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HomeNewsArchivesHovensa Kayaking Team Wins Adult Division of 2008 Boy Scout Regatta

Hovensa Kayaking Team Wins Adult Division of 2008 Boy Scout Regatta

May 19, 2008 — The Hovensa team showed off its Kayaking expertise Sunday at the 2008 Boy Scout Regatta by taking the adult division of the competition in dominating fashion at the Chenay Bay Beach Resort.
The team only trailed once in the competition, during the finals when Wyatt Heat took a short lead in the third leg of the five-leg relay race. The Hovensa group quickly regained the edge in the fourth leg of the race, however, and anchor man Phil Rogers put the pedal to the metal to pull away from the competition for what turned out to be an easy victory for the champs.
From their opening heat it was obvious that Hovensa was going to be the team to beat in the adult division, as they easily dismissed the competition in the preliminary rounds. Michael Springer, who raced the first leg, always seems to give his squad an advantage right out of the box with his explosive starts. With each team required to have at least one woman on the squad, Springer's fast start usually meant that when the female leg of the competition came up, the lead was so great that in the end they overcome any ground the other teams may have made up. It also helped to have arguably the best female kayaker at the competition.
"Man, we have been doing this for awhile now, that's why we do so well," Springer said. "We have even gone to St. Thomas and kicked butt."
Hovensa finished in 7:09 to claim top honors. Wyatt Heat was second with a time of 7:41 and Knock-a-bouts was third in 8:01 to round out the adult competition.
In the junior youth division, the Real OGs finished first in 10 minutes, while NKB Troop 227 was second in 10:21and the E-Team finished third in 10:31.
In the Youth Division, the Central High Junior ROTC Crucian Surfers claimed top honors in 7:21, while second went to the Seventh-Day Adventist Tropical Storm. The Central High Junior ROTC Caribs claimed third with a time of 7:44.
"This is my fourth event as director, and it is by far the biggest one I have been a part of," said Boy Scouts of America Director Matt Holmes. "It's a great day at the beach to hang out and have a good time and some friendly competition for a good cause."
More than 100 racers participated on 21 five-man teams. The beach full of supporters reverberated with cheers and laughter as some boaters flipped over, while at times the race resembled a bumper-car ride at the fair. Racers often accidentally rammed one another, to the delight of the fans.
The event was organized by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, led by President Robert Malloy. This is the fraternity's sixth year as organizers.
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