Joe Petro, one of the photography teachers at WSHS, took on the task of documenting the US National Dragon Boat Team, specifically the Senior C Division, through their tryouts all the way to the IDBF World Championships, which were just recently held in Pattaya, Thailand.

The US Dragon Boat Team can be described as a long canoe with ten people paddling on the right and ten on the left. According to Petro, two tryouts took place, one in Morro Bay, California and the other in Tampa, Florida. At the end of the tryouts, 22 guys and 22 girls were chosen out of around 200 participants only in the Tampa location itself. Petro’s role was to document the process from training camps to the World Championships. Training camps were held in Canada and LA. When the team reached the World Championships, they won 11 gold medals and one bronze which, as stated by Petro, this year was the first time they have ever won a gold medal.

The team Petro followed exclusively is known as the Senior C Division. Everyone on the team is over 60 y

ears of age. In fact, this was what triggered his interest. He said, ”What intrigued me to do it was that they’re all over 60.” In addition, his inspiration came from the head coach, Pat Bradley. Petro explained, “[he] asked me if I would be interested in doing it, and brought me on board and the rest his history.”

The documentary is currently in the editing process and is planned to be finished by spring of 2020. When asked where the documentary could be viewed, Petro replied, “I’m [going to] submit it probably to Netflix, ESPN, and to other film festivals. I may submit it for an Emmy.” 

Be sure to lookout for the complete documentary that follows the US Dragon Boat Team to victory.