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Community Corner

Norton Youth competes at the Henley Royal Regatta

Brian Latu of Norton, a rising senior at Boston College High School, recently returned from England, where he successfully competed against the world's best in rowing. Latu is a member of BC High's Boys' Eight crew.

The Henley Royal Regatta is one of the best known regattas in the world and the highlight of the rowing season.  This summer marked the second time the BC High Eagles have made the trip across the pond to test their will in this prestigious event. BC High's program is only in its fifth year of existence, so going up against programs which date back to 1828, history was not in their favor.

Rowing in the Henley Regatta is a grueling event with many races that lead up to the final cup challenge.  This year BC High's Boy’s Eight qualified and posted impressive wins against Emmanuel School, King's College and finally drew Scotch College from Melbourne, Australia in the Quarterfinals.

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 Scotch College went undefeated this season, winning the equivalent of the Henley in Australia and will represent their Country in the Junior World Championships in Lithuania later this summer.  The race was an exciting 7 minutes with the announcer exclaiming at the beginning of the race "Both crews have shot off at the start...haven't seen a faster start among schoolboy 8's this season!"

The BC High boys eventually lost by 1 3/4 length to Scotch and should be proud of their performance, and congratulations to head coach Stephen McKiernan and assistant Elliot Hovey! “Tough one today,” said McKiernan, “but not sure our program has reached that level. Scotch College has over 250 rowers and 20 coaches. I think our boys well represented BC High. We will continue to develop our program and hope to, at some point, return to test our mettle against the best high school crews in the world.”

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PHOTO: Left to right: Bradley Amrhein (coxswain) '14 - Natick, Brian Latu '14 - Norton, Brendan McLaughlin '13 - Rockland, Kevin Casey '13 - Belmont, J. Conor Harrity '13 - Weston, James Eisenberg '13 - Melrose, Christopher Tedeschi '16 - Scituate, Connor Green '13- Lexington, Michael (Deke) Murphy '15.

Boston College High School is a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men founded in 1863.  The school enrolls approximately 1600 students from more than 100 communities in eastern Massachusetts. For more http://www.bchigh.edu

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