Belmont Hill Crew History

belmont hill crew circa 1924–Belmont Hill Archives

Celebrating Belmont Hill Crew Committee Mary and Roger F. Duncan · Christopher Richards · Orrin G. Wood III ’71 Brian C. Aldrich ’03 Nicholas L. Baker ’03 Lawrence T. Cabot ’53 Stephen E. Carr ’70 John A. Carroll III ’89 Thomas W. Darling ’77 Michael R. Eastman ’97 Timothy W. Fulham ’74 Christopher B. Fuller ’06 David A. Fuller ’09 Mark D. Fuller ’06 Ryan Ganong ’09 Charles W. Gibson, Jr. ’00 Herbert H. Gowen II ’73 Benjamin D. Hamilton ’99 James T. Hintlian, Jr. ’78 Oliver C. T. Hurd ’08 Donald Hurley, Jr. ’60 Henry A. Luehrman ’08 Stewart G. MacDonald, Jr. ’67 D’Arcy G. MacMahon ’57 Edward G. MacMahon ’84

James L. Manson ’82 Edward W. Marple ’87 Benjamin D. McGrath ’09 Peter S. McLaughlin ’92 David S. Mulrey ’09 Justin Mundt ’09 Edward B. Murphy ’90 Stephen Newark ’04 Timothy P. O’Connell, Jr. ’02 John P. B. Paris, Jr. ’67 Allison W. Phinney III ’74 Schuyler S. Reece ’03 Kyle B. Rosse ’09 Daniel M. Schley ’73 Peter H. Scholle ’09 David A. Shaff ’90 Bradford J. Smith ’76 Ruth Sweeney Edward C.P. Thomas ’37 Jonathan R. White ’73 E. Christopher Woll ’91

Saturday, October 18, 2008 Belmont Hill School Special thanks to the Crew Committee for their tireless efforts in making this celebration of Belmont Hill Crew a success.

At Belmont Hill, crew has always been a great exercise in working together. Dr. Howe, himself a crew coach, established the rowing tradition and it thrives today. A racing crew is five people acting as one. It is a unit in itself. There can be no star player. If it wins, they all win. If it loses, “Well, we should have done better.”

Roger Duncan Head Coach 1945 –1966

The Early Years 1924–1945

Through the kindness of Harvard University work on the machines in the Weld Boathouse and in the tank at Newell began Feb. 28, 1925. The School has secured, besides the fouroared shell given by Harvard University, a new Sims four-oared barge and oars purchased from the same source. Mr. Bradin, Mr. Haines, and Dr. Howe had helped with the coaching.

The boys on the squad are Holcombe, Hurlbut, W. Worcester, Vosburgh, Henriquez, Bowden, Wood, W. Bailey, J. Forbes.

–Archive news clip, Belmont Hill scrapbook

1924 Newspaper article

Coach Parker Hamilton

“Belmont Hill Changes to an Eight” Belmont Hill School had a race last Saturday with Pomfret School down in Connecticut, but the race was in fours, and immediately afterward Belmont changed to eights. The first race in an eight-oared shell for Belmont Hill will be that with Groton. In the four-oared races with Pomfret last Saturday, the Belmont Hill crews trailed, but in a combined eight, coach Parker Hamilton looks for greater power. The first practice in an eight was held yesterday in Spy Pond in Arlington so that coach Hamilton has no idea of the seating order.

–May 1928, Archive news clip, Belmont Hill scrapbook

As soon as the midyear exams were over, and the hockey season finished, the crew squad started to work on the machines down in “Cole’s Hole,” but it was not until the first day of April that a potential first crew took its opening spin on the Charles River. Coach Parker Hamilton had only two veterans, Tom and Dudley Talbot, from his last year’s crew, and the remainder of the 1934 second crew furnished the rest of the experienced material.

May 4, 1928

1935 Yearbook

The Early Years 1924–1945

April 1931, Mystic Lakes boathouse

The crew of 1936 won one and lost three races. However, the excellent spirit, which has been evident in all sports this year, made this year a most successful one from the standpoint of the crew, and from that of the school.

The second crew has had the most successful season of any second crew in the history of the School, scoring wins over Browne and Nichols by seconds, a race as close as the Groton race, and the Roxbury Latin first crew. Their only loss was in a four-oared shell against the Brooks third four.

1936 Yearbook

When the crew started practice on the lake in the first week of April, there were six members of last year’s crew in the boat: Clark, Holcombe, Tappan, Foster, Winship, and Thomas. The remaining seats were soon filled by Hubbard and Fuller. During the period before the first race, sickness dealt the crew a telling blow when Tappan and Holcombe were taken sick for a period of at least two weeks. Wicks and Elwell were called upon to fill the gap. Consequently, when the Groton race rolled around, the crew was in rather shaky conditions, not having rowed together long enough to look well as a unit.

1937 Yearbook

Waldo H. Holcombe ’29

The 1931 crew

When rowing started this year, it appeared that Holcombe, the captain, and only remaining member of last year’s crew, would be unable to row. Although this was a great blow, Holcombe was able to do some coaching, and remained captain and leader of the crew.

He did row in the last race although that had not been counted on.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Hamilton should end his coaching career with this record, but there are bad years and there are good years. Whatever the success of his crews has been, one of Mr. Hamilton’s primary objects has never been lost, certainly not this year. This object is to interest boys in learning to row, and in going on rowing in college.

1938 Yearbook

This year witnessed the advent of two major changes in Belmont Hill rowing. First, Lincoln Dow was appointed coach to succeed Mr. Hamilton. Second, the crews began rowing in four-oared shells. Two new “fours” were given, in part by the alumni, for the first and second crews.

Belmont Hill rowing was at a low ebb when Mr. Dow became coach. There was a pronounced lack of experienced material, and the past year had proved conclusively that our eight-oared crew could not compete on an even basis with crews such as Tabor and Kent.

Our record this year, while far from perfect, has certainly justified the wisdom of the change and proved the coaching ability of Mr. Dow. We are now competing with crews more in our class, and the outlook for the future is bright indeed.

1939 Yearbook

Early season practice started this year shortly after the Washington’s birthday vacation, with rowing on the machines in “Cole’s Hole.” Mr. Dow was again coach this year and was ably assisted by Dave Lawrence.

1940 Yearbook

Coxswain Hugh Morse ’43, Philip “Bin” Burbank ’41, Edward “Wendy” Morse III ’40, George Edwin “Ted” Brown ’41, and Thayer Francis ’40. Coach Lincoln Dow is talking to the boys

The Early Years 1924–1945

The 1942 crew celebrates

1942 crew practice

Rowing on the machines in “Cole’s Hole” March 5 began another crew season.

Mr. Dow returned from his Naval Duties to serve as head coach and was ably assisted

by John Korbel, a former member of the Harvard 150’s.

On the twenty-second of March, the candidates for the crew met their new coach, Mr. William O’Leary, noted for his excellence as an instructor. Beside coaching at the Riverside Boat Club, he has produced cup-winning crews in Cuba.

1941 Yearbook

In the middle of March the crew squad began rowing on the machines. Geoff Clark, the ’37 captain, took over the coaching in the absence of Mr. Dow, with Hugh Lawrence ’40, to assist him. These two untried coaches soon formed two fours around a small nucleus of lettermen. Coach Clark was called into army service immediately after these races, and Hugh Lawrence was put in full charge, with no assistance except that from the boys themselves.

A week later both crews, having moved to the Tech boathouse on the Charles River, took on Exeter.

Hugh Lawrence, a sophomore at Harvard, took over the coaching of the crew and helped to turn out a crew that could compete favorably with the best. He undertook a difficult job and carried it out with outstanding success 1942 Yearbook

On Thursday, May 6, Mr. O’Leary managed to obtain a race with the mit 150’s.

