LBJC head coach Alfredo Montenegro with medal-winners Greg Hawkins, Heather Snead, Ally Wilches, Rebeca Felix, Mackenzi Sherman and Matt McGlynn. Photo by Patti Sherman.

Braving rough weather and stiff competition, Long Beach Junior Crew captured a national title and several other medals at the 16th annual US Rowing Youth National Championships in Bethel, Ohio a few weeks ago.

LBJC is a club squad based in Long Beach that fields several teams of both men and women. More than 1,600 high school athletes competed during the three-day event and LBJC won medals in three different categories, the most prestigious of which was a championship in the women’s quad.

The victory was the second in three years for LBJC, led by the hard work of Rebeca Felix (San Marino HS), Mackenzi Sherman (Hope Christian Academy), Heather Snead (Long Beach Poly), Ally Wilches (Long Beach Wilson) and alternate Zoe Irish (Long Beach Poly).

LBJC ladies also captured a silver medal in the women’s double – Felix and Sherman – and fourth place in the women’s lightweight four – Cylina Villareal (Long Beach Wilson), Sara Mores (Long Beach Wilson), Sarah Arcos (Long Beach Poly), Brea Wiley (Long Beach Poly) and coxswain Kaila Garza (Long Beach Millikan).

The club’s third and final medal was an impressive bronze for the men’s lightweight double with Matt McGlynn (Servite) and Greg Hawkins (Peninsula HS).