The Drive, Passion, And Power Of The Long Beach Junior Crew Men’s Program
Published In The February 2014 Issue Of The School News Roll Call And Written By Jack Nunn, Owner Of Roworx Indoor Rowing Classes At The Long Beach Rowing Association
The Long Beach Junior Crew Men’s program has not traditionally been a formidable team to race against. For the past decade or so, with the exception of a few crews, the men’s program d
id not surmount to many achievements in high level regattas. For the past three years though, the Long Beach Junior Men’s Team has been chipping away at one of the nation’s largest regattas. The Head of the Charles regatta in Boston, MA. usually pulls the top crews from around the United States, Canada, and England come to this regatta and compete making it to the largest rowing race in the world. In 2011 the Long Beach Junior Crew Men’s Team placed 10th in the men’s 4 with coxswain category and the year following we placed 5th. By 2013, there were four seniors in the boat including the coxswain: in stroke seat was Allen Reitz (Long Beach Poly High School 2014), three seat Luke Khoury (Woodrow Wilson High School 2014, University of Washington at Seattle 2018), two seat Izak Epstein (Long Beach Poly High School 2015) bow seat Jared Arat (St. Francis High School 2014, University of California at Berkeley 2018), and coxswain Liam Erlich (Long Beach Poly 2014). That’s right! All four Juniors have received full ride scholarship to these amazing universities because of the sport of rowing and the excellence of the Long Beach Junior Crew Program and it’s high ranking coaches! Stroke seat Allen Reitz quoted before he left for the regatta,” I had been to the Head of the Charles three times now, and with all of the oarsmen in the boat with variations of National Team experience this has to be, and is going to be the year where Long Beach will take home the gold.” The competition though was not going to be easy to overcome, they were up against the two time champion defending crew from Sarasota, Florida and some other top crews from the East Coast and Canada. They knew the racing was going to be cutthroat. The most influential idea their 
coach, Tom Graves and Nick Trojan informed us was to remain confident throughout the whole race,” it’s going to feel like it is out of control half way through the race, and that’s because it will be out of control. But the best thing you guys can do is to keep your heads down and row as hard as possible to the 15 or so minutes.” The team knew that we could win the race, the deciding factor in the end was going to be who will execute the fastest, most well put together boat for that morning- and the Long Beach Junior Crew Men’s Team came out on top. Many people mistake the importance of coxswains in racing, although they could not be more misinformed especially in a head race such as the Head of the Charles. With other boats of all speeds in the way of the best possible course for our boat the coxswain and fearless leader, Liam Erlich really shined. He had no fear of possible collisions and his, ”recklessness” of course handling played a major part in the victory of our crew. Winning the Head of the Charles in Boston was a major accomplishment for the Long Beach Junior Crew, it’s Coaches and everyone that was involved in making this success happen. It really has set the Junior Rowing program in Long Beach on the right foot. Even though it was a huge regatta with large amounts of prestige, it was only the tip of the iceberg for regattas coming up this season and it helped the Juniors gain confidence for what’s ahead. Trusting the training and always working hard, getting after every practice is what’s going to make them very competitive this year and beyond in college.
For More Information On How To Get Your Children Involved In Junior Rowing Either On Or Off The Water Please Contact The Long Beach Junior Crew Organization At http://longbeachjuniorcrew.org/ Or Contact Keith Johnson At johnson.dk@hotmail.com
If You Would Like Indoor Class Lessons On The Concept 2 Rowing Machine Or For Those Interested In Rowing Class Workouts Please Visit www.roworx.com Or Contact Jack Nunn at roworx@gmail.com
Location For The Long Beach Junior Crew And Roworx Indoor Rowing Are At: Pete Archer Rowing Center, 5750 Boathouse Lane, Long Beach, CA 90803
http://vimeo.com/67769665#at=0
Tags: Allen Reitz, Fitness Classes In Long Beach, Head of the Charles, Indoor Rowing Class, Izak Epstein, Jack Nunn, Jared Arat, Liam Erlich, Long Beah Junior Crew, Luke Khoury, Nick Trojan, Roworx, School News Roll Call Rowing, tom graves