This race was rowed in eights and, although Tech gave us a one-length handicap, we were beaten by two-thirds of a length. The crew, however, considered this a moral victory since the first and second fours, which constituted the eight, had no practice together.

1943 Yearbook

Crew practice began early in March as Coach O’Leary held afternoon workouts on the rowing machines for a squad of approximately twenty candidates. During spring vacation, when mit loaned the school its boathouse facilities, both fours practiced on the Charles River, and when school resumed, the squad transferred its activities to the Mystic Lakes boathouse in Winchester.

1944 Yearbook

On March 7, twenty-eight candidates reported for pre-season practice on the machines. Although Captain Johnny Marno was missing and but three lettermen were present, the prospects were cheerful, for the large squad included many potential oarsmen. This year through the combined efforts of Mr. O’Leary and Mr. Hamilton, the crew was able to row from the Riverside Boat Club on the Charles River.

Another improvement was the purchase of an eight-oared shell from Harvard.

This new addition, together with two fours and another eight, enabled twentyfour candidates to row each day.

1945 Yearbook

For pre-season practice on the machines forty boys reported to Coaches Duncan and O’Leary. After working for two weeks developing the correct form and “getting the feel of it,” the boys graduated to the river. This year while waiting for the completion of a new boathouse the first two fours rowed from mit with the third four and the two eights using the Riverside Boat Club. To ease the coaching job, Mr. Pride was kind enough to lend his power boat to the School for use as a launch by the coaches.

Coach William O’Leary

1946 Yearbook

The crew squad began the season with several innovations and prospects for a banner year. Besides receiving a new “four” we moved into our own boathouse on the Charles near Gerry’s Landing. The first practice brought five fours on to the river, with seven returning lettermen. With Coach Duncan officiating from the Prides’ launch, the outboard or, when all else failed, a Harvard single, the crews were molded into shape.

1947 Yearbook

The 1943 crew

At Belmont Hill, crew has always been a great exercise in working together. Dr. Howe, himself a crew coach, established the rowing tradition and it thrives today. A racing crew is five people acting as one. It is a unit in itself. There can be no star player. If it wins, they all win. If it loses, “Well, we should have done better.”

To the coach, keeping pace with the shell in the launch, this is obvious. “The boat is down to port on almost every stroke,” he calls. “Number two, you are pulling into your lap. Finish highup under your rubs. And starboard, keep your hands a little lower and set up the boat.”

Roger Duncan

Head Coach 1945 –1966

Then he is alongside another boat, for he is coach of the whole crew, not just of one boat. After watching a while, “Cox, can you feel the whole boat check just before the catch? Number three, you’re rushing your slide. When you charge aft that way and fetch up with a bump, it checks the whole boat. Now, all four to row. Slow and easy. Finish clean, Slow slides, and all together, CATCH.

and difficult to transport, so the offer was changed to a cherry pie for any winning boat as a celebration of working together. It was served at school lunch and shared by crew, manager and coach.

The Monday after all four boats swept Exeter, four pies were served at lunch. The Headmaster announced “Our cup runneth over.”

Our first boat went to the Henley Royal Regatta in England after an undefeated season here. There was no event for school fours in the Regatta, so we raced against club crews. When we came from behind to win the second race, we cabled home, “CHERRY PIE” and Belmont Hill rejoiced. There are no more cherry pies, but there have been many victories. May there be more this week.

Not only must the coach deal with each boat, but he must see that the whole squad works together smoothly. The managers help in landings and in moving boats. They keep track of the equipment, lay out the right oars for each boat, tighten loose bolts, help visiting crews find what they need and be, in many ways, useful. Launch drivers may need coaching, and even behavior on my bus may need attention. The Belmont Hill bus must not be a rolling riot. The assistant coach is the coach’s friend, colleague, and right-hand man.

In one of my first years as coach, after a losing streak, Mary offered the stroke of the first boat a lemon meringue pie if they won.

They won. The pie was presented at lunch and shared by crew, coach and manager. A lemon meringue pie is quite a production

roger duncan

The 1959 crew at the boat tent

The 1954 squad in an eight

Hamilton, Blackwood, Baum, Wales, Younge, with Coach Duncan

The 1959 Crew carried a 3 and 2 record into the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championship and, after winning their heat, rowed Browne and Nichols School to a dead heat in the afternoon final. The two schools shared the championship, and Coach Duncan decided that the efforts of his oarsmen warranted a trip to the Royal Henley Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, in England.

The crew, coxed by William Claflin and stroked by David Hamilton, included Steve Wales, “Ned” Blackwood, and Steve Baum. At Henley they had to row a straight four, so Claflin accompanied the squad as a manager and Dennis Younge made the trip as a spare rower. The crew won their first two races at Henley over Nottingham and Union Rowing Club and Imperial College Boat Club before being defeated by London Rowing Club. The effort was formidable considering the crew competed against older and more experienced crews at Henley.

Approaching the finish line at Henley, 1959

roger duncan

1953 crew practicing on the powerhouse stretch

The 1960 crew on the Charles

1957 crew on the half-mile course

1965 crew training near Harvard

roger duncan

Roger and Mary in the starting launch

Roger Duncan

Roger Duncan races past the Belmont Hill boathouse in the Head of the Charles veterans single

roger duncan

This passage is excerpted from remarks made by Tim Wood ’71 at Coach Bassett’s memorial service on May 18, 2002.

Kim was a great rowing coach—as his record proves. He won 4 New England Championships and 2 Canadian Schoolboy National Championships in his time as Varsity coach. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that, by my best estimate, over 60 of his oarsmen went on from Belmont Hill to row in college, more than 15 went on to coach rowing at the high school or college level, seven became National team members, and three became Olympians. At least ten of his oarsmen became captains of their college teams. At least three started rowing programs at their colleges.

Charles W. D. “Kim” Bassett Head Coach 1967–1984

“Kim gave us a great gift—the gift of crew, the gift of this beautiful river, and lifelong friendships. He taught us the very essence of leadership and inner strength which he gave, we accepted, and we carry on in his memory.”

– Dan Schley ’73

But beyond the statistics, his greatest legacy is the loyalty that his oarsmen have for him. It was by Kim that they were introduced to the sport of rowing, and it was under his guidance and direction that they developed a love of the sport that keeps many of them still rowing today.

He welcomed all comers to the program—the proven athletes and honor students, and the perennial second stringers and academic underachievers. In fact, I think that he was proudest of the boys in the program who had little success in other areas of school life.

At the boathouse, they started as novices on equal footing with everyone else, and if they wanted to work at it, they could be just as successful as anyone. There were a number of boys who would have left Belmont Hill early were it not for the success that they found at the boathouse.

Kim instilled in all of his rowers the sense that what we were doing was important, and therefore, worth doing right. He often used to say that there was the right way, the wrong way, and his way.

As Fourth Formers, we came to understand and appreciate the Bassett way, and as seniors we made sure that we helped pass it on to those coming along below us. The tone that permeated the

kim bassett

boathouse was one of fun and good humor, but also of purpose.

He built a program that rivaled many collegiate programs at the time. He surrounded himself with an impressive array of talented coaches—many of them his own former oarsmen. But there was no question who was in charge.

As a coach, Kim was not a particularly great technician. His crews rowed well, but as they used to say, “You don’t win crew races by looking pretty.” He was not particularly interested in rigging, though he coached at a time when there was a lot less rigging to do than there is now. Today everything in a crew shell is adjustable. This would have driven Kim nuts, and in his last years as Varsity coach when he had some semi-adjustable boats, he would let other coaches do the rigging for him. He would say, “It’s not the chariot; it’s the horses that win races.” What made Kim a great coach was his mastery at preparing his rowers mentally.

