Gainesville Area Rowing (GAR) is making waves on the national stage once again. This past weekend, the team delivered a standout performance at the 2026 USRowing Southeast Youth Championships, earning three boats a ticket to the prestigious 2026 USRowing Youth National Championships, set for June 11–14 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.

Headlining the effort was the Men's Youth 4-, which claimed the Southeast Regional Championship with a first-place finish, securing an automatic spot at Nationals. The Women's Youth 4x followed with a strong fourth-place finish, while the Men's U17 4+ also took fourth to punch their ticket to the national competition.

"This weekend was a tremendous reflection of the commitment and resilience of our athletes," said GAR head coach Garrett Bauer. "To qualify three boats for Youth Nationals out of one of the toughest regions in the country is an incredible accomplishment for our program."

The achievement builds on a stellar 2025 season, where GAR recorded one of its best-ever showings at the USRowing Youth National Championships, highlighted by a silver medal in the women's pair and multiple top national placements. Earlier this spring, the team also captured two Florida State Championships at the FRSA Sweep State Championships in the Men's Varsity 4+ and Women's 2nd Varsity 4+, earning five medals across seven boats.

For fans of competitive rowing, this is a team on the rise—and one to watch as they prepare to take on the nation's best in Sarasota.