November 2016 Orange Oar by Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association

Volume XIX

No. 3

November 2016

JOEY PETER 1947 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016

SYRACUSE ALUMNI ROWING ASSOCIATION, INC. NOVEMBER 2016

INSIDE THE ISSUE 03 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

SARA EXECUTIVE BOARD

04 TEN EYCK HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Joseph Paduda’80 President

12 PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING AT TEN EYCK

Paris Daskalakis ’98 Treasurer

18 Q&A WITH COACH DAVE REISCHMAN

Adlai Hurt ’04 Secretary

22 Q&A WITH SU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Josh Stratton ’01 Vice President / Digital Director

JOHN WILDHACK

24 LIVING IN THE MOMENT: JOHN COMBS ’08 32 CATCHING UP WITH NATALIE MASTRACCI ’13

46 BACKSPLASH 48 LAST TEN: JOEY PETER ’69

CREDITS: Editor: Jay Rhodes ’89, Hugh Duffy ’80 Art Director: Ryan Armstrong ’08 Contributors: Rebecca Soja ’14

If you are interested in joining the Orange Oar team, please contact jayrhodes24@gmail.com. Thanks.

WWW.SARAROWING.COM 2

DEAR SU ROWING ALUMS Rowing at Syracuse University has never been in a stronger position. You’ll read elsewhere of Athletic Director John Wildhack’s commitment to the programs, and I can personally attest to his support and the strong backing of the University for both programs. This isn’t just moral support – it’s financial.

DIRECTORS

ADVISORY COUNCIL

William Purdy ’79 Charles Roberts ’61 Martha Mogish Rowe ’81 Paul Dudzick ’67 Donald Plath ’68 Kenneth Hutton ’69 Paul Dierkes ’79 Gerald Henwood ’80 Arthur Sibley ’80 Robert Donabella ’81 Charles Clark ’83 Sheila Roock ’85 Colin Goodale ’90 Jason Premo ’98 Adlai Hurt ’04 Erica Mahon Page ’08 Sydney Axson ’10 Ryan Patton ’10 Beth Marks ’83 Ryan Armstrong ’08 Gillian Carlucci ’14 Rebecca Soja ’14 Mark Vyzas ’10 Lena Wang ’99

Paul Irvine ’45 William Hider ’62 Edward Kakas ’64 Thomas Darling ’81 Tracy Brown ’90 James Breuer ’72 Bryan Mahon ’78 Ozzie Street ’80 Jerome Jacobi ’81 Andrew Hobbs ’83 Gordon Hull ’83 Rick Holland ’83 Barry Weiss ’83 Emme Entwistle Aronson ’85 Jeff Pesot ’90 Donald Smith ’90 Kristin Walker Bidwell ’90 Christopher Ludden ’91 Sylvester Rowe ’92 Skye Michiels ’99 Joseph Bufano ’99 Aliza Seeber ’04

Syracuse men’s rowing receives more University funding than almost all of our competitors. Most of the Ivies as well as UW, Cal, and other long-time rivals have to raise several hundred thousand dollars every year from alums to cover operating expenses for men’s rowing; coaching salaries, travel, expenses, equipment, and maintenance. We don’t. Women’s rowing is similarly fortunate, with 20 full scholarships and solid financial support for other needs as well. This at a time when the Athletic Department’s finances are not as robust as one might want, when we’re paying off a multi-million dollar exit fee for leaving the Big East, when football is not (yet) driving the huge revenues it does at many schools. Like many of you, I’d long been just a little concerned about the University’s long-term commitment to men’s rowing. That concern is gone. We can focus on the future – and what SARA can do to help make the boats go faster. As you’ve heard from me way too many times, it’s about talent – identifying potential athletes, meeting with them, getting them on campus, working with them to improve, getting the most out of them. That costs money. And that’s why we’re making a big push with the Orange Team Challenge (news on that is elsewhere too). ALL contributions to the OTC go directly to the Coach’s Funds, where it will help get our coaches in front of potential student-athletes, get them on campus, and provide our coaches with the technology and equipment they need to compete with the best. We are fortunate indeed that we don’t have to fund raise for coaches’ salaries, or team travel or maintenance or facility upkeep. That’s what other programs have to do just to get on the water.

Jay Rhodes ’89 Editor, Orange Oar

Put simply, your support = faster boats. I’m asking you to contribute to the Coach’s Funds.

Bleed Orange! Joe Paduda, ’80 SARA President

Mens Coach: Dave Reischman - dreischm@syr.edu Womens Coach: Justin Moore - jmoore06@syr.edu Orange Oar Editor: Jay Rhodes - jayrhodes24@gmail.com THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

WELCOME TO THE HALL 4

THE ORANGE OAR

EACH YEAR THE EVENING AT TEN EYCK FEATURES AN INDUCTION CEREMONY INTO THE SYRACUSE ROWING HALL OF FAME. AS ALWAYS, JOHN NICHOLSON ’68 INTRODUCED THE INDUCTEES: BRUCE BAKER ’59, CHARLIE ROBERTS ’61, FROUJKE WEGMAN, HELEN TANGER, DR. GORDON HOOPLE & THE 1916 CHAMPIONSHIP 8+

NOVEMBER 2016

DR. BRUCE BAKER

CHARLIE ROBERTS “This is quite ironic, that this is to the day, my 59th anniversary of Syracuse Crew. It was on this date, 59 years ago, that I walked into the crew room and talked to Coach Michalson and told him I wanted to be a coxswain. I had no idea what it was all about. And he said I could try out but he didn’t think I was going to last very long. Well, here I am.”

Dr. Bruce Baker is a member of the 1956 crew that won the IRA Freshman National Championship. His involvement with the Syracuse Rowing Program did not stop with the end of his rowing career. He has made countless personal contributions to SARA as well as medical contributions to SU and other athletic departments.

HOF

A lifelong Syracuse Orange fan, Dr. Baker recounted the vivid memory he had of that June day they won. “Dr. Bruce Chamberlain told us after the race that we would remember the details forever. He was right,” said Dr. Baker.

HOF

In true coxswain fashion, Roberts commanded the room, describing the important life lessons rowing brings about.

“I can remember having butterflies at the starting line of all races, but in particular at the IRA Regatta. There were 12 boats stretched across Onondoga Lake. There was a significant headwind. Navy jumped out to a fast start, but we won by ¾ of a length.”

“I was thinking about why I have spent 59 years being involved with SARA and supporting this program, and I have began to realize the real importance of rowing. It’s all about the last 500 meters. All your training, all your practice, all the work you put in, is all about surviving the last 500 meters. The process of surviving the last 500 meters produces some very remarkable people.

Dr. Baker expressed gratitude for this honor to many people involved in the past and present of Syracuse Rowing and SARA, including the current student-athletes.

“You learn that your physical and mental abilities are much greater than you ever thought they could be. This is such a valuable lesson to carry with you for the rest of your life,” said Roberts.

“I want to thank the student athletes on the men’s and women’s crew teams for making us old alums feel welcome and accepted when we return for events.” Dr. Baker finished by assuring everyone that Syracuse will always hold a very special place in his heart.

“The other thing you learn is teamwork. You know, you can’t win that last 500 meters unless you get the boat swinging. When you get the boat swinging, every person in that boat, all nine people, have to be exactly together. Not just physically, but also mentally. There is a subconscious mental process that is translated through the nine people that causes them to row in a perfect manner, in perfect timing.

“Funny thing is, I still get butterflies at the start of SU races, at other SU sporting events. Rowing for SU is still one of the greatest experiences I had at the University, only second to meeting my beautiful wife Patricia.

“Now this will carry you through the rest of your life also because in working in your job, or profession you have to have teamwork. And rowing teaches you teamwork.”

“Our children grew up on SU sports and remain SU fans, no matter what colleges they attended. The enthusiasm for Syracuse University sports has now been transferred to our grandchildren. Like many of you out there, my family and I still bleed orange. Go SU.”

THE ORANGE OAR

Coxswain Charlie Roberts is another Hall of Fame inductee who has devoted countless hours to further SARA. Serving as the Treasurer of SARA, Nicholson joked “I think he slipped some of his own money in the treasury from time to time.”