I remember the Friday preparation for race day. We would all come to the boathouse in our racing shirts, and then rehearse the entire pre-race warm-up. We would do the first half of the course, all four boats side by side, and then return to the boathouse to completely wash down the shells. Kim would stand at the bay door and joke with us as each coxswain supervised his crew as it went over the boat entirely—washing, tightening, checking every part of the shell and oars. When all was ready, we would retreat to the back of the boathouse where Kim would discuss the next day—the logistics, the race plan, the importance of representing ourselves and the program in our best manner.

His talks were always punctuated by his humor and colorful language, and his stories. It was through these stories about past crews and races that we learned how to prepare and how to compete. Then he’d dismiss us with a “Well, men, we have a job to do tomorrow.” We’d be nervous, but we’d also be confident, and hopeful that we would row the kind of race that he would talk about to his crews in future years.

The 1971 Varsity squad finished the regular season with an impressive 23-5 record and included a first boat that is remembered as one of the most dominant in the school’s history. The crew was made up of Tim Wood at stroke, Steve Clarke at three, Dave DeLorey at two, Alan Bankart in the bow, and Michael Schelzi as coxswain.

They completed the regular season undefeated, picking up seven shirts in the process.

They continued their winning ways in the New England Regatta where they won the final by more than ten seconds, setting a course record in the process. Coach Bassett decided to test his crew against North America’s other top crews at the Canadian Schoolboy Championship, which Belmont Hill also won convincingly.

1976 crew training on the powerhouse

The 1976 crew completed their regular season with an 18-2 regular season record.

A mid season change to the first boat resulted in a lineup that included Alan Robinson at stroke, Hal Melcher at three, Brad Smith at two, and Captain Peter Kermond in the bow. They were coxed by Chip Kelley, a first former who several years later rowed on the Varsity. The team dominated at the New Englands in Worcester, with the third and fourth boats finishing second and the top two boats winning their finals.

Despite their undefeated season, the first boat decided not to pursue any further racing at the end of the season. The manager of the crew, an important contributor to the team’s success, was Mark Milley—today a Brigadier General in the army.

1971 crew celebrating their victory

kim bassett

Following the success of the 1981 season, it did not appear that the 1982 crew would have much room for improvement. Dave Anderson moved to the stroke seat, Tim van Leer moved to three, and the bow pair was comprised of Sean Coughlin and Paul Kjellberg. Once again, Dave Kazanjian was the coxswain. For the second year in a row, the crew completed an undefeated season and once again won the New Englands. The crew then traveled to St. Catherines, Ontario, for the Canadian Schoolboy Championship. In their heat, Belmont Hill defeated the reigning Canadian Champions, Brentwood College, and in their final, defeated the Stotesbury Regatta Champion by over two lengths. This victory legitimized without doubt Belmont Hill’s claim to being the best high school crew in North America. It marked the second time Belmont Hill had won the Canadian Schoolboy Championship under Coach Bassett.

This crew was spoken of by Coach Bassett as “the best he had ever coached at Belmont Hill.”

1981 crew on the Charles

The Varsity crew of 1981 entered the season expecting to be competitive with the top crews in New England, and their 12-4 record was impressive in a strong league that year. The first boat was undefeated, winning a number of close races and proving that they could race from behind. At the New Englands, they completed their undefeated season by seizing the lead in the last 250 meters of the finals and winning by less than a second, setting a course record in the process. The crew included seniors Rick Wisentaner at stroke and Preston Curtis in the bow seat. The middle pair was juniors David Anderson at three and Tim van Leer at two. David Kazanjian, a second former, was the coxswain.

The crew elected not to enter any post season races.

1982 crew on the powerhouse

kim bassett

Coaches Hallowell and Bassett signal a triumphant result

The 1973 first boat: coxswain David Foster, Tim Fulham, Jon White, Burry Gowen, and Dan Schley

1980 crew after another satisfying victory

The Bassett christening – Susie Reno, David Reno, Jack Reno and Kim

kim bassett

Tim Wood ’71 Head Coach 1985–2000

Few boys come to Belmont Hill having ever sat in a crew shell, but many graduate with their rowing experiences having been perhaps the most significant part of their time at the School.

There are several reasons for the power of this time at the river.

All these boys have shared the moments of doubt and fear when they were first cast off from the dock and found themselves sitting in a shell that did not want to sit flat and that punished them abruptly every time they moved. They also shared the delight of mastery as they learned to row in precise unison with their teammates and propel the shell silently, cleanly, and powerfully through the water. They have shared the pain of burning legs and searing lungs after their coach has told them to do yet one more piece, long after they wanted to head back to the boathouse. But they have also shared the profound satisfaction after practice of knowing that not only have they given their best, but they have done far more than they thought their bodies could ever endure.

They have shared those supercharged moments of the race when they finally were able to measure the results of their hard work, balancing their explosive power with composure as they tested themselves against their opponents. They have also shared the indescribable beauty of the river as they paddled home after the workout, the slanting rays of the setting sun bathing their world in a golden glow. These are powerful and addicting experiences that stay with a young man long after he leaves Belmont Hill.

It should not be a surprise that Belmont Hill’s first headmaster was a former crew coach. Dr. Howe had coached the crews at Middlesex and Harvard, including the Harvard varsity in the spring of 1923, just months before climbing the hill to take the reigns at Belmont Hill. He arrived at the School with a clear appreciation of the importance of athletics in the development of young men. As the Director of Rowing and Varsity coach at Harvard, he is remembered for having expanded crew from an exclusive, elitist varsity sport to an inclusive, populist program.

tim wood ’71

He opened the Harvard boathouses to all undergraduates as a means of fulfilling their PE requirements. At one point he was responsible for the supervision of more than 700 rowers launching from Harvard boathouses.

Not only did Dr. Howe believe in the Greek ideal of a “sound mind in a sound body”, he believed in those powerful experiences that are so intimately shared in a crew shell in the middle of a river. I once had a coach tell me, “…a shell is the best teacher you can have. Its responses are immediate and consistent, and to learn to row, you simply have to learn how to listen.” This lesson is central to rowing. After more than 40 years as a rower, I still wonder if I have ever taken a perfect stroke. But beyond the mechanics of the stroke, it is the lessons of team that are especially profound to rowers. Crew is often called “the ultimate team sport” for its split-second precision and lack of superstars.

A crew must row as one to row well. However, it is the long hours and endless miles of grueling training and the exhausting struggle of the race that leave the greatest impression on young men. It is these lessons of commitment and trust, of pushing oneself past self-imposed boundaries, of shared and selfless effort that are perhaps the longest lasting lessons of the sport.

Crew has been a natural fit at Belmont Hill since the School’s beginning. Though there have been many changes in the technology of the sport over the years—carbon fiber and Kevlar have replaced varnished wood, and ergometers with digital feedback have replaced the old rowing boxes in the basement of the “Old Gym”—the experiences of Belmont Hill oarsmen are remarkably similar today to those of the athletes in Belmont Hill’s first crews.

They are experiences that are life-long and perhaps life-changing, and it is fitting that we gather here tonight to celebrate them together.

1985 marked the inaugural year of coaching for Tim Wood who, assisted by Chris Riley ’73, took the reigns of a talented program. The Varsity crews finished the regular season with an 18–2 record which included a first boat loss to Groton.

The reshuffled lineup in the first boat for the last two weeks of the season was comprised of senior captain John Connors in the three seat, and juniors David Reno at stroke, John Green in the two seat, and Ryan Coughlin in the bow. Sophomore Eric LeVine was the coxswain. The crew bounced back to win the final at the New England Regatta. Although the team pursued no further competition after the New Englands, their efforts would pave the road for highly successful teams in the following years.

