Specific topics included trailer hitching and loading, boat securing, spatial awareness, and risks on the road.  After a classroom session, the coaches headed out to the parking lot to practice, with Glenn sitting in the passenger seat giving instructions and advice.

Safety is always Row New York’s #1 concern for our young athletes and their coaches, and the knowledge and experience that Glenn shared with our staff is already being put to good and frequent use.

Thanks to Glenn Merry for taking time out of his busy schedule to spend the day with the Row New York staff!

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On Saturday, our boats pulled hard in semifinals. Placing second in semifinal three, edging out four other crews, was our Danna Matute-coxed four. Placing fourth in semifinal two was Claudia DiMaio’s boat. Tenzin Khangkar coxed her four to a sixth place finish in semifinal one.

On Sunday, Danna once again coxed her boat to an excellent finish, coming in fourth in the state with a time of 6:36.57. Shannon McCann, Kalieha Nozile, Abre Bokhari, and Alexa Presto, the winning crew, are pictured here with their victorious coxswain. Coach Mike Eichler expressed his satisfaction with the weekend’s results and the deep levels of talent they displayed.

Next up: our end-of-season spring barbeque at the Meadow Lake Boathouse this Saturday! Congratulations to all our rowers on their fitness improvement and athletic achievement this season.

Bringing home gold medals were our first and second varsity fours. Our third and fourth varsity fours medaled as well, earning silver in their events. Our first varsity eight finished second in their heat, advanced to the final, and won a bronze. Our second varsity eight came in fifth in their event. Our novice crews put up respectable showings as well, with our first and second novice eights each winning fourth place finishes.

Coach Mike Eichler called Sunday’s results “arguably the most competitive Row New York finish ever” at LICs, noting that the squad topped last year’s medal haul 29 to 28. The day was the “best showing of depth ever by the varsity with all fours and the varsity eight medaling.” Coach Mike also noted that Sunday’s LICs were the second time we earned medals in the second varsity four event and the first time that all of our junior varsity fours – the second, third, and fourth boats – medaled.

Congratulations to our rowers! Row New York now turns its sights to States – and the medals to win there.

In the first girls’ event, Row New York pulled hard to grab first place and a batch of gold medals. Greenwich and Port claimed second and third places, respectively. In the first boys’ event, Port bested Greenwich for first place in the two-team field. The second girls’ event saw Port taking gold, Greenwich silver, and Row New York bronze. The final race of the day, the second boys’ event, saw Port claim the top spot over Greenwich once again.

Row New York’s Corona Sprints event was an excellent way for our middle schoolers to demonstrate all the hard work they have been doing on the water this season. For many of them, it was their first racing experience. The families who came out to cheer on the girls and see their rowers in action were gratified and excited to see the tangible results of their daughters’ involvement in rowing.

Row New York was glad to host our friends from Port Rowing and Greenwich. Congratulations to every rower from each club that competed on Friday.

Earlier this spring, Row New York’s founder and Executive Director Amanda Kraus was hosted by WinTech’s Chairman Howard Winklevoss on a visit to the company’s extensive workshop and warehouse facilities in Connecticut. Amanda returned from the trip speaking highly not only of the beautiful and well-crafted WinTech boats but also of the synergy she felt between the WinTech company ethos and Row New York’s non-profit mission of using rowing to empower under-resourced youth.

Following Amanda’s visit and discussion with Mr. Winklevoss about Row New York’s existing outreach rowing programs in Queens and our expansion to Manhattan, WinTech extended an offer to Row New York that combined high quality affordable racing shells with excellent and timely customer service and the promise of a partnership extending years into the future. The result was Row New York’s purchase of seven new WinTech racing shells, the largest purchase of new boats in the 10-year history of the organization. WinTech also donated a lightly used boat for our new outreach rowing program for boys and young men.

Row New York and WinTech agree that when the for-profit and non-profit sector can identify common goals and values and work together, the benefit can be widespread and long lasting.

We would also like to thank Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss for their generous support of our Manhattan outreach programs.

Row New Yorkers showed their mettle at this past weekend’s Cooper Cup on the Cooper River outside Camden, New Jersey. Way to go girls!

As Coach Mike Eichler put it:

“A pre-sunrise bus trip began The Cooper Cup Regatta in Camden, New Jersey. Our traditional schedule has us slated to race at the Big Duck/East End Regatta but unfortunately a sudden cancellation of the event led our coaching staff to find a regatta in the region. We brought a fully loaded trailer and truck with us to the regatta loaded with our shells, our new partner Harlem River Crew’s shells, and our game faces.

The day began with the First and Second Novice Eights racing. Both had strong solid rows. This young group of rowers is really beginning to gel and is looking to have some top level finishes in the next two weeks. On the Varsity side the Varsity Four and Second Varsity Four raced in the Varsity Four heats and both exerted strong efforts that propelled them to the 5:30 finale. The Third and Fourth Varsity Fours had solid rows which showed program depth and highlighted strengths and weakness that will be worked on as we prepare for NY State Championships. The JV 8+ rowed a consistent race in the late afternoon that showed the overall depth of personnel of our high school program.

Throughout the day the wind continually picked up placing our trailer and us in a dustbowl, but then 5:30 came and it was time to race. The Wave and Scheerer launched off into a stiff headwind (which would be a tailwind for the race) as the rest of the team gathered at the finish to cheer their teammates. Strong finishes by both crews in 4th and 6th out of an original field of 18. For a first time showing at the Cooper Cup, we left our mark and the crews are looking to gear up for two more tough weeks in preparation for NY States.”

