By Teresa Martinez - Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Belen Crew competes in the lightweight men's division of the U.S. Scholastic Rowing Association of America's national championships, held Memorial Day weekend in Cooper River, N.J.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Belen Crew pose with the trophies they won in the United States Scholastic Rowing Association of America's national championships in Cooper River, N.J.
MIAMI | Belen Jesuit's crew team had a very successful showing at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America's national championships, completely sweeping the men's lightweight categories and bringing home 5 gold and 1 silver medals.
Over 180 schools from all over the United States and Canada competed May 22-24 in Cooper River, N.J. The results made the Belen Jesuit Prep team the overall winner of the men's categories, with Saratoga Crew second. These victories also highlight Belen's domination of the Lightweight Crew division, with a clean sweep of the gold medals in all the men's events.
Belen Jesuit also has been invited to compete next month in the Royal Henley Regatta in London, England. This is the oldest and one of the most prestigious rowing regattas in the world.
Every year, a few U.S. schools are invited to compete against the top high schools in Europe. Given Belen’s dominant performance over the past few years, the team has been selected by the regatta organization to compete for the Princess Elizabeth Cup and the Fawley Challenge Cup.
“We are very proud of the crew team, their coaches, and parents,” said Jesuit Father Pedro Suarez, school president. “The athletes that compete in crew also maintain high grade point averages and are sought after by some of the most prestigious schools. This year, five students have signed national letters of intent to row at the collegiate level."
Those students are:
- Alejandro Seda – St. Joseph’s University
- Alexander Keenan – University of Pennsylvania
- Nicolas Keenan – University of Pennsylvania
- Hector Formoso-Murias – Georgetown, and
- Manuel Sanchez – Cornell University.
During the fall, the team won 6 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals at the Head of the Indian Creek Regatta in Miami Beach. Additionally, they won a silver and a sixth place in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston; 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze and overall team points while winning the Youth Team Trophy at the Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tenn.; and 4 gold, 2 silver at the Head of the Giblet in Orlando.
The crew team began its inaugural season in mid-November 2000 and since then has secured many victories and awards. It is currently led by Head Coach Yunian Cabrera. The team is made up of 95 students in grades 6 through 12 who compete in over 14 events throughout the season.
