2026 USRowing Youth National Championships Kick Off Tomorrow

On Thursday, June 11th, the 31st  USRowing Youth National Championships will return to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, for four days of electrifying racing between the fastest youth teams in the country. 

The 2026 Youth National Championships will host nearly 4,000 athletes with 870 entries from 236 clubs. RowAmerica Rye (Rye, N.Y.)  has the most entries with 21 different boats competing, followed by Los Gatos Rowing Club (Los Gatos, Calif.), Maritime Rowing Club (East Norwalk, Conn.), and Sarasota Crew (Osprey, Fla.), all with 16 entries.

The regatta begins on Thursday, June 11th at 7:30 a.m. EST, with the time trial for the Men’s Youth single sculls. Time trials will continue throughout the entire day, with the final race going off at 5:52 p.m. Friday will feature A/B semi-finals for qualifying boats from the day before. Saturday will be the first day of finals. The morning will feature B finals for all U17 and U16 boat classes, and the C and D finals for all boat classes. Sunday will start with A finals (medal races) for all boat classes and finish with the B finals in the age category events, with the final race, the open-gender youth double, scheduled to start at 3:18 p.m.

In the men’s youth single sculls, Simeon John, from Community Rowing Inc., (Brighton, Mass.), is looking to best his silver medal performance from last year to claim a national title, however, Andrew Vizecky from Lake Phalen Rowing Club (St. Paul, Minn.) will be right there with him after finishing six seconds ahead of the field at the Midwest Youth Championships and racing in the men’s U19 quadruple sculls and the 2025 U19 World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Similarly, in the women’s youth single sculls, Avisa Rezaei from First Coast Rowing Club (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Clare Junius from RowAmerica Greenwich (Greenwich, Conn.) will both be on the hunt for a national title after finishing in second and third respectively at last year’s national championships, but Sydney Vilhelm from South Orlando Rowing Club (Orlando, Fla.) may throw a wrench in their plans as the reigning U17 single sculls champion who is moving up into the youth category this year.

In the bigger boats, eyes should be on both the Men’s and Women’s Quadruple Sculls from Los Gatos Rowing Club (Los Gatos, Calif.). The women’s quad is aiming to maintain their national title from last year after finishing 18 seconds ahead of second place at the 2026 Southwest Youth Regional Championships, while the men’s quad is looking to earn their third national title in a row. In the Women’s Eight, RowAmerica Rye  (Rye, N.Y.) is also on the hunt for their third national title with two athletes returning from their previous year’s lineup. Finally, in the Men’s Eight, NorCal Crew (Redwood City, Calif.) are looking for a national title after finishing almost two seconds ahead of last year’s Bronze medalists, Marin Rowing Association. It should be a great race to watch come down the course in Sarasota.

Racing is not the only thing taking place this week. On Wednesday evening, the 2026 USRowing Youth National Championships Graduation Ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. All families, teammates, spectators, and supporters are welcome to attend. 776BC Co-founder and two-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Australian Men’s four, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, will be giving the keynote commencement address. Thursday evening will feature a coaches' happy hour, and on Friday at 7 p.m., USRowing’s annual Toast in the Tower event will also occur. Join us in the VIP area (2nd floor of the finish tower) to hear from guest speakers, connect with others across the rowing community, and enjoy refreshments together. Through storytelling, celebration, and shared experiences, Toast in the Tower reflects United We Row’s commitment to cultivating welcoming environments where everyone can feel seen, valued, and supported in the sport.

Racing will be streamed live on Overnght.com. General admission tickets are still available and can be purchased here. Results will be available here. The 2026 Youth Beach Sprint National Championships begin the following week on June 15-17 in Sarasota, Fla.