Milley, third from left, in Chattanooga last fall competing with AJRA’s Varsity Men 8+.

Joe Milley, a rising senior at Walton High School, has been selected to attend USRowing’s Junior National High Performance Camp this summer. This invitation-only camp is designed to identify high-performing athletes early in their rowing careers, and to give them the skills and tools necessary to become a better and faster rower, with the ultimate goal of earning a seat on the 2014 Junior Worlds team.

Additionally, rowers at High Performance Camp may be selected to compete nationally and/or internationally this summer. Top athletes from these camps will be selected for the 2013 Junior Worlds Development Team, the 2013 Junior Canamex team, or to represent the US at Club Nationals in New Jersey this summer.  Milley is one of about 30 rowers and coxswains selected from across the country who will be attending High Performance Camp. He has rowed with AJRA for two years, and competed this past spring in the Men’s Varsity 8+.

More information about all USRowing Junior National Team Camps can be found at www.usrowingjrs.org.

Team pictures of AJRA spring Novice and Varsity squads are now available for download or purchase at www.michaelgeng.com under the “Recently Posted” section.   Questions?  Email Karen Geng at karen.geng@aeroknotics.com.

Thanks to regatta food coordinator and volunteers who toughed the foul weather to keep our rowers fed!

This past weekend, AJRA traveled to USRowing’s Southeast Junior Regional Championships to wrap up the spring season and race for bids to Youth Nationals. Continuing the strong performances of the spring season, AJRA brought home six regional championships in a record-breaking day for the club.

While there are many crews worth highlighting, the most impressive result was found in the overall points standings — AJRA finished second overall of all 43 clubs attending the regatta, and with their finish in the point standings, brought home the Women’s Points Trophy for the first time!

This was the final spring competition for many of the AJRA crews, including the novice squads. The men’s novice team competed in the Novice 8+ and 3rd Varsity 8+ events, entering four competitive entries and showcasing their strength from top to bottom. The women’s novice team had their best racing of the spring, bringing home a silver medal in the Novice 8+, and finishing with strong placement in their second and third boats.

AJRA earned six bids to the USRowing Youth National Championships by earning a top three finish in these varsity-level events: Men’s and Women’s Varsity Pairs, Men’s and Women’s Lightweight Fours, Women’s Varsity Four, and Women’s Varsity Eight.

Gold: Men’s Varsity 2-, Women’s Varsity 2-, Women’s Varsity 4+, Women’s Lightweight 4+, Women’s 2nd Varsity 8+, Women’s 2nd Varsity 4+

Silver: Women’s Novice 8+ A, Men’s 3rd Varsity 8+ A

Bronze: Women’s Varsity 8+, Men’s Lightweight 4+ B, Men’s 2nd Varsity 8+, Women’s 2nd Varsity 8+ B, Men’s 3rd Varsity 8+ B

See all results and point standings here.

Eleven high school seniors at AJRA were recruited from this year’s Varsity squads to row at college crew programs — representing the highest number of recruits in the club’s 25-year history.

Pictured top left to right are Maddie Wilson (UCLA), Leigh Shanor (Boston University), Mary Waldman (Louisville), Sarah Hudnall (Michigan), Cassi Lobaugh (Nova Southeastern), and Emili Earhart (Wisconsin). Bottom left to right are Lily Trapkin (Hamilton College), Maggie Nugent (Alabama), Morgan Bean (Harvard), Trevor Appier (Northeastern), and Hannah Onians (West Virginia).

AJRA’s recruits are featured in the May 1 edition of many local Neighbor newspapers. The paper also highlights AJRA’s Learn to Row Open House scheduled at the boathouse on Saturday, May 11 from 9am-noon as well as our 2013 Learn to Row Summer Camps.

Congratulations to AJRA’s recruits — many of whom began rowing in our Learn to Row program!