ATLANTIC CITY, February 5, 2023 – Ismael Chihuahua came in first in the Mens U15 2000 meter and Gustavo Laureano finished 3rd in the Mens Coxswain 1k at the USRowing National Indoor Championships this weekend. Ismael and Gustavo are 8th graders at San Miguel Academy of Newburgh. Aquil Abdullah, Olympic rower and Chairman of the Board of the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, presented Ismael with his gold medal.
A total of 22 San Miguel Academy boys and girls competed in four events at the national competition. San Miguel rowers finished in the top ten in each race, showing their competitive edge against racers who are 2-3 years older. In addition, San Miguel Academy graduate Jordi Morales (Class of 2022) finished 2nd in the Mens U16 2000 Meter, rowing for Brick City Rowers. Jordi is a freshman at St. Benedicts Prep, one of San Miguel Program’s long-time educational partners.
San Miguel Rowing is among the largest middle school rowing programs in the country, as well as the largest minority rowing program. The rowing program creates access to educational paths that support the mission of San Miguel Program, to break the cycle of poverty through education. It has proven to be significantly beneficial to obtaining continuing educational opportunities for students in both high school and college. The opportunity for San Miguel rowers to train and compete is made possible through the generosity of donors and several organizations, including the New York Giants Foundation, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and the Head of the Charles/ Philadelphia Gold Cup Foundation.
San Miguel Rowing competed in its first race in 2021 and less than 12 months later, qualified for the USRowing Youth National Championships, finishing first in the U15 division at the Northeast Championships, one of the most competitive divisions in the country. At the National Championships in Sarasota, Florida in June of 2022, the team finished 11th overall.
