Lehigh University Athletics
Two former Lehigh rowers to represent United States at World Championships
10/4/2010 6:09:00 PM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - On October 2, US Rowing officially concluded selection for the United States National Rowing Team, and among the ranks are former Lehigh rowers Jonathan Winter ('06) and Todd Mickelson ('08). They will race at the 2010 World Rowing Championships from Oct. 31 through Nov. 7 in New Zealand.
Winter will race in the Men's Lightweight Double Sculls while Mickleson will race the Men's Lightweight Quadruple Sculls. Both athletes train at GMS Rowing Center in New Milford, Conn. under the direction of former German National Team coach Gunter Beutter.
The selection for the team is a multiple month-long process that started in April and concluded over the weekend at National Team Trials.
Winter's route started with a win at National Selection Regatta in May, which allowed him to race with rowing partner Brian de Regt at the World Cup Circuit in Europe. Winter and de Regt raced in Bled Slovenia, Munich Germany and Luzern Switzerland, placing seventh, fourth and eighth, respectively. With the fourth-place finish in Munich, Winter and de Regt secured the national team berth in the Lightweight Double Sculls.
The Lightweight Double is one of only two Olympic events for lightweight rowers who must weigh 154 pounds, and it is fiercely competitive. Winter and de Regt's results so far this season are best the United States Lightweight team has seen since 2004.
"We are really pleased with how the season progressed so far," said Winter. "Our early results have been encouraging, and we are at a good starting point. We have been working through the summer to improve. Being the fastest takes time and a lot of work. We are not there yet, but that is the goal."
Mickelson competed at U.S. Senior National Team Trials in Princeton, N.J. this past weekend, and won the Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls in convincing fashion. This win gives Mickelson the right to represent the United States at World Championships with crewmates Matt Carey, Pete Morelli and Brian Tryon. The trials race is run in a best of three format. Mickelson and his crew won the first final by just under 10 seconds and the second by 4.5 seconds.
Mickelson is no stranger to international competition. As a junior at Lehigh, he represented the United States at the 2007 Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Scotland, placing sixth.
"It was a good race, and we came together nicely as a crew to get the win," said Mickelson. "Trials racing is always a high pressure situation. Only the winner earns the right to represent the United States in New Zealand, so it's a bit of a 'do-or-die' approach. Our competition really put the pressure on all the way down the course, but we were able to pull away in the second half of the race."
Both Winter and Mickelson look back at their time at Lehigh as crucial in helping them get to where they are today.
"It all started at Lehigh," said Winter. "I did a lot of different sports in high school (including rowing), but was never entirely focused on just one. The rowing program really focused me in and created the foundation."
"Lehigh rowing will always be a big part of my life," added Mickelson. "The opportunity to compete against some of the top collegiate programs in the country was a big stepping stone to the World Championships."
"What Jon and Todd have accomplished so far is spectacular," said head Lehigh coach Brian Conley. "It speaks volumes for what the Lehigh student athlete is capable of."
You can follow Winter and Mickelson's racing on their website: www.gmshps.com.
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