By Kristen Loszewski
On Saturday, Oct. 14, Pioneer met seven other high schools on the Huron River at the Skyline High School-hosted Head of the Gallup, a fundraiser for the Peace Neighborhood Center. The head race takes place on a 2,400-meter course that spans a stretch of the Huron River from Ann Arbor’s Gallup Park, where spectator viewing is optimal, to the finish line just downriver from the Concordia University campus.
Pioneer entered 19 boats in twelve events for men’s, women’s, and mixed boats at the varsity, junior varsity, and novice levels. Each of the Pioneer boats held four or eight rowers and a coxswain.
The weather presented one of the biggest challenges for Pioneer athletes, many of whom have rowed at least one event on this course for the past three years since the pandemic. Temperatures ranged from mid- to high-40s Fahrenheit, with overcast skies and rainy drizzle early in the day giving way to a steady downpour for the final post-lunch races, which concluded around 2:30 p.m. Winds were generally from the northeast at 12 to 15 mph.
The Pioneer crew was rewarded for its efforts, placing in the top three in 10 of its 12 events. The team brought home 2 gold medals, 4 silver, and 2 bronze, while the men’s and women’s novice 8+ boats earned first- and second-place rankings in their exhibition races.
GOLD
Men JV 4+ with a time of 09:21.550: Alder Saran, Will Schumacher, Miguel Ng, Cooper Duke, with coxswain Kabir Ildani
Women JV 4+ with a time of 10:59.651: Catherine Neal, Jordan Davis, Sofia Mackler, Maeve Coffman, with coxswain Kabir Ildani
FIRST PLACE (EXHIBITION)
Men Novice 8+ with a time of 09:40.478: Clyde Ankerson, Charlie Churchville, Jason Soucie, Ian Rickard, Mason Rydell, Ben Wemert, Matt Martin, Eren Özil, with coxswain Rocco Romeri
SILVER
Men Varsity 8+ with a time of 08:21.240: Alder Saran, Will Schumacher, John Gronewold, Gavin Bassett, Rowan Higgins, Foster Dugan, Miguel Ng, Cooper Duke, with coxswain Georgia Busse
Women JV 8+ with a time of 10:11.942: Chloe Parrish, Etta Gur, Margaret Loszewski, Kaytlin Steinman, Astrid Becker, Richardson, Gabi Soto-Ali, Shakour, with coxswain Lehrmann
Men Varsity 4+ with a time of 09:05.707: Gavin Bassett, John Gronewold, Foster Dugan, Rowan Higgins, with coxswain Alexander Hsu
Women Varsity 4+ with a time of 10:23.023: Anne Stroud, Alita Cunningham, Emmanuel Davis, Madeline Houston, with coxswain Georgia Busse
SECOND PLACE (EXHIBITION)
Women Novice 8+ with a time of 11:11.962: Michael Davis, May Thansin, Kota Forrest, Chloe Parrish, Hanna Chang, Padme Barclay, Elif Saglik, Julie Huang, with coxswain Soleil Ascani
BRONZE
Women Varsity 8+ with a time of 09:43.465: Anne Stroud, Madeline Houston, Alita Cunningham, Emmanuel Davis, Catherine Neal, Jordan Davis, Sofia Mackler, Maeve Coffman, with coxswain Celeste Pinkleman
Mixed Novice 8+ with a time of 11:07.478: Clyde Ankerson, Charlie Churchville, Jason Soucie, Michal Davis, Kota Forrest, Hanna Chang, May Thansin, Elif Saglik, with coxswain Soleil Ascani
MAIN PHOTO: Women’s JV 8+ boats from Pioneer, Northville, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Skyline, and East Grand Rapids at Head of the Gallup (photo by Deb Steinman).
