Olympians Jacob Plihal, Grace Joyce, and Sophia Vitas are joined by national teamers Sam Melvin, Isa Darvin, Cedar Cunningham, Evan Park, and Caleb Nollenberger for Team USA, racing an all-star world team in Ryder Cup-style competition in North Carolina.
The American Youth Cup, held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, drew over 600 middle- and high-school crews from across the country for 10-lane racing.
In what were largely expected outcomes, the dark blue women reversed a nine-year losing streak, while the light blue men kept their cool and made it ‘four in a row’ as the Oxford women and Cambridge men won The Boat Race in front of a quarter-million spectators.
The eight-member World Team and Team USA feature multiple Olympic champions and national team athletes competing in a Ryder Cup-style format in High Point, North Carolina. The regatta also includes collegiate, high school, and masters racing in a festival setting Saturday, April 18.
The former Navy SEAL hopes to win a spot in the men’s eight that will go for America’s first Olympic gold in the event since 2004. If he succeeds, those who helped him develop won’t
be surprised.
At the Orlando Area Rowing Society, Inc.’s OARS Youth Invitation, the Crew Angels Launch Boat Team, led by Steve D’Amico, 25-year veteran of the United States Air Force, parades the U.S., Florida, and other flags down the Turkey Lake course at Bill Frederick Park in Orlando, Fla.
Writing a plan forces you to think it through, to speak to your rowers and coach about it, and to get it anchored in your brain. It also make it easier to pivot.
$200,000 gift from the Lenny Peters Foundation elevates the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup & High Point Autumn Rowing Festival as defending world champion U.S. women's four headlines international regatta.