After three successful days at USRowing’s regional competition, VIRC rowers took four medals and qualified one single and one pair for USRowing’s Youth Nationals next month.

Vashon High School junior Rohin Petram will compete in the single, while the pair of Cooper Py and Tor Ormseth earned VIRC’s second spot at Nationals.

The novice men’s double of Joshua Kyles and Baker VanBuren earned the first medal of the weekend, taking a silver. Aiden Teachout also pulled off a gutsy finish in his race, bringing the team’s final medal count to four.

Vancouver Lake experienced another wet year, flooding the boat staging area. Rowers had challenges launching boats, having to wade into deep waters. The entire team helped each athlete safely get into boats and clear debris from the submerged area.

“It was a true demonstration of coordination and teamwork,” said junior parent Summer Rosen. “They made us proud.”

Seniors Seth Rosen and Ryan Weller were joined in their final row by teammates Petram, Ormseth, Teachout, Oz Hitchens and Py. Case Foster was coxswain. Graduating senior Chase Tucker led the cheering squad on land with the rest of the team.

Coach Ben Steele spent the weekend commuting to and from Vancouver Lake, as he attended graduation from the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue firefighting academy.

Riley Lynch, left, after presenting her mother, Bonnie Linnell, with the final Regionals medal of her junior rowing career. (Courtesy Photo)

Islander Riley Lynch, who has rowed for the VIRC for the past several years, entered to row independently at Northwest Junior Regionals this year — but joined in VIRC’s boys’ high school eight at the end of the weekend — came in second in the women’s varsity single and is looking forward to competing at her final Nationals as a junior rower. Lynch presented her last regional medal to her mother, Bonnie, in a gesture of appreciation for all her support.