Charlie Roberts ended his speech with an unexpected joke that brought the room to their feet: “Now I’m going to do something that you’ve probably never seen a coxswain do before. This is truly remarkable. I’m going to stop talking.”

NOVEMBER 2016

FROUJKE WEGMAN

HELEN TANGER

“Not everybody stays four years, but there are people who make a great deal of difference in the time they are here. Kinda like Carmelo Anthony,” Nicholson started.

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“So you could say that Froujke is one of our two women’s rowing Carmelo Anthony’s,” he joked. Laughter spread around the room. Froujke Wegman came to Syracuse for the 2001-2002 season. Part of the Varsity 8+ that qualified for the Grand Final at the NCAA Championships, she helped the eight to their 6th place finish, a program best. Froujke then returned to the Netherlands where she qualified for the 2004 Olympics Dutch Women’s eight. She and her teammates went on to win the bronze medal.

The other half of the “Flying Dutchwomen” duo, Helen Tanger, won bronze alongside Wegman in the 2004 Olympics. She returned to the Dutch National Team for the 2008 Olympics where she won silver in the eight.

HOF

Building off of Froujke’s lighthearted stories, Helen recounted how the pair made their decision to come to Syracuse. “We had to choose which university to go to. I was telling Froujke ‘We should go to Miami. It’s sunny there. We’ll be warm ... there will be a beach.’ “Froujke responded to me, ‘What about Syracuse?’ Then, Syracuse raced Miami and beat them by more than 20 seconds and that was it. We wanted to be at the university that wins.

Froujke told a few stories about how different training at Syracuse was compared to in the Netherlands.

“So we came to Syracuse, for just one year, but it was a pivotal year for us. I truly believe that if we had not come here, we would not have accomplished everything that we have.”

“The training was tougher here. In the Netherlands, you could discuss something with your coach. You could say ‘we’re tired, maybe we could do something a bit more light.’ I quickly learned that you just didn’t say anything, did your best, and pulled harder.”

Not only did Wegman and Tanger make the journey from the Netherlands, so did their Olympic medals. Raising them in the air, Tanger said “Our medals are also Syracuse medals. They are also for our entire boat.”

She also joked about the weather in Syracuse, something everyone in the room could relate to. “I remember once when it was so cold,” Wegman started, “the wheels on the seat didn’t turn anymore. So we just started sliding back and forth on the seat.

Looking at the other members of the 2002 crew in the crowd, she spoke, ”Jillian, Katie, Alicea, Rachel, Phoebe, Meredith, Kris, Craig … you guys have been so wonderful. Without our year at Syracuse, I don’t think I would have known what it means to work hard, to pull hard, to take one for the team. I hope many more [medals] will follow.”

“I would like to thank Kris and Craig for this great experience. I know it played a big part in what I accomplished at the end,” Froujke concluded.

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

DR. GORDON HOOPLE

IRA VARSITY 8+ CHAMPIONSHIP CREW

Dr. Gordon Hoople racked up quite the list of accomplishments pertaining to Syracuse University. He was a member of the 1916 IRA JV Championship boat, founding member and first president of SARA, he was elected chairman of the University Board of Trustees, and was also huge advocate of Syracuse Rowing.

HOF

“Without Gordon Hoople, we might not have rowing at Syracuse University these days.” Five members of the Hoople family accepted the plaque in honor of Gordon Hoople.

HOF

The final inductees of the night were the members of the 1916 Varsity 8+ who won the IRA Varsity Championship. Here is the lineup: Stroke C.J. Whiteside Jr., seven F.R. Williams, six L.J. Worden, five E.E. Hopkins, four A.J. Osman, three P.L. Wallis, two W.L. Glass, bow L.D. Sprague, coxed by G.G. Jayne. To commemorate the honorees and the 100-year anniversary of their historic win, emcee Nicholson read a passage from Mark of the Oarsman about the championship race.

Coach Bill Sanford spoke on behalf of Gordon. Back in the late sixties, Dean Carlton of Syracuse University wanted to get rid of some sports, on his list were sports such as crew and even football. Sanford reminisced about when he was a young, new varsity coach and was handling about eight boats by himself. He approached Dean Carlton, who happened to be in charge of the program, requesting a freshman coach. Sanford was quickly rejected, but remembered Hoople’s role as a member of the Board of Trustees. Only two days later, he got a call from the Dean Carlton “wringing him out” but ending the conversation saying, “and you got your damn freshman coach.” Sanford knew right away it was because of Gordon Hoople.

