On Saturday, June 11th, San Miguel Academy rowers placed 11th overall at the National Youth Championships in Sarasota, Florida after a fifth-place finish in the semi-final round.
The San Miguel Academy rowers qualified for Nationals in May with a solid first-place finish in the U15 quad division at the USRowing Northeast Youth Championships in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Northeast is one of the most competitive divisions in the country.
San Miguel Academy of Newburgh was founded in 2006 to break the cycle of poverty through education. The rowing program was established in 2010 with a small group of boys in borrowed equipment and hand-me-down boats. Over the years, the program has grown to over 40 rowers, boys and girls, who train year-round on Ergometers and, weather permitting, on the Hudson River. San Miguel Rowing is now among the largest middle school rowing programs in the country, as well as the largest minority rowing program, and has proven to be significantly beneficial to obtaining continuing educational opportunities for San Miguel Academy students.
Thanks to the support and attention of Arshay Cooper and his foundation, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, San Miguel Rowing has been given the opportunity to compete in an otherwise cost-prohibitive sport. A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, under the umbrella of the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, supports the work of Arshay Cooper in expanding the sport of rowing into under-resourced communities.
The Nationally-ranked quad team rows in a boat donated by Patrick Donnelly in memory of his brother, Thomas. Team members include coxswain Gustavo Laureano (7th grade), alternate coxswain Oscar Liendo (7th grade), Daniel Conde (7th grade), Ismael Chihuahua (7th grade), Ayden Garcia (7th grade), and Captain Joseph Cordova (8th grade).
Watch USRowing spotlight video on San Miguel Rowing
