Clermont Masters Crew earns medals at Columbus meet

The Clermont Crew Adult Rowing team traveled to Columbus, Ohio, on June 7, to compete in the Midwest Masters Sprints

It was a very successful adventure and voyage to the state capital for the Clermont countians.

Gold medals were earned by Mary Taylor (Women’s Masters Lightweight Singles), Lynne Graves (Women’s Masters Singles), Joni Castle and Lissa Heekin (Women’s Masters Doubles), and John Faubion, Mark Perzel, Pat Carpenter, and Steve Hughes (Men’s Masters Quad).

Earning silver medals were Faubion and Heekin (Mixed Masters Doubles) and Carpenter and Perzel (Men’s Masters Doubles).

The bronze medal earners were Castle, Graves, Heekin, and Danielle Jett (Women's Masters Quad).

"This is the second time that the crew participated in this event," said coach Lynne Graves, a resident of the Greater New Richmond area. "The team had a great time and produced great results, bringing home gold medals in four events, silver in two events, and bronze in one event, and exuding lots of enthusiasm."

"I got quite nervous before the start of both of my races. Butterflies in my stomach big time. But once the flag drops and the starter says 'row' you just concentrate on staying in sync and pull hard on your oars and the race is over before you know it," said Mark Perzel, vice president of the Clermont Crew club.

Adult rowers are classified as Masters who are rowers more than 21 years of age.

The Clermont Masters Crew is looking forward to more competition this summer.

The Clermont Masters Crew is an offspring from the Clermont High School Crew that was organized to develop strength and character through discipline and the teamwork of rowing. It also provides a very good path to college and scholarships for dedicated young people.

The Clermont High School Crew was organized in 2000. Team members have come from Amelia, Batavia, Bethel-Tate, Glen Este, Milford, New Richmond, Anderson, and McNicholas high schools as well as home-schooled students.

For more information about rowing and either Clermont Crew, please visit www.clermontcrew.org.