The 1986 eight training in the basin

After sweeping all their regular season races and all but the first boat at the New England Regatta, the 1986 crew decided to go to the Henley Royal Regatta in England for the first time in over 25 years. Racing in an eight in the Princess Elizabeth Cup for schoolboy crews, the crew won their preliminary races easily to make it to the finals. In a tremendous race, the crew lost the final by two seconds to the British champion, Hampton College. There were only two seniors in the crew, Dave Reno and John Green. The rest of the crew was made up of juniors—Ted Marple, Tim Buckley, Rob Maier, Mike Udris, Chris Wiseman, Michael Palmer and Eric LeVine—the nucleus of some excellent crews the next year.

After winning the first boat final at Lake Quinsigamond, 1985

tim wood ’71

1987 Princess Elizabeth Cup award ceremony

Crossing the finish line

The 1987 crew posted another impressive regular season record, once again sweeping all their races. At Worcester in the New Englands, the crews won all the races except the first boat. For the second year in a row, the crew decided to make the trip to England for the Henley Regatta. The eight was almost identical to the previous year’s boat, with senior Brad Bates and junior Vinnie Barletta filling ivn the two vacant seats left from the 1986 graduation. Competing again in the Princess Elizabeth Cup, the crew won all their preliminary races only to find themselves in a rematch in the final against British champs Hampton College. This time, the crew managed to earn revenge for the previous year’s result, defeating Hampton by two seconds in another exciting race.

tim wood ’71

1988 first boat racing on the Charles – Kerr, Matuska, Barletta, Carroll, Filtzer

1990 first boat racing on the powerhouse –Woll, McLaughlin, D. Shaff, McCarthy

1999 crew (L – R) Alex Demers, Michael Fantasia, Ben Hamilton, Max Morange, and Jamie Byrnes

Pat Rettig and David Bordeau, 1996

Prince Philip Cup (L – R) Chris Mecray, John Carroll, Phil Kerr, and Gil Hundley

tim wood ’71

It is hard to summarize in just a few words what Belmont Hill Crew is, for so many different things define it: partly it is the legendary crews, the memorable races, the legions of oarsmen who have gone on to impressive careers after Belmont Hill; partly it is the longstanding Cup races and our boathouse on the Charles (which I continue to think is the best location on the river). But it is also the less “public” side of the program—the drive from school on a spring afternoon to a world of our own completely apart from campus; the yoga sessions and team dinners, erg marathons, and loyal family members standing, rain or shine, on the banks on raceday. It is those rowers and coxswains who may never rise above the fourth boat but who contribute just as much to the success and vibrancy of the program as anyone on the first boat. It is the camaraderie that endures long after a crew has taken its final strokes together.

Chris Richards Head Coach 2001–present

chris richards

Belmont Hill Crew is, indeed, many things, but in my mind it is as much as anything about the pursuit of excellence. I remind my oarsmen every year that there is nothing in the genetic structure of Belmont Hill students that makes us superior to our competition, and since we in fact often race against crews bigger and stronger than us, to win we must do two things: train harder than everyone else and row better than them. These are the goals for which we strive. Our seasons have a familiar rhythm—March is about the cold and wet, double sessions, endless strokes at low ratings, brutal ergometer tests, and raw, blistered hands. April is about the agony

and ecstasy of seat racing and the setting of line-ups, working to get the rating up on the water, doing post-rows after exhausting workouts, the beginning of racing and the Ducey Cup. May is longer warmer days and the Bassett Cup and Brooks and Groton and trying to find those last split seconds of speed in the weeks before Quinsigamond. neira’s are a chance to prove that in ten short weeks we have managed to create something close to athletic poetry, not just with a single crew but with four. (At Henley, the English crews and coaches are generally astonished that we can be so competitive when our season doesn’t begin until March.

When they learn that we don’t row the 8 until June, they are not sure what to say.) I believe our crews achieve what they do because they allow themselves to believe that excellence, while far from an easy goal, is an attainable one. And they work for it.

Rowing is a synthesis of contrasting elements, the grace of ballet on the one hand and pure unbridled aggressiveness on the other.

Done right, it is a sport both punishing and beautiful at the same time; a shell gliding along flat water at full pressure can come close to giving the sensation of flight, even while the lungs are seared and the legs grow numb. Perhaps it is this dichotomy that draws us to crew and keeps us so attached.

2003 National Champion first boat: Mike Murphy ’03, Schuyler Reece ’03, Steve Newark ’04, Nick Baker ’03, Aaron Sawitsky ’04

The new millennium brought with it great success for the program.

A sparkling new boathouse and a small but scrappy 2002 squad set the stage for what was to come: from 2003 through 2008 a series of talented and motivated Belmont Hill crews reeled off impressive streaks against their traditional rivals, won six consecutive New England team championships (during which span 23 of the 24 crews which competed at Worcester won medals, including an unprecedented four-boat sweep in 2008), and won three National Championships. The crews also had several strong showings at Henley. The oarsmen during this era adopted skull and crossbones as their symbol—a fitting tribute to their “take no prisoners” approach to training and racing.

The Weeks Bridge spanning the Charles River

chris richards

2003 Reading Regatta

The Jolly Roger

Haul from neira’s

chris richards

2008 Team 66–0

2006 National Champion first boat: Jordan Sagalowsky, Andy Bourell, Chris Fuller ’06, Matt Gordon ’06, Nick Whitehead ’07, Mark Fuller ’06, David Fuller ’09, Coach Chris Richards

Racing on the powerhouse

chris richards

2007 National Champion 1st boat: Kyle Gordon, Nick Whitehead, Mike DiSanto, Robbie Stone, David Fuller

neira 2003–2008 medals gold

bhs 2003 bhs 2004 bhs 2005 bhs 2006 bhs 2007 bhs 2008

3

1

3

1

1

2

3 2

bronze

1

1

4 5

2

03–08 groton

4

3

3

03–08 deerfield

2

3

2

03–08 nobles

1

5

03–08 brooks

1

3

03–08 choate

5

1

03–08 all other schools

2

6

8

total non–bhs

8

19

22

03–08

2002 first boat

1

16

total bhs

03–08

silver

Practice on the Charles

chris richards

Crew Moms

Practice on the Charles

Racing at Quinsigamond

chris richards

Coxswain toss

Celebration

Belmont Hill crew on the cover of US Rowing magazine Toasting from the Ducey Cup

chris richards

Middle School Rowing At the end of the school day, the middle school crew team runs down to the athletic center, changes into warm clothes and hustles onto the bus. To the untrained eye, the activity at the boathouse looks chaotic. But before a crew practice can begin, the coaching launches must be set up and the correct number of oars placed on the ramp. After a quick meeting with the team, boats begin to be launched. A coxswain helps direct the boat out of the boathouse and into the water. When all the rowers are tied in, the boat is pushed off the dock. A practice usually includes drills and rowing pieces for fitness.

Returning rowers are ready to get in shape for the first races and to refine their technique.

The novice rowers, however, have to learn everything about the sport including crew lingo. Words such as weigh enough, stern, bow, stroke and hold water are foreign to the new guys.

Ruth Sweeney Middle School Coach 1997–present

Just getting into a shell for the first time is a bit scary. It feels tippy and although the boys have rowed on an ergometer, being on the water is a totally new feeling. As the rowers gain experience, the shells begin to move faster. A highlight of the season is to see four boats gliding smoothly down the Charles with each oar moving in synchrony. Races take place later on in the season, which is the best part of the season. The program numbers continue to increase as more and more students decide they want to try a new sport. The middle school crew coaches are thrilled with the excitement for the sport and love to see the boys move into the upper school as varsity rowers.