“Whiteside disregarded the others in the race and lowered his own stroke now that the water was calm. Smoothly, the shell ran the fore part of the Varsity race. Without warning, about this time, the wind and rain snapped out of their lethargy and acted up. The water again became turbulent. With the rain and the wind beating on them, the Syracuse and Cornell crews maintained a 26 stroke beat up to the half-mile mark. “Suddenly, Courtney’s men [Cornell] lifted their rate to 28, in a desperate attempt to get ahead of Syracuse, which lead the pack at the time. Their try at this point was futile. Under the bridge, Cornell, with a convulsion of effort, attempted once more to try to wrest the lead from Syracuse. Again, it was useless. With a magnificent burst of power, the Ten Eyck boat lengthened its lead and held onto it until the last 300 yards. Here, Cornell again challenged Syracuse, and once more, coxswain Jayne appealed for more power. His cigar shaped craft quickly sped downstream as water rushing a journey to its ocean. The canopy of night deepened when the sirens of the clustered boats around the finish line shrilled out their salutes to victorious Syracuse.”

In the times that crew was almost eliminated from the University, Hoople made it a point to say to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees that, “there will always be crew here.” Hoople rescued the rowing program, and for that, Sanford stated, “We all owe Gordon Hoople a debt of gratitude because that was one of two of the most serious threats to crew at Syracuse, and he saved it right there. Thank you, Gordon Hoople.”

Nicholson concluded his narrative about the 1916 crew by saying, “All of the fellows who rowed that year had no idea there would be no races the next year or the year after. Many of the men in that boat went off to war, and one of the men, Peter Wallace, did not return. Marvelous athletes for our university. Patriots who did their duty. So we can certainly proud of them all.”

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

PHOTOS FROM EVENING AT TEN EYCK 12

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

ORANGE TEAM CHALLENGE! ONCE A STUDENT-ATHLETE. NOW AN ALUM. FOREVER ORANGE. The inaugural Orange Team Challenge was a success as 413 former student-athletes participated in the Challenge! The 2015-16 winner was men’s cross country with a stunning 45% participation by its former student-athletes! As a result, men’s cross country received $5,000 to their head coach’s fund. Last year, women’s lacrosse captured 2nd place, trailed by men’s lacrosse. Men’s crew placed 4th – .3% out of third place – by a mere bow ball! Women’s rowing placed 8th – 1.13% behind men’s crew. For 2016–17, the Orange Club is excited to announce the team that wins 2016–17 Orange Team Challenge will receive $10,000 to their head coach’s fund! New this year, the second place team will win $2,500 to their head coach’s fund! SARA welcomes your participation in this year’s Orange Team Challenge to support your team! Make a gift of $44 or more before June 30, 2017 to your former team to show your support! Click here to make your gift today!

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS WITH COACH REISCHMAN 18

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

OO: You had three athletes in international U23 and junior competition over the summer. How did they do? DR: Mike Glaude ’18 represented the United States in the U23 Men’s Double Sculls. He finished 3rd in the C final to finish 15th out of 15. Nick Tavares ’19 represented Canada in the U23 Men’s Four with Coxswain. He finished 4th in the B final to finish 9th out of 12. Pieter Kerpestein ’20 represented the Netherlands in the Junior Eight. He finished 6th in the A final to finish 6th out of 12.

OO: What (lessons, awareness, additional capabilities?) have athletes brought to SU from national-team competition before? DR: I think there are two main things athletes gain from the experience: 1. They are pretty much training twice a day for the entire summer. If managed correctly both during the summer and after that can be a huge benefit to the athletes both from a technical and fitness perspective. 2. Any time you can line up and go through a 6-boats-across racing progression it adds to your experience level. Not to mention racing against the best in the world. The first time you go through a fullon racing progresson, it can seem daunting and you are not quite sure how to approach each race. You get used to using different race plans, being able to adjust those race plans according to different racing situations and how to make small technical adjustments race by race to emphasize different parts of the race or get a bit more speed over the race course.

