Cardinal Crew claims gold at WMIRA

After a Spring season filled with successes and challenges especially from Mother Nature, the BI crew team headed to Georgetown for the WMIRA (Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association) championships on May 11. The day began with much appreciated sunshine and ended with squalls and a gold and 2 bronze medals for the Cardinals! 

The Women’s and Men’s Novice 4 teams started the day off along the picturesque waterfront.  Although neither Bishop Ireton Novice boats progressed out of their heats, it was a great experience for these athletes who finally had their first opportunity to compete on the Potomac after the WMIRA Novice Regatta was cancelled the weekend before due to river flooding and debris. In the next heats, the Women’s 3V4 finished fifth and the Men’s 2V4  placed third.  Both the Women’s V4 (Veronica Richardson, Sarah Rushforth, Elizabeth McCabe, Maggie McCabe, and Audrey Sisel) and 2V4 (DJ Mendoza, Jessica Kammen, Ali Mattoch, Angelica Shiels), and Noelle Chaney) boats finished first in their heats and advanced to the finals.  The Men”s V4 (Sebi Guttierez, Weston Birkett, Evan Feree, David Rapp, and Mikaela Shaller) completed the rounds of heats with a second place finish which also advanced them to the finals.

In the afternoon, the weather suddenly declined with rain and high winds as the Women’s 2V4 contenders battled their way up river to the starting line with Bishop O’Connell, Elizabeth Seton, Holten Arms, and St John’s College. Fortunately, the weather relaxed a bit for the actual race in which the Cardinals triumphed with a first place finish and a gold medal!  The Women’s V4 followed with a third place finish behind O’Connell (1st) and Wilson (2nd).  The final BI race for the day was the Men”s V4 which took third after battling Walter Johnson (1st) and O’Connell (2nd).

​Coach Mieke Cranford said that “Three medals at our conference Championship is something to be very excited about, the future of Ireton Crew is looking strong!”