Left to right are coach Paul Merrion, Michael Kalinowski, James Hale, Duncan Moore, Andrew Cummings, Brendan Lynch and head coach, Sean McCourt
The McCallie School crew team rowed to two national titles June 7-8 at the National Schools Regatta in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The men’s under-17 four and the men’s second varsity four each captured gold medals at the event which pairs the best scholastic teams in the nation.
McCallie’s under-17 shell – coxswain Duncan Moore, Brendan Lynch, Andrew Cummings, James Hale and Michael Kalinowski – edged New Hampshire’s Dublin School for first place, covering the 1,500 meters in 5:18.45.
The same team rowed the second varsity four the next day. The Blue Tornado crossed the line 1.3 seconds ahead of St. Joseph’s Prep for the gold medal and its second victory at the event.
The varsity four rowed to a second-place finish in the petite finals and earned a 10th place overall. The varsity four consisted of coxswain Duncan Moore, Nathan Adie, John Scott, Court Weitzel and Nick Norris.
“This was a tremendous finish to the rowing season,” McCallie Head Coach Sean McCourt said. “We have a very young group with some terrific older leaders. Our future looks bright and exciting.”
On the trip, the team stopped by the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Princeton, N.J., and was fortunate to meet Olympic coaches Luke McGee and Tom Terhaar.