Submitted by Abby Klinkenberg and Lynn Klinkenberg
Varsity Womens 8+, Gold medal (back row): Elizabeth Elmgren, Tara Bozzini (Acalanes), Jennifer Mundelius, Abby Vare, Coxswain Margaret Ross (Miramonte), Evelyn McManus (Miramonte), Olivia Klinkenberg (Acalanes), Marie Johnson (Miramonte), Lindy Clute
Oakland Strokes competed at the US Rowing Junior Nationals and took home three medals. Over 130 rowing clubs and 1,800 athletes from across the country traveled to Lake Natoma in Folsom to compete at the event in mid-June.
Both the women's Lightweight 8+ and women's Varsity 8+ took home the gold medal in their respective races, while the men's Varsity 8+ took silver. The Lightweight 8+ boat beat out longtime rival, Long Beach, for the first place finish.
The women's Varsity 8+ boat finished almost a boat length ahead of second-place Connecticut.
"It couldn't have gone any better," said junior Marie Johnson. "Our coxswain made a call to 'sprint for the five seniors, for all the pieces that we've done all year;' we've worked so hard. It's everything I could have wished for - exhilarating and surreal."
Some of the five graduating seniors missed their graduations to compete. The graduates will be joining university rowing programs at Harvard, Brown (2), Michigan, and UC Berkeley in the fall.
Left to right: Varsity Mens 8+, Silver medal: Daniel Hogan (De LaSalle), Kevin Chang (Bentley School), Marshall Krock (Monte Vista HS), Christian Cuellar (Alameda HS), Coxswain Hannah Christopher (Miramonte HS), Josef Starc (Oakland Tech HS), Alexandr Lilichenko (Miramonte HS), Viggo Hoite (Berkeley HS), David Parker (Bentley School) Photos provided
Both the women's Lightweight 8+ and women's Varsity 8+ took home the gold medal in their respective races, while the men's Varsity 8+ took silver. The Lightweight 8+ boat beat out longtime rival, Long Beach, for the first place finish. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA