Justin Best is congratulated by USRowing Junior National Team coach Steve Hargis on being named to the national team.
In rowing there is a saying, “Mileage makes champions.” The waters of the Philadelphia area rowing community are propelling one youth rower to the 2015 World Junior Rowing Championship in Rio de Janeiro. Justin Best, a 2015 Unionville High School graduate, is representing the United States on August 5th through the 9th. He will be competing against the top junior rowers from over 40 countries at the venue hosting the 2016 Olympics.
There must be something in the air though in the Kennett Square area as he is the second resident and Unionville High School graduate to make the Elite Junior National Team behind Nathan Smith who rowed for Team USA at the 2012 Championships in Bulgaria.
Through national tryouts spanning nine ID camps from coast to coast that started in January and selection camp in Pittsburgh this June, the top 16 sweep junior men’s rowers were picked to move onto Worlds. Best represented the United States last year at the CanAmMex regatta in Nova Scotia, Canada where Team USA won gold in the Men’s 8+ (Eight rowers plus a coxswain).
“I am honored to represent the United States at World’s” said Best. More miles lay ahead for Best as he begins college in the fall at Drexel University as a member of their crew team.
