MARTIN SALZBERG, BEN SCHWANTES, CARSEN HARRELL, MASON EHRENZELLER, AND ZACH HEALEY

After graduating nine experienced seniors from the 2018 Varsity Crew roster, the Dolphins leaned heavily on the experience of the ten returning members in 2019. Leading a youthful roster, with most experiencing the sport for the first time, Cape Henry Collegiate’s Varsity Crew program has progressed at a rapid rate, picking up the intricacies of the sport with only three races under their belts. Experiencing the most significant leap, this week’s Athletes of the Week, the Men’s Lightweight Four, leaped four places from the first to the third regatta this season. Led by senior Martin Salzberg and returners, Ben Schwantes, Carsen Harrell, Mason Ehrenzeller, and coxswain Zach Healey, the Men’s Lightweight Four has become a force on the water.

“The boys had an excellent race, leading the entire race from start to finish. In spite of a strong surge by Bishop Sullivan to overtake us at the finish, our boys held strong and finished well ahead with a powerful effort,” Head Coach Willy Fluharty said of the Men’s Lightweight Four.

In the first regatta of the season, the team of Salzberg, Schwantes, Harrell, Ehrenzeller, and Healey finished seventh out of seven teams, finishing the race with a time of 6:32. Fast Forward to this past week at Norfolk’s Botanical Garden, the Men’s Lightweight Four knocked off a remarkable 42 seconds off their time and finished the race in 5:50. With the blistering speed on the water this past weekend, the Lightweight Four overtook two teams which previously outmaneuvered the Dolphins to take first place overall in their respective heat. Finishing first in their heat granted the Dolphins a third place overall finish, leaping four places from the start of the season.

“Coxswain Zach Healey called an excellent race and pushed his teammates to their best effort to date. Stroke Martin Salzberg kept a steady rate throughout, and teammates Ben Schwantes, Carson Harrell and Mason Ehrenzeller held a steady consistent swing to end the race with a clean, smooth run,” Coach Fluharty continued of the Lightweight Four.

With only two races left on the schedule, the Dolphins look for the Men’s Lightweight Four to continued the improvement seen throughout the season and capture the first place overall finish in the Independent School Regatta on May 5. Cape Henry Collegiate will have one race before to iron out the last of the kinks, racing in the Championship Regatta on April 27 at Norfolk’s Botanical Garden.

Coach Fluharty finished of the Lightweight Four, “In Crew, if one team member misses a stroke or makes a mistake, the boat will lose a tight race. It takes a good mistake-free run to win the big races, and our boys showed they are a team to be reckoned with.”