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Cranbrook Senior Marina Awad Places 6th at National Rowing Championships

5/27/2026

Cranbrook Schools senior Marina Awad competed on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the women’s varsity single at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) National Championship Regatta, finishing sixth in the nation.

The event, one of the premier competitions for high school rowers in the country, was held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Awad’s sixth-place finish marks a historic milestone for Cranbrook Kingswood, as she became the first female athlete from the school to compete at the Scholastic Nationals.

Awad earned her spot at the national regatta by winning the silver medal at the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Association Championships on May 10 at Kensington Metropark in Michigan. She is coached by Cranbrook Kingswood Head Coach Chris Samul.

This spring, the Cranbrook rowing program fielded 68 athletes who competed across five regattas, showcasing the depth and growth of the program.

“Marina is incredibly dedicated to strength and fitness and is also an amateur triathlete in addition to all the other things she does. Also, she was coached largely by Kevin VanHouten for the last 3 years, so he laid the technical foundation for her success,” shares Coach Samul.

Awad’s performance echoes previous successes for Cranbrook at the national level. In 2017, the men’s varsity doubles team of Josh Hartman and Will Van Houten placed sixth, and in 2018, Van Houten finished sixth in the men’s varsity single.

Rowing at Cranbrook Kingswood began in 1998 and was elevated to varsity status in 2009. The program has steadily built a reputation for competitive excellence in the Midwest and beyond.

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