationals in Florida, held over four consecutive days from June 10-13, the competitors raced on a 2,000m course in over 90-degree heat against top rowing clubs from across the country. In total, there were 2,800 competitors in 754 boats representing over 150 clubs.

“Racing at Youth Nationals was a huge step for this team,” said PCRA’s head girls team coach, Greg King, “The athletes grew over the week and rowed their best races in the finals.” He added, “This team is young but powerful.”

The Regatta began with time trials where each boat raced the clock on the 2,000m course to win a spot for finals. Lockwood and Sondey, rowing together in the Men’s U19 8+(8 rowers and a coxswain, all under age 19), clocked their best time of 5:42.237, moving them to the C final where they finished in 7th place.

Cutaia, coxswain of the Men’s U17 8+, coxed his boat to finish with a time of 6:37.028, moving them to the C final, where they finished in 6th place.

Langhoff rowed in the Women’s U19 4+ with a time of 7:14.184, moving them to the C final, where they finished 4th.

Dicker rowed in the Women’s U17 4+ with a time of 7:39.589, placing them 4th out of 20 boats and securing them a spot in the semi-final. With a photo-finish semi-final, Dicker and teammates moved on to the A final, where they finished 5th overall.

What was it like for these junior athletes to compete at a national event? For Lockwood, it was about forging the team. He said, “I really felt the team dynamic shift to where everyone started pulling for each other and not just for themselves.”

For more information about PCRA’s programs, including Race Team, Learn To Row Summer Camp, and Adult “Masters” program, visit: pcrarowing.com