The county can cheer on and support two of its Leelanau-local rowers as they head to the USRowing Youth National Championships, June 9 to12, in Sarasota, Florida.

Last weekend two rowers from Lake Leelanau Rowing Club at Fountain Point Resort , Parker Cabbage (above, left, a student at TC High School) and Leo Lombardi (right, a student at Glen Lake Community Schools), competed in the Midwest Junior Rowing Championship against another 39 clubs.

Lake Leelanau Rowing Club founder Erik Zehender shares with the Leelanau Ticker that only two rowing clubs from the state of Michigan competed, “The City of Detroit and us.”

These youth rowers raced 2,000 meters, the same distance Olympic and college athletes race, and the top four teams in each event had the opportunity to participate in the USRowing Youth National Championship next month. 

Lombardi raced in the Men’s U17 single against 21 rowers. In the final Lombardi finished third with a time of 7:59. Second was a rower from Great Miami Crew (7:51); and first was a rower from Camp Randall, Wisconsin’s youth team (7:45).

Cabbage and Lombardi also rowed as a pair in the Men’s U19 (2-) and finished fourth with a time of 7:51, competing against rowers from Indianapolis, Dayton, and Chicago.

“What Leo and Parker have done is remarkable, competing at the highest level of rowing in Michigan, with very stiff competition from across the Midwest,” says Zehender.

Lake Leelanau Rowing Club Head Coach Viktor Grebennykov adds, “Leo and Parker showed team spirit. This spring was so challenging weather wise, with us on the water to practice just about three weeks and other clubs ahead of us two to three months.

“I’m personally excited about results,” he says, adding, “and huge thanks to parents who were supportive to make this all happen.”

Anyone interested in supporting these local youth rowers as they set off for the national competition in Florida can contact the Lake Leelanau coach directly.