Crew Previews

By:
   
Head Coach: Geoff Evans, third year



   Key returning rowers: Adam Furlong (Sr.), Matt Kostinas (Sr.), Kevin Michel (Sr.), David Mirsky (Sr.), Kate Sweger (Sr.), Iain Head (Jr.), Andrew Philhower (Jr.), Matt Smith (Jr.), Ross Uhrich (Jr.), Dan Sussman (Jr.), Mike Chaykosky (So.), David Geffner (So.), Phil Henson (So.).



   Top newcomer: Jon Brown (Sr.), Brett Cavanaugh (Sr.), Merrill Blanton (Jr.), Danielle Fair (Jr.), Jason Raiffe (Jr.), Melissa Welch (Jr.), Chris Milinoe (So.).



   Coach’s Thoughts: In the varsity heavyweight boat, we graduated only two guys so it has a strong contingent of Adam and Iain. A lot of guys who were novices and this year’s juniors are in position to make that boat pretty fast. The lightweight boat, I’m pretty excited about. All those guys are coming back. There are going to be three seniors at least. It’ll be a fast boat as well. They understand boat speed and racing well. It’s still pretty early in the season, so we have our sights set on May. We look at these first few races as training pieces and experience to help us for states, cities and Stotesbury. I’m really excited about the freshmen. We’ve got a full freshmen eight. We have more freshmen than we’ve ever had. They have a good coach and some good athletes. They’re important for building the program.

Hun School girls




   

Head Coach: Will Porter, second year



   Key returning rowers: Claire LeBeouf (Sr.), Katie Stanley (Sr.), Anna Walter (Sr.).



   Top newcomers: Jen Geffner (Sr.), Meghan Johnson (Sr.), Erin Mills (Sr.), Marleen St. Marie (Sr.), Laura Crawford (Jr.), Jacqueline Malleo (Jr.), Sherri St. Marie (Jr.), Kyle Bremer (So.), Rosemary Dorsett (So.), Carol Ann Michel (So.), Lisa Walter (So.).



   Coach’s Thoughts: I have those three girls returning from the varsity and a lot of good underclassmen and a good lightweight boat so expectations are high. We have more depth than last year. We have a big sophomore class. There are a lot of people competing for the varsity boat which has made us faster. We got fifth at Stotesbury last year. We have three returning from that boat and we want to build on that. The JV boat didn’t make the final, so we want to build on that too. We have a freshman eight this year, which will add something down the road. We haven’t had that. Stotesbury is our goal. We want to try to get into the final and win a medal. That’s our goal every year.

Mercer Junior boys




   

Head Coach: Sean McCourt, fourth year



   Key returning rowers: Chris Benchley (PDS – Sr.), Paul Deramo (PHS – Sr.), Ryan Gaylo (WWPS – Sr.), Matt Millar (PHS – Sr.), Joshua Novak (WWPS – Sr.), William Probasco (WWPS – Sr.), Reynir Winnan (WWPS – Sr.), Robert Abraham (WWPS – Jr.), Michael Abraham (WWPS – Jr.), Rinku Bandyopadhay (PHS – Jr.), Tom Nahass (MHS – Jr.).



   Top newcomers: Jeffrey Moll (PDS – Jr.), Christian Honore (PHS – So.), Paul Kuhlman (PHS – So.), Mike Mikula (PHS – So.), Dana Narveson (PHS – So.), Jimmy Newcombe (PHS – So.), Mike Perl (WWPS – So.), Zach Rosen (WWPS – So.), John Tomasulo (PDS – So.), Sam Weber (WWPS – So.), Rick Zultner (WWPN – So.).



   Coach’s Thoughts: They’re coming off a year where they got fourth at the Youth Invitational, which is the national championship. They’re looking to bring home a medal from nationals. We graduated two guys from that boat, and one of the returning athletes is coming off a shoulder injury from swimming. He hasn’t even got to row yet. He’ll start Monday. I think some of the challenges for those guys are bringing up the younger guys, trying to get people to fill those voids. It’s just challenging trying to raise the bar after what they set last year. We managed to win our first race over Chaminade (N.Y.) and St. Augustine’s (Absecon, N.J.). They’re both always national contending teams. This race (Saturday) was the first we raced the boys as a lightweight eight. They’re going to get better and better as the year progresses. We’d definitely like to qualify for the national title.

Mercer Junior girls




   

Head Coach: Sean McCourt, fourth year



   Key returning rowers: Ansley Brett (Stuart – Sr.), Sarah Dabbs (PHS – Sr.), Hannah Gursky (PHS – Sr.), Tae Richmond (Stuart – Sr.), Emily Steele (PHS – Sr.), Lauren Alba (WWPN – Jr.), Erin Conlon (WWPS – Jr.), Louise Feder (PHS – Jr.), Becca Fein (PDS – Jr.), Rosie Haimm (PHS – Jr.), Jessica Harris (Stuart – Jr.), Jackie Hofman (PHS – Jr.), Halley McDaniel (PHS – Jr.), Nicole Reiff (WWPS – Jr.), Katherine Thompson (Stuart – Jr.), Erin Tormey (WWPS – Jr.).



   Top newcomers: Katelynn Reynold (PHS – Sr.), Amanda Gettelfinger (WWPS – Jr.), Harriet Kadar (PHS – Jr.), Laura Schafer (MHS – Jr.), Rachel Weiss (PHS – Jr.), Katherine Bazergui (WWPS – So.), Katherine Boyce (PHS – So.), Sarah Emmerman (WWPS – So.), Lauren Fiori (PHS – So.), Phoebe Getzow (WWPS – So.), Emily Gittleman (PHS – So.), Katie Hyer (WWPS – So.), Kate Joseph (WWPS – So.), Jessica Kim (WWPS – So.), Rachel LaBella (WWPS – So.), Esther Lerner (PHS – So.), Sarah McKnight (WWPS – So.).



   Coach’s Thoughts: Last year we got third at the Northeast Regional Championships. This year our goal is to qualify for the national championships in Cincinnati. It’s very tough considering in our regional you have to finish Top 2. The team that won the regional last year got third in the nation. Part of the challenge is we have a lot of younger girls in the boat, people who came out of the novice program last year. The thing is to transfer them from a novice program to a varsity program and really maximizing it. Unlike the last few years, we have some really good tools now. They have some horsepower. We have to make sure we’re using it. The girls’ lightweight, we won our first race and (Saturday) we lost. We should have a really good year. We’d definitely like to qualify for the national title.

NOTE — Mercer Junior previews only include athletes from Packet-area schools.