Two Alameda rowers helped Oakland Strokes win the club’s 26th national championship at the 2026 USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, June 11 to 14. Sophomore Hugh Mitchell of Alameda High School rowed bow and sophomore Ethan Liang, an Alameda resident who attends Oakland Technical High School, coxed the Men’s U17 8+, which won Sunday’s grand final. The boat was coached by Sean Gibel.
[1]What set the result apart was the makeup of the crew. Two-thirds of the boat were first-year rowers who had never raced before this season. The eight sat second at the halfway mark, then put down the fastest second half in the field to win by just over two seconds. Altogether, six Alameda rowers raced for Oakland Strokes at Nationals.
Four more Alameda rowers anchored Oakland Strokes women’s crews. Sophomore Adina Franz of Alameda High School and Alameda resident Olivia Wehner, who attends Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, rowed in the third-eight crew that finished 11th overall as the fastest third-varsity eight in the country, coached by Emma Bernou. Junior Ella Randecker of Alameda High School and sophomore Demeter Hondrogen of Encinal High, who rowed stroke, were in the club’s second eight, which finished 15th, coached by Isaac Bier.
The club’s top eight (1V), coached by Allison Ray, finished 17th overall after a 0.4-second margin in the time trial sent the boat to the C final, where it won convincingly. Oakland Strokes also took silver in the Men’s Youth 4- and the top two spots in the men’s pair B final, finishing 9th and 10th overall.
“This weekend showed exactly where this program is headed,” said Allison Ray, the Oakland Strokes Director of Rowing. “We won a national title with a boat that’s two-thirds first-year rowers, and took silver in the four with three juniors returning. The future here is bright. The women’s crews showed that same depth and resilience, and proved they’re among the fastest boats in the country. Across both programs, this weekend reflected the strength of our athletes, our coaches, and the culture we keep building at Oakland Strokes.”
Sean Gibel named Men’s Head Coach
The club also announced that Sean Gibel has been named Men’s Head Coach. The decision followed an extensive national and international search that produced strong candidates from across the country and abroad. Ultimately, the club concluded that the best person for the job was already in Oakland. Gibel coached the U17 8+ to the regional gold medal in May and to the national title in June. He takes over the men’s program with a deep junior class returning and a U17 group that has just proved it can win at the highest level.
Pathway to college rowing
Established in 1974, Oakland Strokes is a nonprofit youth rowing club for middle and high school students from across the Bay Area—and their seniors keep rowing long after high school. Fifteen seniors from this year’s class will row in college this fall, at Boston University, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Hobart, the University of Pennsylvania, Purdue, Tufts, the University of California Berkeley, UC San Diego, the University of San Diego, UNC Chapel Hill, Wesleyan, and Yale.
[2]Looking ahead
The 2027 season starts now. Oakland Strokes is opening registration for summer camps and welcoming new athletes to the club. There is no rowing experience required.
Middle school and high school summer camps run in one- and two-week sessions in June, July, and August. The middle school year-round program is the strongest on-ramp to high school rowing in the East Bay. And the high school team offers a free two-week trial starting August 17 for incoming and returning students considering joining. Athletes who try those two weeks can decide from there.
Cost should not be a barrier to the sport. Oakland Strokes offers financial aid to support athletes who need it, and the club works to keep rowing open to any young person who wants to row. Families are encouraged to ask.
Information about all programs, registration links, and the free trial is available on the Oakland Strokes [3] website.
Joel Flory is a boardmember of Oakland Strokes Youth Rowing.