St. Mary's tops the field at the Orchard Lake Crew Classic

The Orchard Lake St. Mary's Crew team poses with their championship trophy from Saturday's Orchard Lake Crew Classic. (Photo contributed)

The Oakland Press

ORCHARD LAKE -- Perfection was part of Mother Nature's game plan Saturday, when the Orchard Lake St. Mary's Crew played host to nine other schools from Michigan and Ohio in the Orchard Lake Crew Classic.

At the end of a perfect day, perfect strokes helped St. Mary's Prep defend their men's event trophy while Rockford captured the Women's.

St. Mary's Crew dominated the field, taking eight medals (six gold, two silver) out of nine men's events, garnering 158 points compared to the 85 both Ann Arbor Pioneer and Rockford boasted in a tie for second place.

In a season plagued by Mother Nature's fury, from high winds canceling most all of the Hoover Invitational to changes of venue resulting from dangerously high water levels, the Eaglets prevailed.

“I know what goes into optimizing this team's performance,” said head coach Michael Pricer, “and we are strong, determined, and focused. We know what it takes to capture the Midwest title, the State Championships (May 28), and the CSSRA's (June 3-5). Now, it's all about weathering the perfect storm.”

Crew will go for the first of the “triple crown,” come rain or shine, in just a little over one week (May 20-21). “St. Mary's has won the Midwest Championship in the past,” Pricer said. “But this is the year we have to prove we can bring the title back to St. Mary's, defend our state championship title, and be the best we can be at the Canadian Schoolboys Championships.”

The state championships will be held May 28, followed by the CSSRA on June 3-5.

St. Mary's Varsity 8+ team nears the finish line. The squad won the race in a time of 4:38.62, beating out Ann Arbor Pioneer by just under three seconds. (Photo contributed)

OLSM Crew Classic finishes:

- Men's Open 2: Detroit Boat Club (6:15.72), St. Mary's (6:24.39), Skyline (6:48.37)

- Men's HS Jr 4+: St. Mary's (5:37.75), Ann Arbor Pioneer (5:38.42), Central Catholic (5:38.84)

- Men's HS Varsity 4+: St. Mary's (5:15.79), Rockford A (5:20.75), St. John Jesuit (5:23.64)

- Men's Novice 4+: St. Mary's A (5:56.31), Skyline A (5:58.12), Rockford (6:01.59)

- Men's HS, 2nd Varsity (Jr) 8+: St. Mary's (5:04.68), Ann Arbor Pioneer (5:13.81), Skyline (5:15.27)

- Men's HS Ltwt 8+: Detroit Boat Club (4:57.62), Rockford (5:01.86), St. John Jesuit (5:14.91)

- Men's HS Novice 8+: St. Mary's A (5:06:63), St. Mary's B (5:15.06), Rockford (5:15.61)

- Men's HS Varsity 8+: St. Mary's (4:38.62), Ann Arbor Pioneer (4:41.61), St. John Jesuit (4:45.52)

St. Mary's Novice 8+ A-team won the gold medal, beating out the school's B-team. (Photo contributed)

Prep Rowing

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