The 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships will return to Sarasota, Florida, for the fifth consecutive year. This weekend will mark the 30th anniversary of the contest, and Nathan Benderson Park will host more than 10,000 athletes, coaches, and spectators. This year, the men’s youth second varsity eight holds 24 entrants who will race for victory.
Marin Rowing Association
Hailing from the West Coast, Marin is a prominent name in American youth rowing. Marin placed second in the second eight category in 2023. In 2024, they won it in a narrow contest, finishing just 0.2 seconds ahead of RowAmerica Rye. This past May, Marin placed first and second in the second eight at Southwest Regionals. Although both crews qualified, only one crew will race at Nationals, with the other crew being scratched. At Nationals, Marin will look to extend their victory count to two in this second eight category.
RowAmerica Rye ‘A’
In recent years, RowAmerica Rye has stood out as one of the most successful junior programmes in the US. Last year, the programme sent over one hundred athletes to Nationals and podiumed eleven crews. The results were highlighted with statement wins in both the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Eights. Rye’s speed continues past their top crews; in 2024 and 2023, the second eight came runner-up at Nationals. Regarding recent performance, two Rye crews entered the second eight category and placed first and second at the New York State Championships. This result secured the crews’ entry to Youth Nationals this weekend. Rye will take on Sarasota, wanting to break through to the top position following two years as runner-ups.
Saint Joseph’s Preperatory ‘A’
Saint Joseph’s Preparatory is a schoolboy crew from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rowing on the Schuylkill River, Saint Joe’s has established their name as a premier scholastic crew. The programme claimed bronze in the second eight at Nationals in both 2023 and 2024. This year, the Saint Joe’s second eight won the Stotesbury Cup Regatta by over eleven seconds. Additionally, they beat PNRA/Mercer by seven seconds at Mid-Atlantic Regionals, solidly securing a bid to race at Youth Nationals.
PNRA/Mercer ‘A’
PNRA/Mercer is a junior programme from Princeton, New Jersey. Rowing on Lake Mercer alongside athletes from the PNRA Training Centre, Mercer has grown rapidly over the past decade. In 2023, the programme placed 16th overall in the second eight event at Youth Nationals. In 2024, Mercer placed fifth in the second eight. This season’s record suggests another improvement. In May, Mercer placed second at Mid-Atlantics to earn a bid to race at Youth Nationals. This year’s regatta will be a chance for Mercer to demonstrate improving depth through the second eights.
Norcal Crew
Norcal Crew is a rising programme based in Redwood City, California. Following the successes in the lightweight eight and coxed four in 2015 and 2016, respectively, Norcal has been relatively quiet on the national stage. Recent performances suggest a change; in 2023, the programme won the coxed four. In 2024, they placed second in the coxed four and fifth in the coxless four. This year, Norcal qualified both men’s varsity eights for the first time in programme history. The second eight placed third at Southwest Regionals, only behind two Marin eights. Norcal will enter this regatta looking confident to place in the A-Final, and will perhaps push for a podium finish.
Predictions
I predict Marin to win the second varsity eight category. With their varsity eight looking to be strong favorites, I believe the programme has the depth to take the win in the second eight. Next, I predict RowAmerica Rye to claim silver due to their strong performances in the late season. Saint Joe’s will take the bronze following Rye. Next, I predict Mercer’s experience in this event will help them beat Norcal in a tight contest, rounding out the top five.
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