Shady Side Academy juniors Michael DeGregorio and Jacob Hopeman both qualified for the U.S. Rowing 2017 Youth National Championships, which will be held June 9-11 in Sarasota, Fla.

The championships, which serve as the premier junior rowing event in the United States, sees approximately 1,500 athletes competing in more than 350 crews, representing some 150 teams from across the country – all vying for national titles in 18 boat classes.

Both boys qualified for nationals as members of Steel City Rowing Club (SCRC) crews at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships, held May 20-21 in Bethel, Ohio. DeGregorio was a member of the Boys Lightweight Varsity 2x crew that qualified for nationals by placing second at the Midwest Championships, and both DeGregorio and Hopeman were members of the Boys 1st Varsity 4x boat that finished fourth at the Midwest Championships and qualified for nationals after petitioning U.S. Rowing for a place.

SSA rowers placed in several other events at the Midwest Junior Championships as part of SCRC crews:

• Junior Jacob Hopeman also placed fifth in the Boys 1st Varsity 2x
• Junior Leila Skinner placed seventh in the Girls 1st Varsity 4x
• Juniors Charlotte Everett and Lelia Skinner placed fifth in the Girls 2nd Varsity 2x
• Junior Brycen Gray placed sixth in the Boys 2nd Varsity 2x
• Sophomore Hank Lin, freshman Akshay Amesur and 8th grader Wesley Hopeman placed third in the Boys Novice 4x
• Sophomore Madigan Wolfanger placed fifth in the Girls Novice 2x

Congratulations to all and good luck to Michael and Jacob at nationals!