The Woodlands Crew Claims Four Golds at the 40th Annual Head of the Colorado Regatta

THE WOODLANDS, TX --- Rowing Club of The Woodlands delivered a commanding performance at the 40th Annual Pumpkinhead Regatta, held on October 26, 2024. Coach Joe Flynn comments that Austin's Lady Bird Lake is a “Spectacular venue” with “solid performances by our juniors.” According to Flynn, “the coaches tried different boatings to see what might work for the Spring 2025 season.” The boatings seem to have a lot of potential as the club's athletes earned an impressive thirteen medals across various categories.

Women's Program Shows Comprehensive Excellence

The women's junior team demonstrated remarkable depth with six medals across multiple boat classes. A standout moment was in the Women's Junior 4x event, where the powerhouse crew of Alisha Muncherjee, Lili Shiver, Alexia Fierro Lopez, and Allison Fruehwirth claimed gold with a commanding performance. The novice program proved equally impressive, with the 4x crew of Madilynn Dillard, Alexia Fierro Lopez, Elli Jelinek, and Priscilla Rodriguez winning gold in their category.

Muncherjee and Shiver added to their success by claiming silver in the Junior Open 2x, while the promising duo of Elsie Godin and Allison Fruehwirth earned bronze in the U17 2x division. Dariia Pylypenko earned herself a silver in Junior U17 1x. Rounding out the women's medal tally, Dillard and Rodriguez demonstrated their growing skills with bronze in the Junior Novice 2x.

Men's Squad Displays Unprecedented Depth

The men's program matched their female counterparts with six medals, showing particular strength in the novice category. The novice 4x crew of Charlie Adams, Elliot Godin, David Yamakov, and Michael Leatherman powered their way to a gold medal. The same athletes also dominated the novice 2x category, with Leatherman and Adams taking gold; Godin and Yamakov securing silver, showcasing the program's strong focus on developing young talent.

In individual events, Liam Barnes continued his impressive season with silver in the Junior U19 1x. The U17 1x category proved equally successful, with Harry Godin and Mariano Gomez Medrano securing silver and bronze, respectively. This highlights the program's strength in developing single scullers.

Masters Program Adds to Medal Count

The club's masters program contributed to the successful day, with Tom Heitbrink and Jennifer Evans securing silver in the Mixed Masters 2x, demonstrating the club's comprehensive excellence across all age groups.

Training Partnership Yields Results

The club's recent partnership with international sculling champion Cameron Buchan has clearly elevated the club's performance. The impact of this enhanced training approach was evident in the crews' execution during the challenging head race format, with multiple boats displaying superior technique and endurance throughout the 5000-meter course. Coach Flynn commented “Head Racing is always about pushing yourself on every stroke. Our RCTW athletes stayed focused and engaged.”

Looking Ahead

Coach Joe Flynn adds, “This is our second Fall Regatta, so athletes are looking for validation of their Summer and Fall training on the water and the erg. The 5K race is a good test.” The team faces a quick turnaround as they prepare for the Waco Rowing Regatta on November 10, 2024, where the club looks to maintain this momentum and close out their fall racing season on a high note. This rapid succession of competitions will test the team's endurance and adaptability, but the coaching staff is confident in their athletes' preparation and resilience.