Gonzaga juniors Christian Tabash and Joseph Johnson interlocked their arms and skipped toward the assembled media Saturday afternoon, grinning when a coach playfully chided them not to “act like clowns.”
But for all the glory associated with rowing for Gonzaga, whose boys’ first varsity eight has captured four straight Stotesbury Cups, there might be even more pressure. They need to keep things light. On Saturday afternoon on the Potomac River, Johnson, Tabash and the rest of the crew translated that energy into yet another win, this one in a time of 4 minutes 31.1 seconds at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association championships.
Bethesda-Chevy Chase earned second with a 4:38.1, while DeMatha rode a 4:41.3 to third place.
“We have a goal and we work towards it,” Tabash said. “But we try to keep it lighthearted around the boat house with the guys.”
“So far today, we’ve taken care of business,” Johnson added. “So you celebrate that when you have the chance to celebrate success.”
For the Eagles, the next step is Stotesbury, which takes place next weekend on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Tabash was in the winning boat last year as a sophomore, so he understands the magnitude.
Johnson, however, spent last year on the lower boat after racing with Tabash when they were freshmen. He wasn’t jealous when his friend moved up, though. “He was better,” Johnson said. “He was stronger. He was faster.”
Johnson spent last summer practicing in a single boat at the Potomac Boat Club and lost “between 40 and 60 pounds.”
The results are glaring. Johnson has rejoined his friend and is contributing for one of the most respected boats in the area.
But that didn’t stop the friends from cracking a few inside jokes before pulling up to the start Saturday. “I’d prefer not to [repeat the joke],” Tabash said with a grin.
While the Eagles’ win was expected, the girls’ varsity eight final was less predictable. B-CC took the championship in 5:18.9, but the Barons had to fight Whitman (5:22.0) to the finish.
“They had us off the start,” Barons junior Claire Holmvik said. “It was a ridiculously tight race. Probably every stroke it was like equal pressure. We were neck and neck and we were holding on to each other.”
“And then one of our rower’s oars caught [in the water]. We thought it might be the end.”
B-CC recovered, though, compensating for the hesitation midway through the heat and maintaining its pace. Finally, with 50 meters to go, sophomore coxswain Grace Wagner shouted, “We’re going to win this!”
She was right. The Vikings settled for second, while Wilson took third in 5:38.9.
In the boys’ varsity four race, Wilson won in 5:11.5, Walter Johnson rode a 5:18.5 to second and St. John’s (5:24.5) was third. In the girls’ varsity four, O’Connell took first (6:01.7), finishing ahead of Elizabeth Seton (6:15.4) and Holton-Arms (6:21.1)