1997 Middle School Crew

1935 Kendall, Meyer, Butcher, Foote, Tarbell, Greene, T. Talbot, D. Talbot, Rice, Breed

1936

First Row: Butcher Second Row: Thomas, Holcombe, Wheeler, Tappan, Clark Third Row: Mr. Hamilton, Turner, Meyer, Winship, Parker

1937

First Row: Butcher Second Row: Hubbard, Elwell, Holcombe, Clark, Foster, Thomas, Withington Third Row: Mr. Dow, Winship, Tappan, Underwood, Fuller, Wicks, Mr. Hamilton

1938

First Row: Boynton Second Row: Haskell, Schall, Prouty, Winship Third Row: Mr. Hamilton, Morse, Talbot, Capt. Holcombe, Hadley, Tufts

1939 Mr. Dow, Scott, Clement, Lawrence, E.W. Morse, Captain Talbot, Boynton, Michel, Manager

1940

First Row: MacLean, H. Morse Second Row: Burbank, Lawrence, Capt. E. W. Morse, Francis, Third Row: Mr. Dow, Allyn, C.F. Morse, Smith, E. Brown, Butcher, Manager

1941

First Row: K. MacLean, Morse Second Row: Boynton, D. MacLean, Allyn, Capt. Burbank, S. Brown, E. Brown, Holmes, Mr. Dow

1942

First Row: MacLean, H. Morse Second Row: G. Holmes, Baldwin, Captain Allyn, Knights Third Row: Coach Lawrence, Walker, Crocker, Parson, Billings, Manager Beatley

1943

First Row: Billy Cross, Hugh Morse ’43 Second Row: David Knight ’43, John Middleton ’44, Arthur Clarke ’43 and John Hubbard ’43, Coach William O’Leary Third Row: Bancroft Beatley ’43, Richard Swan ’45, Victor Kazanjian ’44, Dow Emerson ’43, John Marno ’45, Edward Dewey ’44

1944 Coach O’Leary held afternoon workouts on the rowing machine for a squad of approximately twenty candidates. Missing was Captain Tad Middleton, now serving with the U.S. Army Air Forces. From those sessions was evolved a first crew of John Marno ’45, Stroke, Edward Dewey ’44, no. 3; Phillips Farrington ’45, no.2; and Albert Locatelli ’46, bow. Goss coxed the first four, while Royston Daley ’47 was coxswain on the second boat, which was manned

by Dewire at stroke, William Simmons ’43 and Richard Conant ’47 at 3 and 2, and Ephraim Martin ’46 at bow. A group of first-year men including George Roorbach ’45, Hugh Clarke ’46, Haskell Casey ’45, Robert French ’45, Stanley Mack ’46, John McNair ’44, John Hurd ’45 and James Tillotson ’47 manned the eight, which was coxed by Win Coons ’49.

1945

First Row: Clarke, Goss, Daley, Coons, French Second Row: Kauffman, Doherty, Locatelli, Roorbach, Conant, Hurd, Livingstone, Mack

1946

First Row: Clark, Barnes Second Row: Mr. O’Leary, Conant, Dalbeck, Livingstone, Siedler, Mr. Duncan Third Row: Wood, Sullivan, Basso, Tillotson, Sherwood

1947

First Row: J. Moore, Graglia Second Row: W. Moore, Conant, Dalbeck, D. Clark, Capt. Livingstone, Simonds, M. Hamilton, Siedler, R. Wilson, Wood, Mr. Duncan

1948

First Row: Little, Moore Second Row: Mr. Duncan, Dickinson, Swift, White, Wilson, D. Clark, Hamilton, Dalbeck, Simonds, Whoriskey

1949

First Row: Captain Moore, Little D. Second Row: Sawtell, Davis J., Stetson, White, Daniels, Pride, Haig, Coons Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Mr. Carlisle, Dickinson, Wilson

1950

First Row: Moore, Dunn Second Row: Sawtell, Pierce, Stetson, Barnes, Capt. Daniels, Staples, Dodge, Pride, Chase Third Row: T. Davis, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Whittier, Wilson

1951

First Row: Hill, Dunn, Perlmutter, Second Row: Mr. Whittier, A. Murray, Thomas, Ells, Rochford, Whitman, Capt. Pierce, Thompson, Staples, Mr. Duncan

1952 First Row: C. Hill, Childs Second Row: Mr. Whittier, A. Murray, Cabot, Goodell, Rochford, Captain Whitman Pierce, Thompson, Ells, Manager C. Hurd, Mr. Duncan

1953

First Row: C. Hill, P. Childs Second Row: Fletcher, Doherty, Thomas, Hoyt, Captain L. Cabot, Sears, Thompson, Goodell, Adams Third Row: Shaw, Mr. Rochford, Mr. Test, Mr. Duncan

1954

First Row: Hodges, C. Hill Second Row: Mr. Rochford, Shaw, Federer, Doherty, Hersee, Laffoley, Captain Adams, Goodell, Sears, R. Hill, Mr. Duncan

1955

First Row: C. Hill, D. Hamilton Second Row: Miner, Pusey, Sears, Federer, Barnard, Estabrook, Corcoran, F. O’Neil Third Row: Mr. Mattlage, Shaw, H. MacMahon, Mr. Duncan, Fox

1956

First Row: C. Hill, Kline Second Row: Childs, Gwilliam, Goodell, Miner, Barnard, Hodges, Cabot Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Cornwall, G. Russell, Mr. Wright

1957

First Row: Kline, R. Duncan, Claflin Second Row: Mr. Wright, Childs, Goodell, Hodges, Cabot, Gwilliam, Hamilton, O’Conor, Baum, Fenollosa, Mr. Duncan Third Row: C. Cornwall, C. Welch, D. MacMahon, S. Wales

1958

First Row: Kline, Claflin, R. Duncan Second Row: Mr. Duncan, Ashley, Wales, O’Conor, Goodell, Captain Childs, Younge, Blackwood, Hamilton, Russel, Henderson, Hurd, W. Duncan, Mr. Preston

1959

First Row: Kline, W. Claflin, R. Duncan Second Row: Baum, D. Hamilton, Blackwood, S. Wales Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Younge, Russell, G. Hurd, W. Duncan, Mr. Preston Fourth Row: Ashley, Hill, Wicks, B. Dewey, Wadsworth, Tucker

1960

First Row: Kline, W. Claflin, A. Harrington Second Row: Emerson, Wadsworth, Hall, B. Dewey Third Row: Coach Preston, Manager Patrick, W. Duncan, Rowan, Hurley, Hill, Manager E. Harrington, Coach Duncan Fourth Row: Dixon, Cass, P. Worthen, Livingston

1961

First Row: A. Harrington, Claflin Second Row: Mr. Duncan, R. Duncan, Hall, Worthen, Rowan, Livingston, Petrie, Cass, Barnard, E. Harrington, Mr. Preston

1962

First Row: Claflin, Harrington Second Row: Robinson, Coach Gwilliam, Bradlee, J. Dewey, R. Silk, Bonner, Barnard, Hall, P. Worthen, Petrie, Mr. Duncan

1963

First Row: Ekwell, Thomas, Spitzer Second Row: Willard, True, Worthen, Beal, Bonner, Silk, Vietor, Underwood Third Row: Ryan, Mr. Bates, Mr. Blakely, Scott, Foster, Gill, Atkins, Wilson, Merrill, H. Brooks, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Gregg Fourth Row: Kronenberg, Young, Carr, O’Coner, Lee, R. Russman, J. Russman, Feresten

1964

First Row: MacDonald, Bacon, J. Olive Second Row: R. Fisher, Foster, Gill, T. Scott, Beal, R. Goldkamp, P. Silk, Willard Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Forziati, T. Porter, S. Jones, O’Conor, Broadhurst, Ryan, Mr. Wales

