One of Churchill Crew’s girls’ varsity 4+ boats came in first place in its event. From left are Tori Hoffman, Julia Taladay, Emma Benjamin, Coach Cindy Cole, Jackie Tauberman and coxswain Brenna Means. Photograph by Sharon Dan
Churchill Crew competed in the Cindy Cole Cup at the Anacostia Boathouse in Washington, D.C., on March 31. Named for Churchill’s varsity women’s coach who currently runs the Washington Rowing School and is a champion rower herself, the event spotlighted a number of the area’s top high school crew teams. All of the races featured a 1500-meter course.
In the girls’ varsity 4+, one of Churchill’s boats swept the race at 7 minutes, 03.6 seconds, defeating boats from Bishop Ireton and Seton by more than 30 seconds. Competing were Emma Benjamin, Tori Hoffman, Julia Taladay, Jackie Tauberman and coxswain Brenna Means.
"I’m very pleased," Cindy Cole said. "They raced hard even when they didn’t have a boat chasing them and that’s how they won. They beat the fastest team in their heat."
A Churchill boys’ varsity 8+ finished two seconds or less behind local powerhouses Bishop Ireton and Bishop O’Connell — an accomplishment for Churchill rowers only entering their second year in the sport.
Churchill Crew will compete in the Maryland State Championships in Chestertown on April 29, along with the WMIRA Novice Regatta on May 5 and the WMIRA Championships on May 12 — both of which will take place at Thompson’s Boat House on the Potomac. Spectators are welcome.
Churchill Crew is non-profit cub organization of students at Winston Churchill High School. Its activities are entirely self-funded. For more information, contact churchillcrewteam@gmail.com.