Mercer Island resident finishes with two medals at National Rowing championships

Mercer Island resident Michael Wales, who rows for the Lake Union Crew team in Seattle, won both a silver and bronze medal at the U.S. Rowing Junior National Championships in Ohio in early June.

Mercer Island resident Michael Wales, who rows for the Lake Union Crew team in Seattle, won both a silver and bronze medal at the U.S. Rowing Junior National Championships in Ohio in early June. Michael Wales’ younger brother Chris Wales, who also rows for Lake Union, finished in the top ten in the nation in his race.

Michael Wales, who rowed at nationals for the fourth year in a row, finished in second in the men’s quadruple scull with teammates Aidan O’Sullivan, Brian Fredette and Michael Lukas. They finished in a time of 6:12.21.

Two hours earlier Michael Wales won the bronze medal in the men’s single race in a time of 7:21.77.

Chris Wales, who just finished his freshman year at Seattle Prep in Seattle, rowed to a ninth place finish in the men’s lightweight double sculls with teammate Nathan Pihl with a time of 7:10. It was Chris Wales first trip to the National event.

Michael Wales, who also graduated from Seattle Prep, will be preparing for the U.S. Rowing U-23 National team trial later in the summer which will choose team members to compete in the World Championships in Belarus in July. Michael Wales will be attending Harvard in the fall to study engineering and will be rowing in the lightweights division.