Fleming Island High pair part of rowing state title

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor

Posted 5/1/19

SARASOTA – Two area rowing teams took to the waterways of Sarasota at the Florida State Rowing Association Sweep Championships on April 27-28 with two Fleming Island High School athletes coming …

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Fleming Island High pair part of rowing state title

Posted Wednesday, May 1, 2019 12:00 pm

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor

SARASOTA – Two area rowing teams took to the waterways of Sarasota at the Florida State Rowing Association Sweep Championships on April 27-28 with two Fleming Island High School athletes coming home with gold medals.

“Last year, we won one state titles and five medals,” said First Coast Rowing Club director Paul Mokha.”It’s gotten better, we won four state titles this year with eight medalists. Rowing has a long history in north Florida. Rowing has doubled in Florida with 48 programs with 20 high school teams over the past 10 years.”

First Coast Rowing Club’s Varsity 4+ team of Ireland Haueter, 18, a Fleming Island High School senior; Danielle Forbes, 19; Anabel Gidcumb, 18, also a Fleming Island High School senior; Ella Kemna, 17, and alternates Alyssa Bacchus, 17, and Ansley Gibson, 16 won the gold medal 1500 meter championship race with a five minute, 27.5 second clocking to defeat the RowHouse of Miami and Jacksonville’s Episcopal School. Also in the race were the Hollywood Rowing Club, The Bolles School and Melbourne.

“We will be going to a region event in Tennessee and, hopefully, be able to get some boats to the nationals in Sarasota,” said Mokha. “We took two boats last year to nationals. First Coast Rowing grew out of the very successful Stanton Prep High School team.”

The First Coast Boys 2- team; Sanjay Mokha, 19, and Joseph Crews, 18, won their 1500 meter championship race in 5:21.70. St. Johns Country Day School got a sixth place in the Petite Final of the Freshman 4+ race with Ashlyn Anderson, 13; Jennifer Johnson, 13; Megan Wilcox, 15 and Addison Frisbee, 13, and Sophia Woolard, 13. The First Coast boys Freshman 4+ took third in their 1500 meter final behind Treasure Coast and Miami Rowing.

In the Petite Final of Boys freshman 8s, St. Johns took second with a 5:21.70 time with Plant High winning in 5:12.80.

In girls 2nd Varsity 4, First Coast (Bianca Jean Philippe, 17; Irma Accius, 15; Lucy Kemna, 15; Darby Smiler 16) took second to Bolles with Bolles clocking 5:51.00 for the win and First Coast runnerup at 5:53.90.

In boys 2nd Varsity 4, St. Johns Country Day School finished seventh.

In girls junior 4s, First Coast was second to North Orlando. The St. Johns boys 2nd varsity 4 took fourth in the Petite Final.

The First Coast Rowing Club is based out of Jacksonville, but encourages athletes from the entire north Florida area to try one of their many summer camps with a free Youth Learn to Row camp for 7th-9th graders.