Rye Rower Heads to World Championship

Rye high school student Melissa Curtis is competing in the 2013 World Rowing Junior Championships in Lithuania from Aug. 7 to 11. As a member of Greenwich Crew, Curtis trained under head women’s coach Marko Serafimovski and made the USRowing Junior National Team earlier this summer. She will be rowing in the seventh seat. Harrison resident Lily Lindsay, a 16-year-old member of Pelham Community Rowing Association, also made the National team. USRowing is the country’s governing body for rowing.

Even though Curtis, 17, has only been rowing for two years, her determination and work ethic helped her achieve this impressive accomplishment. She spent at least two extra hours every day training, running, biking and lifting weights, Serafimovski said.

“She is a very hard working girl and I strongly believe that the hard work put in got her where she is right now,” said Serafimovski. He knew from the start Curtis has great potential and is thrilled to see her succeed.

“As soon as I saw her I saw great potential especially because she is 5’11 and that is a pretty good build for a solid rower,” he said. And then Serafimovski was repeatedly impressed by her drive and hard work. She practices before and after practice and even before school almost every day, he said.

“And she was doing everything voluntarily,” the coach said, recognizing the value of being self-motivated.

Serafimovski added that Curtis is also a very social girl with an overall great personality and a good student. “This opens up a door to academically strong schools as well as fast rowing schools like Harvard, Yale and Princeton,” he said.

Curtis is the Serafimvoski’s first rower to make Nationals in his five years coaching at Greenwich Crew. He looks forward to helping more girls see the same success.

Curtis could not be reached for comment at this time, for good reason - she is training for the World Championships that start this Wednesday!

Good luck to Melissa Curtis, Lily Lindsey and the Junior USRowing National team!