NAC pair places 5th

BATAVIA, Ohio ? Newport Aquatic Center rowers Evan Fullerton and Will Prioleau finished fifth in the varsity doubles final at the U.S. Rowing National Youth Championships completed Sunday.

Fullerton, a Newport Beach resident, and Prioleau, who resides in Costa Mesa, finished the 2,000-meter course in 7 minutes, 29.45 seconds on Lake Harsha, just outside Cincinnati.

NAC Coach Larry Moore said the duo started strongly and were in the top three at the halway point. They were in second place with about 800 meters remaining, before finishing behind three others, grouped within three-quarters of a boat length, that included the second-, third- and fourth-place boats.

“It was just an absolutely fantastic race,” said Moore, who praised his team’s effort against more physically imposing rivals.

“I think Evan and Will were the smallest team in the event,” Moore said. “It’s very difficult to go against rowers with longer arms and legs, because rowing is such a leverage sport. Smaller guys have to be a lot tougher and a lot more aggressive.”

Prioleau, 17, who recently graduated from Mater Dei High, is 6-foot, 160 pounds. Fullerton, 15, is 5-8, 140.

The Cambridge School of Dallas won the event in 7:21.52, followed by North Allegheny High (7:28.03), Chesapeake Boathouse (7:28.72) and Conestoga High (7:28.96).

Mavern Prep was sixth in 7:40.69.

“I’m very proud of my rowers,” Moore said. “To have competed this well at that level speaks to their athletic abilty.”

The NAC girls’ lightweight eight, consisting of Jennifer Wukawitz, Amanda Ghourdjian, Christina Campbell, Chrsitina King, Paige Distanislao, Nicole Marquand, Krystal Anaya, Ailbhe Maguire and coxswain Jennifer Entin, finished third in its consolation heat, ninth overall, with a time of 7:49.78.

Green Lake Crew won the overall girls’ lightweight eight in 7:44.71.