More than 3,000 rowers traveled from around the country to Oak Ridge, TN. to compete in the 78th National Rowing Association of American Regatta.   

Thomas Jefferson High School’s 1st and 2nd Eights, as well as the mens Junior Eights all advanced into the semis from Fridays  heats.   

Saturday, however, proved frustrating for the SRAA title defending Colonials when three of their shells missed making the finals by narrow margins. Only the womens 2nd Eight, who a week earlier had won silver at Stotesbury, qualified, but struggled with a difficult start in the finals. Despite catching up with the leaders by the 1000 meter mark, the girls couldnt hang on and missed third place by less than by half a boat length.  In the petit final, TJs mens varsity boat took second in a tight race. 

This June, the Colonials will be graduating their largest number of seniors, and many have been recruited to row in college including Bronwyn Koehl (Falls Church) U Penn; Kelly Pierce (Fairfax)  Princeton; Alexis Brown (Great Falls) Princeton; Laura Williams (Falls Church) Duke; Jordon Albright (Annandale) Georgetown; Blake Reed (Reston) Alabama;  Raja Goel (Herndon) Princeton; Phil Grisdela (Great Falls)  Dartmouth; Chris Rutley (Lorton) UVa;  Chris Gear (Leesburg) US Naval Academy and Matt Hoel (Herndon) US Naval Academy.