The San Diego Canoe Kayak Team, which trains in Mission Bay out of the Youth Aquatic Center on Fiesta Island, had an outstanding performance during the 2022 Canoe and Kayak National Sprint event at Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park of Bethel, Ohio in August with 22 athletes competing alongside coaches Doug Ellery and Sandrine Hammel during the four-day event.

“Kids were nervous but the older athletes gave words of wisdom and helped settle their nerves,” said Ellery.

The competition featured a nine-lane buoyed course covering various events including the 200, 500, and 1000-meter, 3K, and 5K distances in single, double, and four-person boats with hundreds of athletes from a variety of clubs across the United States competing.

“The days go by fast with all of the races coming quick,” he added. “Bantam boys and juvenile boys had to do heats, semifinals, finals, which makes the day longer and harder on the athletes, but that’s why we train hard.” Ellery has been head coach since February 2020.

The team also had to deal with a weather delay on the third day of competition due to lightning, but they finished fourth overall in the standings with 18 members winning multiple medals. Among the standout performers was 16-year-old University City High School junior Lia Sowers. She qualified to go to the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Bratislava, Slovakia in September, which will be her first international competition.

“I have been fencing and sprint kayaking competitively for two years,” said Sowers. “I really enjoy paddling at the club with my friends, specifically my team partner, Jade Yoon.”

Sowers competed in ACA Sprint National Championships in Oklahoma last year and, despite not earning a medal in the finals, she had the chance to meet Olympic gold medalist Nevin Harrison, and began to work and train a lot harder ever since.

“This year I won six bronze medals and made it to every final,” Sowers added. “I am super excited to go to Slovakia and meet other paddlers from around the world. It will truly be a life-changing trip and I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me, my parents, brother, coaches, teammates, friends, and all the families from San Diego Canoe Kayak Team who gave me a reason to persevere. My dream is to compete in the Olympics representing Team USA.”

FULL TEAM RESULTS

Bantam (U14)

Ryan Murray – 3rd C1 200m 500m 1000m, 3rd c2 200m 1000m, 2nd c4 200m 500m, 1st Juvi c1 5km;

Franklin Rutt – 6th k1 1000m, 3rd k2 1000m, 2nd k2 3km, 2nd c4 200m 500m;

Trevor Rutt – 4th k1 1000m, 3rd k2 1000m, 2nd k2 3km, 2nd c4 200m 500m;

Malia TerryVoisard – 1st C1 200m 500m 1000m, 1st Juvi c1 5km, c4 200 2nd, c4 500 2nd, c2 500 2nd, c2 200 2nd;

Nora Ahadian – Juvi c2 500 3rd, c4 200 2nd, c4 500 2nd, c2 500 2nd, juvi c4 500 1st, c2 200 3rd;

Kenley Edwards – Juvi c1 1000 2nd, c2 3km 1st, c1 1000 4th, Juvi c2 500 3rd, c4 500 2nd, c2 500 3rd, juvi girl c4 500 1st, c2 200 3rd;

Olivia Johansson – c1 1000 5th, c2 3km 4th, juvi c1 1000 3rd, juvi c2 500 2nd, c4 200 2nd, juvi c4 500 1st;

Gloria Nickerson – c2 3km 1st, c2 200 2nd, juvi c4 500 1st, c2 500 3rd, c4 200 2nd, c4 500 2nd, juvi c2 500 2nd.

Juvenile (U16)

Logan Beal – k2 5km 4th, Jr k4 500 5th, k4 200 500 7th;

Jon Yarkoni – k2 5km 4th, Jr k4 500 5th, k4 200 500 7th;

Reef Tusa – k1 5km 12th, k4 200 500 7th, Jr k4 500 5th, k2 200 8th;

Jade Yoon – k4 200 500 3rd, sr k4 200 500 3rd, k2 500 4th, k2 200 5th;

Lia Sowers – k4 200 500 3rd, sr k4 200 500 3rd, k2 500 4th, k2 200 5th, k1 500 1000 3rd;

Alex Lee – c1 200 500 1000 6th, c1 5km 2nd, c2 200 1000 4th, c4 200 3rd, c4 500 2nd.

Senior(19-plus)

Douglas Ellery(coach) – c4 200 500 2nd, c2 200 3rd, c1 5km 4th, c1 200 1000 5th;

Jimmy Terrell – c4 200 500 2nd, c2 200 3rd, masters c1 200 500 1st;

Garrett Strouse – k1 5km 7th, k1 1000 9th;

Andrew Rojas – C4 200 500 2nd, c2 1000 2nd, c2 200 5th, c1 200 500 1000 8th;

Isaac Lozano – c4 200 500 2nd, c2 1000 2nd, c2 200 5th, c1 5km 2nd, c1 200 7th, c1 500 5th, c1 1000 6th;

Philip Majumdar – k1 200 1st, k2 200 1st, k4 200 500 3rd, k2 1000 5th;

Sandrine Hammel – k1 200 500 1000 5km 1st, k2 200 2nd, k2 500 1st, k4 200 500 3rd, k2 5km 1st;

Jess Hyne-Dolan – k1 200 500 5th, k2 200 2nd, k2 500 1st, k4 200 500 3rd, k2 5km 1st.