North American Border War: Team USA’s Power Pair vs. Canada’s Gold Medal Pedigree in Lenny Peters Cup Double Sculls
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North American Border War: Team USA’s Power Pair vs. Canada’s Gold Medal Pedigree in Lenny Peters Cup Double Sculls
HIGH POINT, NC – A fierce North American rivalry takes center stage at the 2026 Lenny Peters Cup as the United States and Canada face off in a high-octane women’s double sculls showdown. This Saturday, April 18, American scullers Sophia Vitas and Evan Park will defend their home water against a formidable Canadian duo: Olympic gold medalist Avalon Wasteneys and sculling standout Katie Clark.
The matchup pits two of the world’s most versatile rowing programs against one another in a sprint that promises to be decided by inches.
Team USA: The Wisconsin-Oregon Connection
The American boat features a blend of veteran Olympic speed and explosive new talent. 
photo row2k.com
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Sophia Vitas: A 2024 Paris Olympian and six-time National Team member, Vitas is widely regarded as one of the most technical scullers in the U.S. system. A University of Wisconsin alumna, her experience in the double—including a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships—makes her the tactical anchor of the crew.
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Evan Park: Hailing from Bend, Oregon, Park is the rising force of the duo. A standout at Oregon State and a U23 World Gold Medalist in the eight, Park made her senior world championship debut in 2025. Her transition from sweep rowing to elite sculling has been meteoric, bringing a "West Coast" engine to Vitas’s technical precision.
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Avalon Wasteneys: A household name in Canadian rowing, Wasteneys is a two-time Olympic medalist, including Gold in Tokyo and Silver in Paris as the stroke of the Canadian Women’s Eight. The University of Victoria star is a legacy athlete (her mother and aunt both rowed for Canada), known for her unmatched competitive drive and "big-engine" power.
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Katie Clark: Partnering with Wasteneys is Katie Clark, a specialist who has been a consistent force in the Canadian single sculls. Her ability to handle the "finesse" of the sculling blades perfectly complements Wasteneys’s raw power, creating a double that is as smooth as it is strong.
The Stakes
In the Ryder Cup-style format of the Lenny Peters Cup, every race counts toward the final trophy. While the Americans have the advantage of being "pure" scullers, the Canadians bring the championship-winning mentality of an Olympic gold medalist.
"This race is a classic contrast in styles," says race director Gene Kininmonth. "You have the specialist sculling background of Vitas and Clark meeting the sheer powerhouse athleticism of Park and Wasteneys. On a 1,500m course like Oak Hollow, it’s going to be a sprint from the first stroke."
Race Details
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Event: Women’s Double Sculls Match Play
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Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10:22 AM
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Location: Festival Park, Oak Hollow Lake, High Point, NC
Media Contact:
Gene Kininmonth/Lenny Peters Cup
genekininmonth@gmail.com