Lakeville, Prior Lake rowers shine in Boston race

Kate Wright of Lakeville North came home from school one day during her freshman year and told her mother she was interested in rowing.

Lea Wright's response: "I kind of laughed. I told her we live in Minnesota."

Kate, now a senior, is headed to the University of Michigan in the near future to continue living her dream. She was a swimmer when her interest peaked in rowing.

"I was looking for a better way to get in shape for swimming," said Kate, a member of The Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club out of Edina. "I was dedicated to swimming, but needed to change it up a bit. Rowing was something I became a lot more passionate about."

She was recently a member of the youth four-women's team from the area that finished fifth in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. Other members of the crew include: junior Lexi Brandt of Prior Lake; seniors Catherine Ahrens and Meredith Kelly of Minnetonka; and junior Cassandra Johnson of Southwest Christian. Ahrens is headed to Indiana University.

There were more than 19,000 athletes representing 28 countries participating in the event. It also drew more than 300,000 spectators.

Earlier this year, the group won the Milwaukee River Challenge, Head of the Mississippi and Head of the Rock.

True team championsVisitation won the Class 1A girls' swimming true team state championship at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The Blazers compiled 2,059 points, outdistancing second-place Northfield with 1,888 points.

Freshman Abbie Dolan was a double winner, taking first place in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle with times of 53.06 and 1:55.31, respectively. Visitation also won the 200 medley relay in 1:52.49.

Northfield sophomore Bailey Dupay broke her own meet record in winning the diving competition with 416.85 points. Her previous mark was 386.50 points. Classmate Grete Baker won the 200 individual medley in 2:12.33.

Top performances• Senior Danielle Anderson of Eagan was the medalist in the Class 3A, Section 1 cross-country meet and Taylor Perkins of Lakeville North won the Section 3 meet. In the 4-kilometer races, Anderson finished in 14:22.6 and Perkins in 14:30.6. Eagan and Lakeville South claimed the team titles. Rosemount won the Section 3 boys' team championship.

• Shakopee senior Maria Hauger is seeking a fourth consecutive Class 2A cross-country state championship Saturday in Northfield. Hauger was the Section 2 medalist by more than a minute, finishing in 13:39.4.