strong work ethic . The rowers come from local schools , as well as from schools as far away as Rancho Palos Verdes to the north and San Diego to the south . There are also adults in the NSBR program , including past Olympians and National Team rowers .
“ Everyone ’ s invited . No experience is required ,” Long-Lerno said . “ If you ’ re willing to work hard , you have a place . That ’ s all that matters to us . If you ’ re willing to work hard , we ’ re going to make you successful .”
The numbers and medals back up that assertion . NSB Rowing has sent crews to the U-23 and Junior National Teams each of the past two years to compete at the World Championships representing the United States , and Long-Lerno ’ s Under-19 Men ’ s Quad team — Sean Rybus , Ryan Martin , Aiden Domingo and Clay Rybus — went undefeated en route to the 2022 National Championship in Florida .
Since 2016 , NSB Rowing has sent 21 boats to US Rowing Junior National Championships , produced eight USA National Team members , earned 19 medals at the US Rowing Southwest Junior Championships and , of course , captured the ultimate medal in the Under-19 Quad at nationals .
“ Every year , we send a handful of crews
to the Youth National Championships . That speaks to our ability to do more with less ,” Long-Lerno said . “ Last year , we took 27 kids to the nationals , which was more than half the ( juniors ) program . That was a big achievement for us .”
And as Lacey Shelton points out , “ Ninetyone percent of our graduating seniors went on to continue rowing in college this past year ,” to schools such as UCLA , UC San Diego , Washington , Georgetown , Colgate and Columbia .
According to its credo , Newport Sea Base Rowing “ is dedicated to the belief that the sport of rowing provides unique opportunities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork , discipline , character and leadership development , and physical fitness . We are committed to making those opportunities equally available to all regardless of race , color or background .”
To train and achieve its goals , NSB ’ s $ 7.2 million project in 2002 transformed its facility into a modern teaching and aquatics center that features classrooms , a library , conference room , crew center with exercise equipment , a picnic area and an expanded storage shelter for boating equipment . NSB
Rowing now has dozens of boats from 25 to 60 feet : 8-person , 4-person , two-person and single boats for the various classes of competition for sweep rowing ( one oar ) and sculling ( two oars ). There is also a learn-torow barge that can accommodate 16 rowers . “ It ’ s a 12-months-a-year operation ; we never stop ,” Long-Lerno said , smiling . “ Our normal season ends in May , unless you qualify for national championships , which run 4 to 6 weeks . But Sea Base also runs summer programs . There ’ s no stopping . “ We have 10 coaches including two volunteers for all our athletes . The middle schoolers practice three days a week , and the high schoolers practice five days a week in the fall , six days in the spring . It ’ s always busy around here , in and out of the water .”
Long-Lerno says he would like “ to bring our approach to more kids ,” though wants to limit the number to about 110 in the program so NSB Rowing can continue its quality-over-quantity approach to teaching and development .
“ We want to spend our time helping them develop ,” he said . “ That is our mission .”
And who knows ? Maybe one of the current Newport Sea Base rowers will qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles .
82 BAY WINDOW