1965

First Row: Paquette, MacDonald, J. Olive, D. R. Williams, Second Row: Brooks, R. Goldkamp, Gill, Beal, Broadhurst, Stockwell, S. Jones, T. Porter Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Schmitt, C. Browne, Haible, Edgerly, G. Kaufmann, Bacon, O’Leary, Mr. Wales Fourth Row: Forziati, J. Goldkamp, Hamilton, Dawley, Chase, R. Fisher, Spitzer, Ryan

1966

First Row: Olive, MacDonald, O’Leary Second Row: Brooks, Paris, Silk, Capt. Fisher, Bacon, Whitten, P. Kaufmann Third Row: Mr. Duncan, Mgr. Forziati, Stockwell, Chase, Dawley, Browne, Mr. Wales

1967 First Row: Olive, MacDonald, D. R. Williams, Rowley, Paquette, H. Bacon Second Row: Buchanan, Dawley, Paris, Brooks, Bacon, Gold, S. Carr, Haible, Cooper Third Row: Mr. Van Beever, Mr. Duncan, Henderson, P. Kaufmann, Sidebotham, N. Downes, Stockwell, B. Richardson, G. Kaufmann, Browne Fourth Row: Rowell, Bankart, St. John, R. Wright, Wells, Lombard, Goldkamp, Gouley, Mr. Bassett Fifth Row: Nash, Morin, H. Ogilby, Bowen, Broadhurst, Nizel

1968

First Row: Bixby, Weinberg, Rowley, D. Ogilby, Kopp Second Row: Lombard, Wells, Porter, Martini, Gold, Cooper, Buchanan, Carr, Sidebotham Third Row: Canaday, Thayer, St. John, Wright, Stobaugh, Edgerly, Stockwell, Burchard, Ogilby, Broadhurst Fourth Row: Mr. Bassett, Mr. Hallowell

1969

First Row: Bixby, Weinberg, Greeley, C. Ogilby Second Row: B. Stobaugh, Wells, H. Thayer, Sidebotham, S. Carr, Lane, N. Wood Third Row: Mr. Bassett, Sheetz, Delorey, Clark, T. Wood, Stockwell, Stewart, D. Ogilby, Broadhurst, Mr. Hallowell (Roby Hallowell, back to)

1970

First Row: Bob Riley, Dave Weinberg, Chris Greeley, Michael Schelzi Second Row: John Hallowell, Tim Wood, Steve Clark, Blair Stobaugh, Capt. Steve Carr, Hal Thayer, Dave Delorey, Ted Lane, Ned Wood, Kim Bassett, Head Coach Third Row: Peter Gifford, John Stoffyn, Alan Bankhart, Glenn Stewart, Phil Magnuson, Lyman Underwood, Peter Dale, John Sheetz

1971

First Row: Robert Cusalito, Jim McGrath, Michael Schelzi, Charlie Joseph Second Row: Alan Bankart, David Delorey, Steve Clark, Tim Wood, Ned Wood, Peter Clifford, Dan Fitzgerald, Jon White Third Row: Glen Stewart, Tim Fulham, George Wightman, Lance Day, Richard Maher, Dan Schley, Tim Hester, David Wright

First Boat

Coach Bassett

Third Boat

Second Boat

1972

First Boat: Cusalito, Cox; Gifford, stroke: Victor, two; Gowen, three; Haible bow Second Boat: McGrath, cox, Maher, stroke; Underwood, three; Fulham, two; White, bow Third Boat: Melcher, cox, Day, stroke; Schley, three; Fitzgerald, two; Stetson, bow Varsity team photo not available

1973 First Row: Foster, Hintlian, Brown, Avery Second Row: Fulham, White, Gowen, Schley, Victor, Hanlon, Porter, Maher Third Row: Kellogg, Harvey, Hester T., Hester A., Day, Mannix, Phinney, DiNatale, Riley, Nelson

1974 First Row: Brown, Mancib, Dasey, Avery Second Row: Fulham, Porter, Hanlon, Smith, Hester, Phinney, Morse, Riley Third Row: Kellogg, Sheetz, Kermond, White, Melcher, Sullivan, O’Connell,

Darling, Bane, Nelson

1975 First Row: Kelley R., Bird Jo, Edlin, McDonough J. Second Row: Sheetz, Porter, White, Morse, Smith D. Melcher, H. Mannix, S. Knowles, J. Third Row: Mr. Hallowell, Bane B. Smith, B. Wilkins, Kermond P., Foley, Darling, O’Connell, Shaw J., Mr. Bassett

1976

First Row: Dasey, Kelley, Wilkinson, Pickett Second Row: Robinson, Kermond, Melcher, Smith, Shaw, O’Connell, Darling, Bane S., Shaw A. Third Row: Mr. Hallowell, Milley, Parker, Feuer, Lubrano, Aloian, Bird, Knowles, Porell, Bane B., Mr. Bassett, Mr. Hodgens

1977 First Row: MacDonald, Dasey, Pickett, Brown Second Row: Parker, Aloian, Bradshaw, Darling, Bane, Melcher, O’Connell, Curtis, Putnam Third Row: Howitzer, Mr. MacDonald, Annino, Nardi, Porell, Lubrano, Pounds, Lyne, Dayton, Fulham, Mr. Bassett

1978 First Row: MacDonald, Leahy, Simboli, Manson Second Row: Coach Hodgson, Putnam, Bradshaw, Fulham, F. Bane, Pounds, J. Porell, Phinney, Aloian (Captain) Third Row: Coach Bassett, Kennedy, Parker, Sullivan, Melcher, M. Bane, Kermond, Curtis, Dayton, Coach MacDonald

1979 First Row: Simboli, MacDonald, Gallagher, McCarthy Second Row: Kermond, Wisentaner, Patrick, M. Bane, F. Bane (Captain), Putnam, Melcher, Burchard Third Row: Coach Hodgson, Kelley, Curtin, Kennedy, Croston, Rosse, Vincze, Curtis, Phinney, Coach Bassett

1980

First Row: Brian McCarthy, Ted MacMahon, Dave Gifford, Dave Kazanjian Second Row: Preston Curtis, Tim Van Leer, Justin Kermond, Dave Croston, Charlie Melcher, Rick Wisentaner, Mike Bane, Andy Pierce Third Row: Kim Bassett, Jim Driscoll, Chris Vincze, Paul Meskunas, Dave Anderson, Charlie Fulop, Brad Michals, Tony Analetto, Chris Riley, Coach

1981 First Row: Bokavich, Kazanjian, McCarthy, Okurowski Second Row: Curtis (Captain) van Leer, Anderson, Wisentainer, C. Cogswell, Driscoll, Kjellberg, Analetto Third Row: Coach Riley, S. Cogswell, Manson, Strome, Geraghty, Legatta, Henderson, Dayton, Curtis, Coach Bassett. Not in picture: MacMahon, Coughlin

1982 First Row: Curtin, Kazanjian, McCarthy, Bates Second Row: van Leer, Kjellberg, Coughlin, Anderson, Driscoll, Geraghty, Bradley, Terry, (back) Coach Bassett, Manson, Mills, Strome, Cogswell, MacMahon, Curtis, Dayton, Curtis, Coach Riley

1983 First Row: Brian McCarthy, Eric LeVine, Lawrence Ferazani, James Parkhill Second Row: Mark Sutton, Sean Coughlin, Scott Strome, Joseph Driscoll, Brian Sherman, John Geraghty, Eric Bradlee, Gregory Dayton Third Row: Edward MacMahon, Peter Mills, Mark LaGatta, Matthew Curtis, David Reno, Dom DiMare, David Brattner

1984 First Row: LeVine, Byrnes Second Row: McCarthy, Katsnelson Third Row: Coughlin, Green, Abate, Kazanjian, Buckley, Udris, DiMare, Gildea Fourth Row: Coach Riley, Marple, MacMahon (capt), Curtis, Geraghty, Connors,

