Two Rowers Invited to Participate in Camp

NEWBURGH – Two San Miguel Academy rowers have been invited to participate in USRowing’s official Youth Development Camp. Gustavo Laureano and Oscar Liendo, 8th graders at San Miguel Academy, will attend the camp in Chattanooga in June. Both young men are accomplished rowers and coxswain and have competed in national indoor and outdoor competitions. In February, Gustavo earned a bronze medal in the Mens Coxswain 1k at the USRowing National Indoor Championships. Oscar finished in fourth place, just seconds behind. Gustavo was coxswain for the SMA quad team that won last year’s USRowing Youth Semi-Final Championships and went on to place 11th at the Nationals. As senior rowers at San Miguel Academy, Gustavo and Oscar pass on their rowing knowledge to SMA’s newest rowers, ensuring the long-term success of the program.

The youth development camp is an integral part of USRowing’s Olympic Development Program, which prepares athletes to compete at future U19, U23, and Senior National Team events. San Miguel Academy Rowing is among the largest middle school rowing programs in the country, as well as the largest minority rowing program. The rowing program creates access to educational paths that support the mission of San Miguel Program: to break the cycle of poverty through education. The opportunity for rowers to train and complete is made possible through the generosity of donors and several organizations, including the New York Giants Foundation, the Head of the Charles/ Philadelphia Gold Cup Foundation, and Arshay Cooper and the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund.

“I was not surprised when I heard the news,” responded Arshay Cooper. “I travel and visit rowers worldwide, and Gus and Oscar work just as hard. This is huge for San Miguel Academy and a victory for Newburgh. These young men will represent their city and demonstrate that kids who look like them can compete at a high level and not just participate. Representation matters!”