She might be new to the sport, but after J. Taylor Finley Middle School eighth grader Annika Galvin captured fifth place in her event at the New York State Rowing Championships at Saratoga Springs last weekend, everyone knows her name.
Rowing in the freshman category, Ms. Galvin reached the finals at the state championships despite spotting the rest of the field years of experience. But her rapidly advancing skills and nerves of steel prevailed.
“She just started this spring,” said Anika Selle Giehl, head coach of the Huntington crew team. “Annika worked out on weekends and extra days and was truly committed and it paid off. We had to stop her from coming to the 5:30 a.m. varsity practices because she is so young and we don’t want to burn her out. She is a special young athlete. One to be watched.”
Rowing is a grueling sport, but Ms. Galvin is well on her way to being one of the best. “It’s quite an achievement for a middle school athlete rowing in the freshmen category and who just started with the sport,” Ms. Selle Giehl aid. “She is one to watch. Annika is a true hungry athlete.”
The Huntington crew team’s roster also included freshman Eliza Walther; sophomores Maren Grosso, Lillian Joseph, Zadie Lauer and Alexa Rind; juniors Christopher Carmen, Paul Katigbak and Tyler Rund; and seniors Emma Farrell, Meagan Elise-Malone, Adriana Scarpati, Kelly Warren and Graham Young. Sean Dunn served as the assistant coach.
