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3/21/07Rowing
Eaglet fund-raiser aiming at program's distance record
By Marvin Goodwin of The Oakland Press
The rowing season is fast approaching and the Orchard Lake St. Mary's rowing team has some miles to tally. The Eaglets will attempt to row a record 525 miles in one day at their annual spring fund raiser at 8 a.m. Saturday at Dombrowski Fieldhouse.
St. Mary's rowers gather every spring to indoor row, or ergathon, to raise money to support their crew team.
More than 60 rowers, who will be rowing eight at a time at hour intervals for more than eight hours, will attempt to earn the pledges they have worked months to secure. The previous record of 524 miles was set in 2002.
This year looks like it will be a good one for the record-breaking attempt according to Dr. Dan Sahutske, a member of the St. Mary's crew board of directors.
"The board is very hopeful that this will be our best year ever," he said. "John Ray, the new head coach, has taken motivation of these young men to a level never seen here at St. Mary's Prep."
Ray believes the crew is up to the challenge.
"Each boy on the team will row for one hour, trying to maintain an effort approaching the aerobic threshold," Ray said. "The team this year hopes to row between 800,000 and 900,000 meters."
"During the year the team of over 60 competitors will travel a total of over 3,000 miles, hauling over a dozen boats and their equipment for training and competition in the United States and Canada."
Sahutske acknowledged the commitment of the team.
"All the guys on this crew are exceptional young men," he said. "We hope not only to row more miles in one day than we ever have, but to raise more money for the team than we ever have."
Persons interested in learning more about the deep tradition of rowing at St. Mary's, or would like to make a donation to the program can visit the ergathon at Dombrowski Fieldhouse.
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