Our results:
Taking first in the second heat of the women’s varsity 4+ qualifying event was our Danna Matute-coxed crew, crossing the finish line at 8:08.73 and edging out Four other boats. The first heat of the women’s varsity 4+ event saw Clauida DiMaio’s crew took second in a field of five crews with a time of 8:39.89.

Row New York’s Tenzin Khangkar-coxed 4+ took fifth place in the second varsity event’s second flight with an 8:55.13 time, while our Deanna Piedra-coxed 4+ placed fourth in flight three of the same event.

We had two crews competing in the women’s varsity 4+ final. Danna Matute and Claudia DiMaio coxed their boats to fourth and sixth place finishes, respectively, with respective times of 8:05.64 and 8:52.88.

Taking fourth place in the women’s novice 8+ first flight was Metzli C.’s boat, in at 7:54.78. In the second flight for women’s novice 8+ event, Natalie C.’s crew clocked in at 7:28.71, earning a fifth place finish. In flight two of the second varsity 8+ event, Kristen Poptean coxed our rowers to a 9:29.63 time and a fifth place finish.

Congratulations to all our rowers and their efforts and winnings this past weekend!

Located on the beautiful seaside campus of Tabor Academy in Marion, MA, the Tabor Summer Residential Program gives young people ages 9-15 the opportunity to develop their full potential as individuals, athletes, and students. Under the guidance of highly qualified counselors, coaches, and teachers, the program encourages young people to take pride in their personal achievements in the classroom, on the playing fields, or on the waterfront. The Tabor Academy Summer Program provides the option of schoolwork without losing any of the joys of summer. More information can be found at this link. This opportunity is valued at $4,300. Its price is negotiable.

This package is available first-come, first-served with an email to Jared@Rownewyork.org. Please direct questions and inquiries to this address.

Row New York participated in this program to acquaint our girls with the wide world of career choices they can choose from. According to The Perry Initiative, fewer than seven percent of all practicing orthopedic surgeons and doctoral-level engineers are female. Programs like this one – and partnerships like the one Row New York has with the Hospital and the Initiative – correct imbalances like these across career fields. Their career development aspects also directly benefit our girls.

Row New York thanks the Hospital for Special Surgery and The Perry Initiative for their partnership in this valuable program.

Video of Row New York’s first novice 8+ pulling hard on the water is available at the following link!

MercerLakeSprints2012

Leading the pack was our varsity 4+ coxed by Danna Matute, which edged out five other boats to claim a silver medal in their 2,000 meter final. They finished with a time of 7:02.54.

Row New Yorkers grabbed three bronze medals as well. Two of our second varsity 4+ boats and our third varsity 4+ took third place in their 1,500 meter heats. Our second varsity 4+, coxed by Claudia DiMaio, came in at 4:58.37, third in a field of seven. Our second varsity 4+, coxed by Tenzin Khangkar, beat three competitors for their bronze medal, crossing the finish line at 5:18.78. Our third varsity 4+, coxed by Deanna Piedra, clocked in at 5:34.23, earning their third place among seven boats.

Coach Mike Eichler writes with more results and the stories behind them:

“Which one is unlike the others? This Mercer Lake Sprints saw clear skies, lots of sun, high temperatures and a moderate cross wind at the start that eased throughout the course, unlike the previous rainy, blustery, event cancellation filled days of the past two years.

The novice eights took to the water first at 8:30 and 9:20. The first novice eight had a strong clean race that resulted in a 4th place finish, one out of the medals. The second novice eight had a learning experience race as their skeg broke off in the first 15 strokes of the race and they were ordered back to the dock. This mishap was no fault of their own, and didn’t reflect on all the hard training they’ve been doing this season, which will be put to good use in coming weeks.

In the varsity events that spanned across six hours; the varsity Four raced in one of three heats where a top two qualifying spot was needed to advance to the final. Their race had a poor beginning with mixed communication from officials that eventually led to a coach’s protest that was upheld and the crew was advanced to a seven boat final in the afternoon.

Later on, the third varsity four battled a tough heat to capture bronze medals and push back against a surging fourth place crew to open up a five second gap. In the second varsity four event; we raced the second varsity four and fourth varsity four in two different heats. Both crews had gutsy rows by taking up the stroke rating and for their efforts they both captured bronze medal finishes. Rounding out the day; the varsity Four went back to the water in a 2000m seven boat final. They pushed down the course and proved that they should have been qualified from the beginning by capturing silver medals and holding off a strong third place crew by three seconds. The second place grand final finish for the varsity four is the highest ever at Row New York and it is the first time in our history that all varsity boats medaled.”

Congratulations to these and all our rowers!

Pictured above: Mercer Lake.

Now we have announcements and decisions.

Three of our seniors have decided where they will spend the next four years. Abre Bokhari will be attending Georgetown University, Emma Buford will study at Wesleyan University, and Tenzin Khangkar is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tenzin’s studies at UW-Madison are funded through a Posse Scholarship she won amid intense competition this past year.

Other seniors are currently weighing their options – and they have many. Alaura Zayas is deciding between the Universities of California at Santa Barbara and Santa Monica as well as Orange Coast College and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). Danna Matute is choosing among York College (PA), UW-Madison, Lehman College, Hunter College, Medgar Evers College, and BMCC. Kalieha Nozile is considering St. John’s University, Lasell College, and Mercyhurst College.

Sacred Heart University, Marymount Manhattan College, St. John’s University, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst are all options for Kiera Keegan. Michelle Diaz is deciding among SUNY-Canton, the College of Staten Island, and Queensborough Community College. Veronica Castillo is choosing between the University of Buffalo, Simmons College, and Adelphi University.

As our seniors make their choices and move on to college, we wish them well. Readers should expect more updates in coming months.