Youth Nats 2025: WY2- Fastest Twins and Fastest Sophomores in the Nation!

Scroll down past the article to see video of Friday's semi-finals race and the girls' 3rd place finish. And a scan of media coverage in our local West Orange Observer. (Read article online here.)

These girls were pretty much underrated from the start. We love an underdog position, it is so motivating!! And yet, here they finished. Overall 7th in the NATION, two of only three sophomore rowers in the A Final, and the top finishing pair of twins out of three pairs competing at Nats.

Coming out of Regionals as a third place finisher, they were seeded as number 17 of 29 at time trials. Undeterred, they showed everyone their worth on day one with a 7th place timed finish.

On to Semi-Finals on day two, where they handily led the "rest of the pack" (outside of the clear top-two finishers) to secure the third of four spots in the A Final. Wow, was that a rush! We knew they were contenders, but to be on the big stage at this young age in a boat they had limited time during the year to practice was pretty mind-blowing. Pride isn't enough of a word to describe it for their supporters. Huge thank you to their coaches (YAY JonMichael Francis, Michael Small, Kirsten Anderson) that worked with them for the practices we were able to schedule throughout the year and between Regionals and Nationals.

The A Final on Sunday didn't provide much in the way of upsets. Anna and Maija finished 7th, which was very consistent across their time trials and semis. Still, it was the most exciting race I've ever watched because I know how hard they worked for it, and how genuinely amped they were to race against the competitors they so admired--many of whom they had reached out to before and after the race with encouragement and congratulations.

Training for this race--when they had the chance to practice together--and all the other preparations we made up to Nationals were experiences that our family will never forget. This boat is technically challenging. The girls learned to race it together. The emotional strains didn't stay at the boathouse as the girls had to live at home and attend school together. There were days that tested everyone. But there were many more days when everyone felt like this was the best thing to ever come our way. After 2025 Nationals, we are sure of that. Hoping to see you all out on the big stage again in 2026!!!

VIDEO: Maija and Anna take third in semi-final 2 on the second day of 2025 Youth National Championships

A little pre-race sass and happiness

6/25/2025 Article in our local West Orange Times Observer.