High wind conditions with gusts over 40 mph, kept the Virginia State Rowing Championships at Occoquan from completion last Saturday.  The VASRA State Championships bring out almost 1,500 of the best varsity rowers from the region's top programs.  However, to ensure the safety of the athletes, only the heats (events 1-31) were able to be completed.  The race finals have been rescheduled for Sandy Run on Saturday, May 22. 

Even with the difficult conditions, the Washington-Lee Generals had great finishes with three out of four Varsity 8's securing a place in the final races.  The W-L Men's V8 finished second only seven seconds out of first to advance.  The Men's and Women's 2nd Varsity 8's both placed second -- the Women only two seconds out of the number one spot -- to move onto their finals.  The Women's Varsity 8 also placed second in their heat moving onto the Petite Final.

"We are really happy with our finishes today," said W-L head coach Derek Parson.  "It was tough out there and our rowers rose to the challenge.  We are looking forward to some exciting finals."

The final races on May 22 will decide which boats move onto the National Championships being held this year in Saratoga Springs, NY.  In the meantime, five Washington-Lee teams will travel to Philadelphia, PA this weekend to compete at Stotesbury, the world's largest high school regatta.

-Kate Mesches