Crew team wins multiple state titles

Teresa Martinez | Director of Communications
During the last weekend of April, 56 rowers competed at the Sweeps Championship in Sarasota. This was the second part of the state’s rowing finals which began at the Sculling on April 13-14.  Our Wolverines dominated in the majority of races they competed in and claimed a record five state school titles. Add the seven championships won at Sculling, and Belen took a total of 12 titles and the overall Scholastic trophy!

However, the presentation of medals did not differentiate between these categories, and despite going against much larger clubs - think of a 3A school playing an 8A - Belen laid claim to four gold, and one silver and bronze.  These were evenly divided between Freshmen (including some Middle School rowers) and Varsity, ensuring that Belen Crew’s dynasty continues. One of the most thrilling races came Sunday afternoon when the Junior 8+ went blade to blade for 1,400 meters against Edgewater boat, before sprinting the last 100 meters and taking gold by a mere 0.34 seconds.  The victory came to symbolize the heart and determination of this team.

“The Crew team is both resilient and very talented,” said Principal Jose E. Roca ‘84. “I’m very proud of our rowers. Their determination and passion for their sport is evident in all that they do. They work hard before, during and after school to ensure success both in academics and sport.”

Having taken care of business at the state championship, our Varsity and a Freshmen boat will now turn their attention to SE Regionals in Oak Ridge, Tennessee over Mother’s Day weekend, followed by National Scholastics when 180+ schools will gather in Ohio during Memorial Weekend. And as if that wasn’t enough, there will probably be a couple of Belen varsity shells competing at Youth Nationals on June 6-9. Last year, Belen’s Light 8 won a silver medal in this competition.  This year, having claimed gold in April’s San Diego Crew Classic, Belen is once again a top contender. The Youth National Championships will be held in our “home” court, at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida on June 6-9. Friends and families are welcome to show their support by cheering our team at the event or by watching the event live streamed on the USRowing website.
 
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BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain.  The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline.  In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty.  The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow.  Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.