EUGENE, Ore. – The Bainbridge Island Rowing Team, showing strength and composure in dozens of races, took home the top honor — the Junior Team Trophy — at the Covered Bridge Regatta last weekend in Eugene, Ore.

Recognized for exceptional overall race results, the Bainbridge rowers earned the first-place ranking of 13 high schools competing in the regatta. The trophy honors the team with the highest average number of points won in each event the team entered.

In the first regatta of the spring season, 113 Bainbridge rowers won gold, silver and bronze in a flurry of 22 races over the two-day period.

Some 1,200 rowers converged on Dexter Lake, near Eugene, to compete in the regatta, now in its 20th year. Masters, collegiate and high school teams participated in 91 races over the weekend.

The weather cooperated throughout, giving teams a fast course and ample sunshine.

Bainbridge Head Coach Tim Goss said, “My hat’s off to all of them for racing hard, helping out, and having fun.”

The varsity boys from Bainbridge — Connor Teddy, Alex Derry, Cole Sander, Bryson Allen, Gabe Schulz, Walker Hauptman, Thomas Musselwhite, Keegan Dymoke and coxswain Keith Carlson — took home nine medals, medaling in all races entered.

Late Saturday afternoon, two 4 boats placed first and third, with another four placing third in their race.

Soon after, two Bainbridge Varsity 4+ boats took second in their respective races, with yet another Bainbridge 4+ boat placing third.  The next morning, as the Varsity 8 backed into the start for their race, Walker Hauptman’s seat dropped a wheel leaving him only able to row on three wheels in the race. Despite the setback, the boys persevered and went on to place second, less than two seconds behind Stanford Rowing Center.

Not to be outdone, the second Varsity 8s sprinted for gold and bronze in one of the last races of the weekend. Gold went to John Michael Najarian, Matthew Greenwood, Parker Isenman, Trevor Wikstrom, Zander Welch, Morgan Spray, Garrett Johnson, Henry Lant and coxswain Madeline Crawford.

The varsity girls had a solid trip, and medaled in seven of nine entries.

In the 4s, the first and second lightweight boats finished first and third. The first and second open-weight boats both placed second in their heats, with the third boat winning their race.

Late on Saturday, the Varsity and Lightweight Varsity Girls 8+ boats both won their races convincingly, with the Varsity Girls boat subduing a Vashon crew that had beaten them by over a length in a scrimmage just two weeks ago. The Varsity 8 is Elisabeth Chun, Abby Leigh, Elizabeth Fawley, Faith Eckford-Prossor, Rosie Brown, Hannah Schneiderman, Kylie Van Aken, Justeen Komok and coxswain Natassja Haught; the Lightweight Varsity 8 is Jessie Sheldon, Anneke Karreman, Tica Drury, Emma Pazoff, Samantha Dore, Julia Denlinger, Jemma Blazina, Kate Hathaway and coxswain Sydney Gibbs.

Racing in their first 2K this season, the novice boys had great results, medaling in five of their seven races.

In an early morning race on Saturday, the Novice Boys 4+ led the field and finished first by several boat lengths, earning the fastest time of the three heats at 7:37.

The Novice Boys 8+ of Aidan Stearns, Seth Ruud, Colby Hayes, Konner Vander Leest, Matthew Derry, Scott Musselwhite, Will de Rubertis, Colin O’Keefe and coxswain Sam Bryant also won their race handily on Sunday, and posted a time of 7:01.

The novice girls also showed strength and speed in their first spring regatta, and medaled in two races.

The Novice Girls 4+ of Isabella Frawley, Audrey Clarke, Erika Mattes, Julia Fradkin and coxswain McKenna O’Leary clocked one of the fastest times for Bainbridge Island Rowing novice girls 4 boats, and placed second.

The Novice Girls 8+ boat (Jade Greer, Caroline Lant, Delaney Erickson, Amalie Millerd, Erin McGee, Kayla Buchmeier, Sophia Townsend, Grace Nikunen and coxswain Caitlin Deavy) also earned silver, second only to Vashon.

All other novice girls boats took a fourth-place finish.  Novice girls coach April Podbregar said the girls are determined to become even faster and stronger in the weeks ahead to prepare for their next regatta in Canada.

The Mens Masters also got a taste of victory, winning gold, silver and bronze for Bainbridge.

On Saturday, their 4+ boat (Brandon Fleet, Tim Goss, Kurt Frost, Marc Olason and coxswain Rachele Turnbull) took first place, clearly outdistancing the competition and logging the fastest time for two heats, at 3:18.

On Sunday, the Mens Masters 8+ (Marc Stewart, Tim Goss, Dean Dale, Matt Olson, Brandon Fleet, Bill McGonagle, Kurt Frost and Marc Olason and coxswain Rachele Turnbull) earned silver medals.

Stewart also took to the water in a single scull, and won a bronze in the final.