Maier, Zurlo, Reno, Coach Bassett

1985 First Row: Levine, Filtzer, Korb, Dumbrill Second Row: D. DiMare, Coughlin, Udris, Marple, Reno, Connors, Meyer, Green Third Row: Coach Riley, P. Shepard, Palmer, Wiseman, Bates, Abate, Mullen, Buckley, Kazanjian, Coach Wood

1986 First Row: S. Whitehouse, D. Korb, E. LeVine, B. Dumbrill. P. Filtzer Second Row: C. Wiseman, T. Marple, D. Reno, J. Green, R. Maier, T. Buckley, M. Udris Third Row: P. Shepard, B. Bates, G. Bradlee, V. Barletta, C. Grady, C. Mecray, G. Hundley, P. Kerr, Mr. Wood. Not Pictured: M. Palmer, J. Parkhill

1987 First Row: E. LeVine, P. Filtzer, S. Whitehouse, B. Dumbrill Second Row: R. Maier, T. Buckley, T. Marple, B. Bates, C. Wiseman, M. Udris, P. Shepard Third Row: Coach Riley, P. Kerr, P. Brown, C. Grady, G. Hundley, C. Mecray, M. Palmer, G. Bradley, V. Barletta, Coach Wood

1988

First Row: Filtzer, Whitehouse, Dumbrill, Korb Second Row: Carroll, Barletta, Matuska, Kerr, Hundley, Paine, Hilgenberg, Mecray Third Row: Riley C., Donahue, Schleifer, Hung, McCarthy, French, Brosio, Leis, Woll, Wood T.

1989

First Row: Dave Korb, Byron Dumbrill, Sanford Whitehouse, and Paul Argus Second Row: John Carroll, Jon Paine, Jan Matuska, Jim McCarthy, Doug Marple, Jamie Seamans, Chris Woll, Conan French.

Third Row: Coach Ward Platt, Paresh Patel, Dave Evans, Dan Schleifer, David Shaff, Peter McLaughlin, Matt Sullivan, Tom Fox, Shawn Hurley, David Katsnelson, Coach Tim Wood

1990 First Row: Dave Korb, Sanford Whitehouse, Paul Argus, Scott Fitzgerald Second Row: Dave Shaff, Peter McLaughlin, Chris Woll, Jim McCarthy, Doug Marple, Jay Fritz, Mike Hewitt, Shawn Hurley Third Row: Scott Fleming, George Mix, Tom Whelton, Dave Evans, Nate Paine, Jake Dwinell, Fraser Walsh, Abdi Fateh, Coach Tim Wood

1991

First Row: Rob Walsh, Doug Karp, David Cicconi, Eric Cosman Second Row: Jake Dwinell, Mike Hewitt, David Evans, Fraser Walsh, Doug Marple, Peter McLaughlin,

Jay Fritz, Chris Woll Third Row: Ted MacMahon, George Mix, Abdi Fateh, Tim Ehrlich, Nate Payne, Chris Mutrie, Jake Catchpole, Ted O’Connor, Tom Whelton, Coach Tim Wood

1992 First Row: Eric Cosman, Michael Murray, Doug Karp Second Row: Chris Mutrie, Jake Catchpole, Fraser Walsh, Peter McLaughlin, Roddy Moon, Topher Bordeau, Jon Bordeau, Eric Shaff Third Row: Ted MacMahon, Franke Gorke, Robert Walsh, Scott Ribich, Eric Lev, Robert Harte, Paul Lanagan, Jeff Oppenheimer, Henry Kargman, Jason Rife, Coach Tim Wood

1993

First Row: Doug Karp, Michael Murray, Feras Habbal, Dan Gabriel

Second Row: Paul Lanagan, Eric Shaff, Topher Boudeau, Chris Mutrie, Rob Walsh, Eric Lev, Frank Gorke, Scott Ribich.

Third Row: Coach Tim Wood, John Seni, Patrick Rettig, Robert Harte, Jason Rife, Richard Balikian, Imran Rizvi, Ian Salisbury, David Gelberman, Robert Berstein, Matthew Dupree, Brad Sicchitano, Ted MacMahon, Sanford Whitehouse

1994 First Row: Michael Murray, Feras Habbal, Nick Aloise, Stanley Watt Second Row: Paul Lanagan, John Seni, Topher Bourdeau, Eric Shaff, Eric Lev, Frank Gorke, Scott Ribich, Patrick Rettig Third Row: Coach Tim Wood, Aaron Bateman, Jeff Oppenheimer, David Bordeau, Dan Egan, Martin Pavlinic, Jack Stoddard,

David Haley, Ian Bass, Brad Sicchitano

1995 First Row: Make Vallarelli, Asher Hawkins, Mike Murray, Feras Habbal, James Raskob, Stanley Watt Second Row: Mike Eastman, Fraser Walsh, Martin Pavlinic, Aaron Bateman, Brad Sicchitano, Scott Norwood, Ian Bass, David Bordeau Third Row: Coaches Tim Wood and John Lindberg, Kevin Connors, Mike Curry, Jack Stoddard, Mark Vernazza, Christian Burrows, Ernest Sabine, David Haley, Jeff Lewis, Pat Rettig, Paul Hatziiliades, Todd Rodger

1996

First Row: James Raskob, Asher Hawkins, Feras Habbal, Mike Vallarelli

Second Row: Aaron Bateman, Jack Stoddard, Brendan Carroll, Pat Rettig, David Bordeau, Martin Pavlinic, Ian Bass, Christian Burrows

Third Row: Coach John Lindberg, Mike Eastman, Kevin Connors, Seth Glassman, Mike Fox, Mark Vernazza, Earnes Sabine, Jeff Lewis,

Mike Curry, Jared Courtney, Peter Firenze, Head Coach Tim Wood

1997

First Row: James Raskob, Karim Nahabet, Mike Vallarelli, Asher Hawkins

Second Row: Jared Courtney, Ernest Sabine, Brendan Carroll, Mike Eastman, Christian Burrows, Seth Glassman, Mike Fox, Mark Vernazza

Third Row: Coach John Lindberg, Michael Fantasia, Tarek Nahabet, Jamie Byrnes, Max Morange, Ben Hamilton, Mike Curry, Steve Smith,

Matt Barber, Bill Casey, Coach Tim Wood

1998 First Row: Tim O’Connell, Alex Demers, Karim Nahabet Second Row: Tarek Nahabet, Jamie Byrnes, Michael Fox, Max Morange, Mike Vallarelli, Matt Barber, Brendan Carroll, Ben Hamilton, Mike Fantasia Third Row: Coach Tim Wood, Alex Lazaris, Asher Hawkins, Tom Martin, Brendan Walsh, Nick Lockridge, Chip Gibson,

Macek Wojdakowski, Rob Basile, Fred Treseler, Coach Chris Richards

1999 First Row: Andrew Feldman, Tim O’Connell, A. Demers, Chuck Psoinos Second Row: Asher Hawkins, Tom Martin, Max Morange, Jamie Byrnes, Ben Hamilton, Brendan Walsh, Chip Gibson, Mike Fantasia Third Row: Coach Chris Richards, Fred Treseler, Andrew McCarthy, Ben Herbert, Rob Basile, David Hyde, Mike O’Grady, Ben Martin, Maciek Wojdakowski, Coach Tim Wood

2000 First Row: Andrew Woodward, Alex Demers, Tim O’Connell, Chuck Psoinos Second Row: Fred Treseler, Rob Basile, Matt Fay, Matt LeClair, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Rose, Andrew Muir, Jackson Bell, Karim Nahabet Third Row: Coach Chris Richards, Stu Lieber, Matt O’Grady, David Hyde, Tom Martin, Chip Gibson, Phil Arias,

