GRP Row: Where Are They?

Green Racing Project rowers are on the path toward Olympic qualification to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, July 27-August 4.

Recently, the majority of Sprigs competed in US Rowing’s Winter Speed Order in Sarasota, FL, February 15-17:

M1x A Final: Jacob Plihal 4th
M2- A Final: Alexander Hedge/Ezra Carlson 6th
W2- A Final: Daisy Mazzio-Manson 5th in composite
W1x B Final: Emily Delleman 4th
W2- B Final: Emily Froehlich 1st in composite
W1x C Final: Grace Joyce 2nd
M1x C Final: Cooper Tuckerman 3rd
W2- C Final: Erin Boxberger 1st in composite: Sophie Calabrese and Holly Drapp 2nd
W1x D Final: Sera Busse 1st

GRP Row Coach Steve Whelpley says, “This Winter Speed Order marked the most competitive regatta of this quadrennial. Top end performance improved in several boat classes, and the depth of speed was improved across the board. The Sprigs involved did a great job running with the pack and some found on-water personal records in the process.”

7 of those athletes - Emily D., Emily F., Grace, Daisy, Ezra, Alexander, and Jacob - were chosen for the Olympic selection camp which runs March 3-24 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota. There, athletes are trying out for the women’s double sculls, women’s four, men’s four, and women’s eight that are pre-qualified for the Olympic Games. The men’s eight will also be selected from this camp but then will have to earn an Olympic qualification at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta (FOQR) in Lucerne, Switzerland, May 19-21. Additionally, the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls will be selected to then compete at US Olympic Team Trials, April 2-7 in Sarasota with the winners from there also going to the FOQR to gain an Olympic qualification.

“Olympic selection is an intense period,” says Whelpley, “but to have so many Sprigs in the mix and in consideration is a great opportunity for the Green Racing Project.

Best wishes to all of these GRP athletes!