"It was an absolutely beautiful finish to a beautiful season," Trotter said. "It was the most remarkable day Prendie ever had at nationals."
But the best was still to come for Trotter and his family. The bus arrived back in Delaware County at 11 p.m. on Sunday, and Trotter's daughter Nicole gave birth to his first grandchild, Michael Francis, at 11:48 a.m. on Monday.
"All in all, it was the most incredible five days of my life on any level," Trotter said.
The question on Monday was: "Is it a boy or a girl?" The question on Saturday was: Is it a gold or a silver?"
The lightweight eight of junior coxswain Katie Mullen; sophomore Brooke Nelling; juniors Diana Bishop, Sheila Finnegan, Aimee Nichols, Lauren Fattori, Michelle Doyle, and Trish McLean; and senior Molly O'Brien covered the 1,500-meter course in 5 minutes, 32.5 seconds.
Nardin Academy from Buffalo was second in 5:32.6. Stotesbury champion T.C. Williams from Alexandria, Va., was third in 5:34.5.
"They were crying and were so overwhelmed by it all," Trotter said. "I had never seen a race that close in my life."
Earning the bronze was the lightweight four of junior coxswain Kelly Gallagher, sophomore Sarah McGurk, junior Kathy Murtock, and seniors Danielle Mossman and Bonnie Muir.
The fourth-place varsity eight included senior coxswain Jenn Bergin; seniors Jen Timlin, Christen Scanlon, Kristen Mascitelli, and Denene Finnerty; junior Lauren Carroll; and sophomores Megan Berry, Sarah Turner, and Danielle Romasko. In the sixth-place freshman eight were coxswain Katie Hutton, Amy Timlin, Jackie Haelle, Caitlin Crosby, Lynsay Bukula, Megan McGarrity, Colleen Dougherty, Erin Hennessey, and Kate Gallagher.
No generation gap. The national championships were especially satisfying for Haverford School coach Jim Barker.
