Oakland Strokes Wins Two National Gold Medals

Oakland Strokes won gold twice Sunday as the women's varsity 8 and the women's lightweight eight both placed first in the USRowing 2012 youth national championships in Oak Ridge, TN Sunday.

The men's lightweight 8 from Oakland Strokes won first place in the "B" finals. Lamorindans peppered the ranks of all boats and included:

Women V8: Amanda Rutherford (cox), Alia Schafi, Lafayette (Acalanes) (8), Brittany Presten, Orinda (College Prep) (7), Camille Triebsch (6), Corinne Bozzini, Lafayette (Campolindo) (5), Katie Hubert (4), Ellen Pate (3), Krissy Lukins, Lafayette (Campolindo) (2), Laura Rosas, Orinda (Miramonte) (1)

Women Light 8: Caroline Carper (cox), Elizabeth Pate, Orinda (Miramonte) (8), Sarah Runyon, Lafayette (Campolindo) (7), Indigo Catton (6), Anna Wietelmann (5), Elizabeth Elmgren (4), Tara Bozzini (3), Katie Bird (2), Michelle Lee, Orinda (Miramonte) (1)

Mens Pair: Tanner Malone (2), Luke O'brien (1)

Mens Light 8: Vikram Prasad (cox), David Hosler (8), Jack Maxxson (7), Cameron Baker (6), Erik Johnson (5), Ben Stollman (4), Ryan Sandy (3), Bryan Wharton (2), Alec Petty (1)

“Overall, we just had a great group this year,” said Oakland Strokes coach Derek Brynes in a US rowing press release. “We had just one hiccup at our regional, but I mean just a phenomenal year. Talk about a new level of women’s rowing. That was such an amazing field out there.”

Oakland Strokes, a 200-member junior rowing club for middle and high school students, represents 29 Bay Area high schools and has sent countless student-athletes to college rowing programs across the country. Each year the Strokes boats place strongly in local, regional and national championship regattas. Its boathouse is on the Oakland estuary near the High Street Bridge.