27 Space Coast Crew Athletes to Compete in U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships June 8-11

By  //  June 6, 2023

Championships are held over four days from June 8 through June 11

LEFT TO RIGHT: Elliott Steward, Katherine Harris, Beth Harris, Ava Cook, Natalia Mendonca Bloch, Holly Newmarch, Amelia Jones, Sophia Melfi, and Sophia Tiflati. (Space Coast Crew image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast Crew will be sending 27 athletes in four boats to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida.

The Youth Nationals Championships are held over four days from June 8 through June 11, with around 3,000 athletes from 225 different teams competing in various categories.

Space Coast Crew will be competing in the Women’s Youth Eight (8+), Women’s Youth Quad (4x), Women’s Youth 2nd Eight (8+), and Men’s Under 17 Eight (8+). All Space Coast Crew athletes and coaches have been training for this since August 2022.

The Women’s Youth 8+ is comprised of Cailin Buchanan, Adair Connor, Sidney Norman, Morgan Salars, Caroline Hall, Katherine Braman, Elisabeth Marks, Megan Romesberg, and coxswain Sophia Bittar. Katherine Braman, Caroline Hall, Elisabeth Marks, and Megan Romesberg are also competing in the Women’s Youth 4x.

Despite the races being less than 45 minutes apart both boats placed 3rd at the Southeast Youth Championships to qualify to compete at Nationals.

The Women’s 2nd 8+ is comprised of Sophia Tiflati, Sophia Melfi, Amelia Jones, Holly Newmarch, Natalia Mendonca Bloch, Ava Cook, Beth Harris, Katherine Harris, and coxswain Elliott Steward.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Sophia Bittar, Megan Romesberg, Elisabeth Marks, Katherine Braman, Caroline Hall, Morgan Salars, Sidney Norman, Adair Connor, and Cailin Buchanan. (Space Coast Crew image)

This is a record-setting year for the SCC Women. This is the first time in the 27-year history of the team that the women have qualified an eight to compete.

This is also the first year in the history of the team that the entire women’s team has qualified to race. Coach Jocelyn Little is “extremely excited about this opportunity for the girls” and is “so proud of all the effort the girls have put in throughout the year to get to this point.”

Four of the girls are seniors are headed to college to row: Sophia Bittar, Sacred Heart University; Megan Romesberg, University of Washington; Morgan Salars, University of Miami; and not mentioned above is Melanie Bower; United States Coast Guard Academy. Coxswain, Elliott Steward, is headed to Stetson University.

The Men’s Under 17 8+ is comprised of Brolin Cozzolino, Pleasant Lewis, Declan Connor, Henry Christianson, Kaedin Delaney, Attilio Yokas-Vidoni, Quinn Cobb, John Buchanan, and Coxswain Karl Braman.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Karl Braman, John Buchanan, JJ McKune, Quinn Cobb, Jake Seltenright, Attilio Yokas-Vidoni, Kaedin Delaney, Henry Christiansen, Declan Connor, Pleasant Lewis, Clay Bayruns, and Brolin Cozzolino. (Space Coast Crew image)

This event is comprised of all athletes who are only turning 16 this calendar year or younger. According to Coach Bryan Little, “These boys have worked incredibly hard all year and are ready to show off all that effort.”

Space Coast Crew is a nonprofit rowing team open to all students in Brevard County and is a growing and developing team that would love for any athletes in 5th through 12th grade to join the team.

Space Coast Crew rows on the beautiful Banana River and has a boathouse located at Oars and Paddles Park in Indian Harbour Beach.

If you’re interested in trying a learn-to-row camp or joining the team, please contact Jocelyn Little at coachjocelynscc@gmail.com or check out our website at spacecoastcrew.org.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Megan Romesberg, Elisabeth Marks, Caroline Hall, and Katherine Braman. (Space Coast Crew image)
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