Community Sports

Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team wins 10th national championship

The Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team came home from Florida with its 10th national championship.

The team successfully defended its 2022 title at the 2023 American Canoe Associations Sprint Nationals Competition at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida. It is the 10th national title in the past 12 competitions for the local club.

“I am incredibly proud of my team due to their commitment to one another under the extreme pressures this championship held,” coach Alyson Mrozinski said. “This year I have been blown away with the quality of character and determination of these athletes. They have earned it!“

The Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team Photo by Yumee Shim

Hot weather and fast times

Among those extreme pressures were scorching temperatures soaring above 90 degrees.

Participants in the national competition ranged in age from 12 to over 60, creating a diverse and vibrant atmosphere. Participants showcased their individual skills while also uniting in two-person and four-person team boats.

In addition to securing the national championship, the team brought home the following trophies:

• U18 (Junior) events: Black Anvil Trophy for points scored in Junior/U18 events.
• U16 (Juvenile) events: Thomas Horton Trophy for points scored in Juvenile/U16 events.
• U14 (Bantam) events: Columbia-Murphy Trophy for points scored in Bantam/U14 events.
• C4 Events: Coach Bill Bragg Trophy for sum of all points scored in every classification in C4 events.
• National Champions: Yonkers Trophy for the sum of all points scored in every classification (including Para) during the National Championships
• Stella DeSantis also won a special award named after Deborah Smith Page Burgee for winning the Junior Women C1 500 Meter

“To witness the growth of this team over the past two decades has been immensely rewarding,” said founding coach Alan Anderson. “Our 10th national championship is a testament to the resilience of our athletes and the enduring spirit of our program.”

Olympics may be on horizon

Next, a select group of athletes who qualified by their race times will begin training to compete in the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Poznan, Poland, Sept. 7-10. This competition is the next step for athletes on a journey to the Olympics. Participating GHCKRT athletes are Ben Ciaccio, Connor Peterson and Stella DeSantis in canoe; and Connor Kitching, Abby Clark and Gannon Erickson in kayak.

The Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team is celebrating its 20 anniversary, a milestone that has been made possible through support received from the city of Gig Harbor, the Gig Harbor Rotary Club, the Names Foundation and many others.