While her Sequim High classmates were celebrating commencement ceremonies this weekend, Elise Beuke was taking taking another big step in her athletic career.

The SHS senior — who’s headed to the University of Washington on a crew scholarship this fall — placed second in the 2015 Youth National Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.

John Halberg, president of the Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association, says Beuke’s effort puts her in the upper echelon of rowers in the nation — not just among college athletes.

“Elise has an excellent chance of making the National Team,” Halberg said.

Beuke raced to a strong finish in her heat on June 12 with an 8:34 mark, and had the second-best time in two semifinal heats on Saturday (8:24).

In Sunday’s final, Emily Kallfelz — a 2014 U.S. Junior National team member — took top honors with an 8:10 finish, with Beuke second at 8:19.

Kallfelz, a member of the Narragansett Rowing Club of Rhode Island, was third in the event at last year’s Youth National Championships.

Beuke now joins Kallfelz and about 30 other young women who will compete for seats in the quad, double and single skulls that will race at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this August, Halberg said.

Rodrigo Rodrigues, Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association coach, was selected as one of the coaches to working with these athletes for three weeks in Connecticut to choose the team, Halberg said. Rodrigues will then accompany the team at the World Championships in Rio, where he was coach for 10 years before moving to the Olympic Peninsula in September 2012.