Only Sagamore Rowing Association's coach Troy Smith and four rowers, all girls, drove and flew to Indianapolis to compete in the National Championship last year. And they rowed well on the Eagle Creek over the course of 2000 m, coming back with one gold and two bronze medals. Ashleigh Tate was a Junior Single Scull National Champion and there was a celebration at the boathouse on the Beekman Beach.

Fourteen young Sagamore rowers - four junior boys, eight junior girls and two college-age young ladies - took part in this year's national championship. And they too, rowed very well, coming back with three gold, two bronze medals, one fourth and fifth place. Tough competition, qualifying through heats and semifinals into finals.

"Fantastic!" said the president of the rowing club, Gunther Uthgennant, when he heard the news as it was probably the best showing of the 33-year-rowing club at the Nationals.

"I still can't believe it. I knew that we were ready to peak at the nationals, that our girls row quite well, but three national champions! Unbelievable!" exclaimed Sagamore's sculling coach Peter Bisek.

And it was, again, Ashleigh Tate, University of Rhode Island freshman, who, after last year's win as a junior had to move up to the intermediate women category, that surprised the field of older, bigger, stronger and more experienced single scullers with her tenacity and earned her second highest national title.

In 2005, Ashleigh teamed up with this year's Yale graduate, Amanda Kendrick, to win the Intermediate Women Double Scull. And they won it so convincingly that both Sagamore coaches, Bisek and Smith, just shook their heads in disbelief.

But it was not only these two "returning" rowers who scored huge points for the Sagamore Rowing Association. The third national title was won by four high school girls under 16, rowing in a quadruple scull category. Sharon Burke, Sarah Schoenberg, Livie Pitts and Alexandra Berch - Livie visiting from Charlottesville, VA, the other three attending the Oyster Bay High School - were expected to medal but a gold? "It was probably our best row ever," said Berch who in a "stroke" sets the pace.

And the bronze medals? At 21 the oldest on the team, Amanda Kendrick, in an Intermediate Women 500 meter dash medaled literally "by the nose" (less than half a second), and high school senior girls - Liz Barnett, Julie Solar, Mary Dreusike and Elizabeth Henwood - medaled in a Junior Women quadruple scull. Liz is a sophomore at Huntington High School. Julie and Elizabeth are seniors while Mary is a junior: all three at St. Anthony's in South Huntington.

Additionally, Sarah Schoenberg with Alex Berch finished fourth in Junior Women Under 16 Double Scull, while Barnett and Henwood were sixth in Junior Women Double Scull.

Boys, too, rowed hard and well but fell short advancing into finals this time. It was Alex Bertoli (OB High) and Travis Mitchel (home schooled) both in a Junior Men Single, and Kendall McCaffrey (OB High) in a Junior B Men Single. Alex and Travis rowed in a Junior Men Double Scull and Kendall with Rich Appell (Chaminade High School) rowed in a Junior Men B Double.

"It's a long drive to Indianapolis. It takes about 14 hours to get there but it was definitely worth it. Great regatta, great rowing," said Coach Smith, who also pulled a 50-foot-long trailer loaded with nine racing shells.

Junior Women B 4x - Sharon Burke, Sarah Schoenberg, Livie Pitts, Alexandra Berch (s)

Intermediate Women 1x - Ashleigh Tate

Intermediate Women 2x - Ashleigh Tate, Amanda Kendrick (s)

Junior Women 4x - Liz Barnett, Julie Solar, Mary Dreusike, Elizabeth Henwood (s)

Elite Women 500 m Dash - Amanda Kendrick

Junior women B 2x - Sarah Schoenberg, Alexandra Berch (s)

Thanks to Artem Kostylev and Chris Kemmerer for loaning their boats. Thanks to June Kendrick (boatwoman and a driver) and Joan Barnett (hotel reservations) for their help and coaches Peter Bisek, Troy Smith and Jennifer Ladham.