Paul Kelley, Coach Tim Wood

2001 First Row: Charles Psoinos, Ike Stonberg, Tim O’Connell, Alex Demers Second Row: Coach Chris Richards, Mike “Savage” Murphy, Brian Aldrich, Andrew Muir, Rob Basile, David Hyde, Matt Fay, Rob Rose, Andrew McCarthy Third Row: Paul Kelly, Zach Toth, Joe Shipani, Matt O’Grady, Nick Baker, Jackson Bell, Phil Arias, Topher Bordeau

2002 First Row: Colin Burke, Jon Kroft, Brian Aldrich, Tim O’Connell, Chris Mannix, Alex Demers,

Chuck Psoinos, Bobby DiMatteo, Aaron Sawitsky, Mike Murphy, Josh Accomando, Peter Evans, Liolin Second Row: Coach Evans, Andrew Woodward, Alex Rothmeier, Zach Toth, Steve Newark, Andrew Muir,

Nick Baker, Rob Rose, Schuyler Reece, Pat Dowd, Bill Glavin, Shawn Tuli, Coach Chris Richards

2003

First Row: Aaron Sawitsky, Luke Sawitsky, Dan Mummolo, Brad Muir Second Row: Brian Aldrich, Steve Newark, Schuyler Reece, Nick Baker, Mike Murphy, Brendan Luby, Alex Rothmeier, John Kroft Third Row: Coach Tim Wood, Chris Mannix, Pete Evans, Colin Burke, Josh Accomando, Adham Osman, Jamie Marcus, Mike Kiami, Shawn Tuli

2004 First Row: Eli Meltz, Aaron Sawitsky, Luke Sawitsky, Ciaran Moloney, Ben Zamore Second Row: Adam McCormack, Tom Fenollosa, Zach Zizza, Steve Newark, Alex Rothmeier, Teddy Doyle, Brendan Luby, Third Row: Coach Brad Lewis, Mark Fuller, Mike Kiami, Chris Fuller, Chris Mannix, Andrew Cody, Colin Burke, Alex Fuller, Pete Evans, Alan Leland, Colin Tresele, Dan Edelman, Matt Gordon, Ali Jafri, Josh Accomando, Nick Vasquez, Peter Jamieson, Eric Jonas

2005 First Row: Tom Fenollosa, Andy Davis, Michael Nock, Zach Zizza, David Fuller, Alex Fuller, Ciaran Maloney, Ted Doyle, Luke Sawitsky,

Pat Sullivan, David Terwilliger, Ryan Morrissey, Peter Lona, Ronald Hsin Second Row: Coach Chris Richards, Anderson Bourell, Alan Leland, Colin Tresler, Dan Edelman, Matt Gordon, Zach Heath, Chris Fuller, Nick Whitehead, Michael Kiami, Colin Burke, Brendan Luby, Kyle Gordon, Mark Fuller, Brad Muir, Brendan Laehn, Tyler Brace, Matt Welch, Robbie Stone, Andrew Cody, Brad Lewis

2006 First Row: Henry Luehrman, Tom Fenollosa, Rob Stone, Mark Fuller, Zach Zizza, Chris Fuller, Luke Sawitsky, Ryan Morrissey, Mike Nock, Mike Glenmullen, Ollie Hurd Second Row: Coach Chris Richards, Ben Hamilton, Nick Whitehead, Matt Gordon, Jordan Sagalowsky, David Cancian, Kyle Gordon, Tyler Brace, Mike DiSanto, Alan Leland, Anderson Bourell, Alex Fuller, Teddy Doyle, David Terwillger, David Fuller, Brendan Laehn, Andy Davis, Tim Toomey, Brad Muir, Pat Sullivan, Andrew McGrath, Matt Welch, Matt Trachy, Peter Favaloro, Greg Troderman, David Kohler, Ted Ho, Shawn Tuli, Chris LeBlanc, Coach Brad Lewis

2007

First Row: Rob Rose, John Kohler, Andrew McGrath, Alison Newman, Pat Sullivan, David Fuller, Ben Porter, Nick Rellas, Matt Trachy, Brad Muir, Bader Abu Eid Second Row: Stephen George, Tyler Brace, Ryan Ganong, Ryan Morrissey, David Cancian, Henry Luehrman, Tim Toomey, Michael Glenmullen, David Mulrey, Robert Stone, Nick Whitehead, Kyle Gordon, Michael DiSanto, Anderson Bourell, Justin Mundt, Peter Favaloro, Ryan Hurd, Peter Bourneuf, Kyle Rosse, Brad Ferrick, Ben McGrath, Brad Lewis, Coach Chris Richards (with Eiger)

2008

First Row: Mike Glenmullen, Bobbie Avakian, Chris Bean, Jake Mandelkorn, Ben Porter, David Fuller, Alison Newman, Pranay Bose, Tim Toomey, Peter Scholle, Andrew Reed, Ian Connor

Second Row: Coach Chris Richards, Ben Hamilton, Mat Trachy, Mark Dillon, Kevin Connors, David Cancian, Rob Stone, Justin Mundt, Mike DiSanto, Ryan Ganong, Henry Luehrman, Jeff Schimmel, Nate Yuen, David Mulrey, Ben McGrath, Kyle Rosse, Andrew McGrath, Andrew Greenough, Ollie Hurd, Peter Bourneuf, Paul Shea, Nick Baker, John Kohler, Rob Rose

Belmont Hill Championship Crews neira championship crews: First boat: 1959, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1985, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 Second boat: 1969, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1983, 1986, 1987, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Third boat: 1969, 1970, 1975, 1986, 1987, 1990, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 Fourth boat: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008

neira championship teams (est. 1984): 1985, 1986, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

canadian schoolboy champions: 1971, 1982

us rowing youth national champions: 2003, 2006, 2007

henley champions: 1987

Belmont Hill Crew Olympians

stewart g. macdonald ’67 1968 Mexico City 1972 Munich 1984 Los Angeles, Coach Silver Medal, 8+/4-

david l. weinberg ’70

thomas w. darling ’77

edward b. murphy ’90

1976 Montreal

1980 Moscow 1984 Los Angeles Silver Medal, 8+ 1988 Seoul

1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney Silver Medal, 2-

Henley Royal Regatta

1987, Princess Elizabeth Cup Champions

1959, Princess Elizabeth Cup Quarterfinalist

1986, Princess Elizabeth Cup Finalist

2003, Princess Elizabeth Cup Semifinalist

2006, Princess Elizabeth Cup Quarterfinalist

The boat tent at Henley

2007, Princess Elizabeth Cup Quarterfinalist

Belmont Hill Crew Boathouses

Belmont Hill’s first boathouse on the Charles River was completed in 1947

Belmont Hill’s first boathouse, Mystic Lakes–1931

Belmont Hill crew in its early years practiced on Spy Pond and later the Mystic Lakes, where the School built a boathouse in 1931. In 1947 the School established its first boathouse on the Charles River. Prior to 1947 the crew also used the Harvard, MIT and Riverside boathouses. Belmont Hill’s original boathouse on the Charles River was later renovated in 1974.

Belmont Hill’s second boathouse on the Charles River–1974

On Saturday, May 18, 2002 the Belmont Hill and Winsor School Communities celebrated the opening of a beautifully renovated boathouse on the Charles River. Belmont Hill saluted Roger Duncan and the late Kim Bassett, two legendary crew coaches and well-loved former faculty members with sixty-four years of combined service. The initiative and commitment of alumni and friends made possible the design and construction of the improved facility, and in so doing, honored two remarkable men by naming a bay for each.

Belmont Hill’s current boathouse on the Charles River–2002

2008 photo taken by Nick Rellas ’08

2008 Varsity Crew, First Boat–photo taken by Richard Mandelkorn