Academy’s crew team has been practicing rigorously since summer to prepare for their eventful fall and spring seasons. From water practices to land practices, these athletes are out there from 3:30-6:30 every Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings. Determined to start the season off strong, the girls have been training hard to see immense progress within the varsity and novice boats. With a large, competitive regatta around the corner practice has been ramping up.

Last weekend, October 25, 2025, the team traveled to Tampa Bypass for their first race of the season. At this race, the Halloween Regatta, the team had 7 out of 8 boats medal. This race was around 4,000 meters and was equally mentally and physically straining.

In third place we have the first varsity boat that raced in the first varsity category, consisting of Sasha Paloma (26), Jayce Insolia (27), Eva Weckback (27), Tatum Gramata (27), Lorena Paloma (28), Ella DeBourg (27), Domenica DeMayo (26), Charlie Hirshorn (28), and Payton Campillo (27)

In second place in the second varsity event we have the second varsity boat, with Melanie Port (27), Caroline Bertozzi (27), Sophie Bachs (28), Anna Bogle (28), Olivia Trimmer (28), Ansley Maynard (28), Sierra Schaefer (28), Gabi Lopata (28), and Leah Meurer (28).

In second place, the third varsity boat competed in the third varsity category. This boat includes Colleen Kaley (28), Caroline Pearson (29), Isabella Gagliardi  (29), Maddie McElroy  (29), Sophia Lefler  (29), Hanna Gutowski (29), Moira… (29), Ruby Gonzalez (28), and Madeline Foley (27).

In the junior eight category the team sent out two boats, one coming in second and the other coming in third. Boat A, which came in second, consisted of Melanie Port (27), Jayce Insolia (27), Eva Weckback (27), Ella DeBourg (27), Lorena Paloma (28), Anna Bogle (28), Sophie Bachs (28), Charlie Hirshorn (28), and Payton Campillo (27). Boat B was made up of Mattie Floyd (27), Caroline Bertozzi (27), Olivia Trimmer (28), Ansley Maynard (28), Riley Cambell (27), Gabi Lopata (28), Leah Meurer (28), Gracie Switalski (28), and Isa Crimmen (28).

Next, with second place in the novice eight category, we have Georgia Drysdale (29), Caroline Pearson (29), Isabella Gagliardi (29), Hannah Gutowski (29), Sophia Lefler (29), Ruby Gonzalez (28), Moira Hempfling(29), Maddie McElroy (29), and Issa Garcia (29).

Lastly, in the Novice four category, Mattie Floyd (27), Avery Sawyer (29), Zara Martineau (29), Ellie Harman (29), and Madeline Foley (27) took seventh place.

This race was a huge success with six out of seven boats medaling. After this race, little practice time was left until the next big regatta, the Head of the Hooch. This regatta is one of the world’s largest and originated in 1982. This race started out small with only 200 boats and has now expanded to over 1,300 racing contestants. 

The race was founded in the Chattahoochee river in Roswell, GA, which is where the name of this regatta is derived from. The course then moved to Lake Lainer in Gainesville, Georgia. This was because the sheer number of boats was so great, a larger venue was needed. With even more people learning about this race the venue needed to be changed again. Today, this race takes place in Chattanooga Tennessee, on the Tennessee River. 

Jayce Insolia (27) says, ” The Head of the Hooch regatta in Chattanooga, Tennessee was such a fun team bonding experience. It was a calming shift in our environment and was very cool place to be able to row. I’m so grateful for the experience and all the memories made with my teammates.”

The course is beautiful, displaying the unique Tennessee landscape along with gorgeous architecture. It is also very large, with the start line being roughly 5,000 meters from where the boats launch (get put in the water), and the actual race being 4,500 meters. 

The Academy team has worked hard and has made for some tough competition. This intense, long, and crowded race has challenged these athletes in many ways. Team spirit was high and everyone put forth to their best abilities. Aside from the actual race, this trip was a fun team bonding experience for the team. Long bus rides, paired with fun dinners and late nights made this trip one to remember.

Team member Eva Weckback (27) says, ” I love regattas because I love traveling with my team.  It’s such a good experience and we push each other at practice and get to see all of our hard work pay off. Tennessee was such a fun experience and I’m so glad I got to go.”

This hard work was displayed in the results of the race as Academy places within the top 30%.

The first races of the day were our two eight boats in the U19/U17 category. Boat A with a time of 16:51.498 consisted of Sasha Paloma (26), Jayce Insolia (27), Eva Weckback (27), Tatum Gramata (27), Lorena Paloma (28), Ella DeBourg (27), Anna Bogle (28), Charlie Hirshorn (28), and Payton Campillo (27). In boat B with a time of 17:01.980 we have Melanie Port (27), Gracie Switalski (28), Sophie Bachs (28), Caroline Pearson (29), Olivia Trimmer (28), Ansley Maynard (28), Sierra Schaefer (28), Gabi Lopata (28), and Leah Meurer (28).

Next, in the novice eight category, the boat consisted of Georgia Drysdale (29), Caroline Pearson (29), Isabella Gagliardi (29), Hannah Gutowski (29), Sophia Lefler (29), Ruby Gonzalez (28), Moira Hempling (29), Zara (29), and Issa Garcia (29) with a time of 18:02.380.

After the novice eight, two four boats in the U19/U17 category were sent out; with boat A scoring a time of 19.22.814 and boat B with a time of 18.53.370. Boat A consisted of Mattie Floyd (27), Jayce Insolia (27), Eva Weckback (27), Charlie Hirshorn (28), and Payton Campillo (27). Boat B contained Collen Kaley (28), Tatum Gramata (26), Lorena Paloma (28), Anna Bogle (28), and Ameerah Kazbour (26).

Lastly, in a double, two of the Academy rowing coaches competed in the masters category. Head coach Alex Thome and new coach and Academy Alumni Jessica Reynolds (A’21). The team cheered their coaches on in a fun, spirit filled race.