- March 9, 2026
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Orlando Area Rowing Society’s women’s youth Third Varsity Eight, which is the third-fastest crew of eight rowers at the club, prepared to take on the water.
Maija and Anna Andert smiled after finishing their race. The twins began rowing in the pair over a year ago. Both junior girls have committed to rowing in college.
Each of the men's youth 8+ rowers used their leg strength to push the boat through the water. The boats are fashioned with seats that have rollers to allow the rowers to glide with the motion of the oar.
OARS women’s youth 8+ team was happy to be rowing back to the dock. The girls still had multiple events after the largest boat competed.
The boats are 60 feet long and weigh around 250 pounds, which is carried by the eight rowers on a team.
OARS women’s youth 2x B team celebrated finishing in fourth-place.
OARS women’s youth 8+ team was powerful on the water. The + on teams means the boat has a coxen, which is a member who directs the team rather than rows.
OARS had three men’s youth 2x teams compete in the invitational. The teams placed in second, third and fourth.
OARS Maija and Anna Andert competed on the women’s youth 2x A team and finished in first place.
OARS women’s youth freshmen team worked hard on Turkey Lake. Boats are required to be on the water with the teams to save teams in case of an emergency.
After each race, the rowers did their cool-down row back to the dock to take their boats out of the water.
OARS men’s youth 8+ team took home second place in the invitational.
OARS women’s youth 8+ team and its competitors talked with each other after the race. Although the clubs are opponents on the water, the rowers have strong bonds on land.
Each of the 25 clubs at the 2026 OARS Invitational walked their boats down to the dock to prepare for competition.
OARS men’s youth 8+ boat prepared to enter the water. Each team launched at the same location and waited out on the lake for the heat before it was complete.
The waters of Bill Frederick Park’s Turkey Lake were transformed into a rowing hotspot Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.
Tents of the 25 clubs lined the walkways inside of the park for the 28th Annual Orlando Area Rowing Society’s Youth Invitational. The 25 clubs registered 464 entries to compete in the two-day invitational. Clubs from all over Florida traveled to the area, including two out of state teams, St. Andrew from Atlanta, Georgia, and New Orleans from New Orleans, Louisiana.
The event was run by OARS volunteers who directed parking, scored the races, announced teams, and many other tasks to ensure a successful invitational.
On Saturday, the clubs’ high school men's and women’s teams competed in single, doubles, four-person and eight-person boats. On Sunday, the middle school teams, and the women’s and men’s masters will compete.
OARS men’s youth teams earned first place in the freshmen 4+ and 3rd 8+, second-place in the 8+ and second through fourth place in the 2x, third and fourth in open 8+ and fifth-place in the 1x. OARS women’s youth teams took home first and fourth in youth 2x, first in 3rd 8+, and second, third and ninth in open 8+, and fifth in 1x.
The club uses the results of the invitational as a guiding point to see where teams are at before OARS’s competition intensifies to districts, regionals and nationals.
