St. Mary's Prep Rowing Team Makes National Waves

St. Mary's Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, Michigan, boasts a rich rowing legacy, having secured 28 state championships since the 1970s and made numerous national appearances.

Traditionally an all-boys institution, the school opened its doors to female students five years ago, a decision that sparked mixed reactions within the community.

Head coach Chris Czarnecki reflected on the transition, stating, "I will be the first to admit that I was not enthusiastic about the girls starting here, I mean, we've been an all-boys school since 1885. But I couldn't be more wrong about something. They are very much a mirror image of the boys. Ambitious, driven, competitive."

Among the athletes, Sadie Ross is gearing up for nationals. She recalls her freshman year when there were no senior girls. "I'd say it's weird, especially considering it's an all-boys school and coming in and being like, oh there's a whole bunch of girls here," she shared with CBS Detroit. "I think we've worked really hard to create this sisterhood instead of a brotherhood. And I'd say, honestly, all the girls, it's like we're one big family."

Fellow sophomore Evan Cadieux appreciates the coed dynamic: "It's nice to have that coed group because it's not just around all guys the entire time. They're all very hardworking, and it's nice to be around them."

The team meticulously carries their boats to the dock, lowering them into the water before commencing their drills.

David Stration, an alumnus and assistant varsity coach, graduated from St. Mary's when it was still exclusively male. He noted the initial apprehension surrounding the inclusion of girls: "Obviously, when everyone found out, there was a lot of apprehension with it. A lot of people were talking, like: 'Is this a good idea, is it not?' But it's been amazing to have them. It just adds so much more to the school and to the rowing program as a whole."

The women's team has proven its mettle against established programs statewide, thanks to a demanding training regimen that includes two daily practices as the season winds down, with morning sessions starting at 5 a.m.

Stration expressed pride in the team's rapid achievements: "The fact that within five years we've already had a national championship on the girls' side, we've sent multiple boats to nationals, we've won a Midwest medal in the eight, which is one of the more prestigious medals to be winning. It's wonderful to see how fast and how quickly they've taken on and really made it their own."

Meredith Bruckner joined CBS News Detroit in May 2023. Before her current role, she served as managing editor and senior producer for All About Ann Arbor at WDIV Local 4 News and ClickOnDetroit.