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Perfect 10:'Just a small boat club in Providence' wins silver at youth rowing championship


The rowing quad from Narragansett Boat Club in Providence, Rhode Island. (WJAR)
The rowing quad from Narragansett Boat Club in Providence, Rhode Island. (WJAR)
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A group of four girls with a passion for rowing would represent the Ocean State on a national stage in Sarasota, Florida in June.

"It’s super cool to be so young and have that opportunity," said Estelle Pivorunas, Wheeler School sophomore. "It’s just a really great experience."

The quad from Narragansett Boat Club in Providence would come together this spring to become one of the best crews in the nation.

"I think I just got super lucky to be in that group," said Pivorunas.

Though they hail from three different high schools: Moses Brown, Barrington and Wheeler School, it wouldn't take long for the girls to consider themselves more than teammates.

“I love having a second family," said Sophie Haisman, Moses Brown sophomore.

While the team gets along most of the time, they admit that they even fight like family.

“There are actually a lot of funny stories where we do argue in the boat a lot," laughed Gianna Vigliotti, Barrington sophomore.

The girls credit their coach, Daniela Roop, for putting them in a boat together, but they also feel lucky that they were able to end up together.

“The chance that we are here, same age group, at the same time and were put in that quad in that order was absolute luck," said Maude Smith-Montross, Barrington Junior.

Luck isn't the only thing that the girls have working for them.

“Passion really helps us get places," said Pivorunas.

The latest place the girls have gone is Sarasota, Florida for the US Rowing Youth National Championships – an opportunity the girls were shocked to have qualified for.

“Originally we were just fighting for first at regionals," said Gianna Vigliotti, Barrington Sophomore. "When we got it, we were like, oh my gosh we actually can do this!"

Stepping foot off the plane in Florida, the team had immediate doubts.

“When we first got there, it was 99% humidity, feels like 102," said Smith-Montross. "Coming from Providence, that did not boost our confidence."

When the team hit the water, any nerves washed away as they would place trust in all of the hard work they had put in over the season.

“We just had to go all in and just do the best we could do," said Vigliotti.

After racing three times over four days, the girls' best would be good enough for a silver medal.

“We definitely shocked ourselves," said Viglotti. "We’re just a small boat club in Providence.”

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