-Oakland Strokes varsity women capture the Head of the Estuary Regatta

Oakland Strokes Rowing Club Press release November 15, 2011

Oakland — The Oakland Strokes Rowing Club women’s varsity eight boat captured first place in the Head of the Estuary Regatta, Saturday, November 12. It was the women’s fourth first-place finish in the Fall racing season. They completed the 6K race in 17 minutes and 44 seconds, just two tenths of a second ahead of second place finisher Berkeley High School. The Strokes’ women’s varsity four took first place as well, finishing in 20 minutes and 14 seconds.

In the Strokes’ eight boat were Michelle Popelka, Alameda (Moreau Catholic); Brittany Presten, Orinda (College Prep); Lauren Dahlberg-Seeth, Orinda (Miramonte); Corinne Bozzini, Lafayette (Campolindo); Kristen Lukins, Lafayette (Campolindo); Alexandra Ohman, Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd); Alia Shafi, Lafayette (Acalanes); Jasmine Rossi-deVries, Lafayette (Campolindo) and coxswain Amanda Rutherford, Piedmont (Piedmont).

The first-place four boat was manned by Rutherford, Popelka, Dahlberg-Seeth, Bozzini and Ohlman.

The Oakland Strokes Rowing Club hosted the annual head race at their Tidewater Boathouse near the High Street Bridge. Participating clubs included Los Gatos, Upper Natoma, Berkeley High School, Oakland Youth racing, St. Mary’s and University of California, Berkeley.

Oakland Strokes, a 200-member junior rowing club for middle and high school students, represents 29 Bay Area high schools and has sent countless student-athletes to college rowing programs across the country. Each year the Strokes’ boats place strongly in local, regional and national championship regattas.

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For more information contact Diane Moe at 925-377-0255 or 925-878-1677