Santa Barbara Community Rowing’s Jacie Dingman placed seventh in the U17 Single Scull Race at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Florida from June 12 to June 15.
Dingman, a 15-year-old Santa Ynez High student, made an impression in her first National Championships as a single against some of the best racers in the nation.
“There were 27 girls in this category, and we did some research and knew Jacie was going up against some girls who were in this category last year and did well, so we knew she was going up against some speed—especially girls from the southeast region who row year-round and have raced on this course before,” SBCR head coach Grace Barbara said.
“So, our goal was to make the top 16 in the time trials on Thursday and top four in the semis on Friday, which would put Jacie in the A finals on Sunday—both of which she did. Jacie does super well doing head-to-head, which was evident in her semifinal on Friday.”
In the semifinals on Friday, Dingman clinched a spot in the finals thanks to an impressive sprint down the stretch to take second in the race by .02 seconds.
“I had a really good semifinal,” Dingman said. “I went in with the goal of making the finals and was able to execute my race plan and be very aggressive. Plus, I was able to time my final sprint well and start it early enough to make a difference.”
On the final day of competition, the Florida heat and humidity took a toll on all racers, with Dingman rounding out the weekend with a seventh-place finish.
“By Sunday, I wasn’t really feeling my best, and the wind was crazy,” Dingman said. “I got blown off the starting block and was hitting buoys for the first 250 meters before I was able to get straightened out, so I started pretty far behind.”
The showing was one to celebrate for SB Community Rowing and Dingman, who still has a bright future ahead of her on the water.
“This really is something to cheer about for our club and for Jacie, especially as she was the youngest girl in the race,” Barbara said. “Jacie is only 15 (she’s technically U16), but we raced her in the U17 group because she’s fast enough and she’ll be in this category next year, so it’s good practice.
“If she’s lucky enough to qualify again next year, there are obviously things we’ll work to improve, but we’ll also for sure be trying for a medal.”
Dingman will now participate in the USRowing Pathways Development Camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the Girls Elite Pairs Camp.
“Nationals is so much fun and such an incredible experience, and I have so much respect for everyone I met there,” Dingman said. “I’m also so grateful to everyone for making it happen – parents, Coach, my fellow rowers at SBCR, and I’m ready to come back and try to medal next year.”
SB Community Rowing is one of the only rowing organizations in Santa Barbara County, based at Cachuma Lake.
SBCR offers summer camps for youth ages 11+, as well as Learn to Row programs throughout the year for adults and kids.. For more information visit https://www.rowsbc.org/
