TC rowers unable to participate in nationals
Two Tampa Catholic crew teams that qualified for the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championships later this month won't be able to compete because they wouldn't be excused from missing semester exams.
Tampa Catholic's Boys Lightweight 4-plus team -- which consisted of Gary Marra, Nick Yaeger, Derek Natale, Will Samela and Patrick Mayo -- placed fourth overall at the state championships and qualified for nationals because it was the second-best high school team (club teams also competed), while the Girls Double team of Caitlin Mooney and Gabriella Gonzalez placed fifth and was the second-best high school team.
The nationals are slated for May 23 and 24 in Oak Ridge, Tenn, but Tampa Catholic has finals scheduled for the 23rd and wouldn't exempt those students from taking the tests another time, said Tampa Catholic crew team coach Pat Huey, who is also a biology teacher at the school.
"I was disappointed I had to tell them," Huey said. "I'm disappointed in the school. I'm disappointed I couldn't get most support, but I understand their policy.
"We'll just look forward to next year."
Crew is not an officially sanctioned FHSAA sport, a face that Huey said hurt the rowers cause, but is growing. There are six hugh school crew teams that compere in Hillsborough County, Huey said.
-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
That is a complete shame!
Posted by: | May 14, 2008 at 07:03 PM
It is not an officially sanctioned team, so what is the big deal?
Posted by: | May 12, 2008 at 07:34 PM