OO: You’ve welcomed 14 new freshmen recruits onto the team this year, including three internationals from the Netherlands and Serbia. The Americans are all from east of the Mississippi, and it looks like two of them are twins. Did alums’ frequent flyer miles contribute to the effort to recruit the three Europeans? DR: Actually in this case, no. We signed the two Serbians without a trip and the trip to meet the Dutch kid came 20

OO: You have coached national team boats in international competition in the past. How does a more demanding Syracuse coaching calendar affect your ability to do that kind of thing?

together on short notice and we were unable to use miles there. Frequent flyer miles did pay for Coach Stangel’s Australian / Newn Zealand trip last February and will hopefully pay for his trip this winter. We still have a number of kids down there we are keeping our eye on.

OO: Were the twins a package deal, or did they search for their schools individually and end up both choosing Syracuse? DR: A little of both. They were OK with going to the same place if they found somewhere that met both their academic needs but they were not opposed to going separately if they needed to find the right academic fit.

OO: For a long time, the recruiting model seemed to be that an assistant coach – perhaps the freshman coach – logged the travel miles and made the phone calls. And the head coaches could save their powder for those critical moments in “closing the deal.” How does the staff divide that work now? DR: Very similarly. Justin is our recruiting coordinator and sets up the plan with input from Jason and I give it the OK and / or make any further adjustments. Jason and Justin do the bulk of our identifying and initial contacts and they bring me in where an opinion is needed and let me know who they want me to call or go visit. Recently they sent me to Canada to watch a practice and sit down with the parents of an athlete we are really interested in. The bulk of the initial travel to identify prospects and meet coaches is Justin and Jason. They usually send me in when there is an opportunity to sit down with parents and do a home visit if we think it can make a difference. Through the course of the year, we usually do one or two longer trips to the following areas: Philly / DC area, Northeast including Long Island, Texas / FL, and the Midwest, including Pittsburgh. If there is a kid in the Seattle area, I usually try to meet them when I home visiting family to save us a trip. We do other trips as needed to see kids we are interested in. THE ORANGE OAR

FINANCES ARE FAR AND AWAY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FACTOR. NOTHING ELSE IS EVEN CLOSE. THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR THEM?

OO: We now have so many more communication channels at our disposal, and the NCAA has implemented rules governing text messages, etc. How does this landscape look today in 2016? DR: The NCAA actually has ‘relaxed’ the rules a bit. We cannot E-mail a prospect until September 1 of their junior year. We cannot initiate further contact or phone calls prior to July 1st, before a prospect’s senior year of high school. Private communications are fine in social media but you can’t do anything that is seen publicly. You can however ‘like’ or ‘retweet’ someone. This is just the tip of the iceberg of some of the rules.

OO: Is there typically a list of factors that most influence recruits to choose SU, or does it vary by the individual? If so, what are the top five?

DR: The last time I coached with the National Team was the summer of 2012, and I have since made the decision to ‘retire’ from the summer coaching scene. I enjoyed it immensely, but the demands of college coaching simply do not allow it for me or my staff. I did it for six summers and every time I came back to my college program, I had less and less energy for the year. I guess I am getting old and don’t recover like I used to!

OO: Are there any major summer boathouse projects that would catch alums’ attention, or were they more of the type to which all homeowners can relate? DR: No major projects this summer. Just your typical summer housekeeping type stuff.

OO: Anything remarkable to report from the Evening at Ten Eyck? DR: I thought it was another really great event. One thing that stood out was the ’66 crew reunion row. Fifty years later and the camaraderie was still there. It was awesome to have those guys back and have them around the boathouse. You could tell they were very apprehensive to get back in the boat, and they were all very business-like at first. But once they got going, it was like riding a bike, and they relaxed and really enjoyed it. My first 50 year reunion row was my first year at Syracuse with the class of 1952. Those guys were awesome as well. I really enjoy them!

DR: Finances are far and away the most influential factor. Nothing else is even close. The question is, can you make it affordable for them? That is the toughest challenge we face. Once you get past the finances other factors come into play: academic programs, geography, competitive results and team dynamics. NOVEMBER 2016

QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS WITH COACH MOORE

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

OO: How did Hattie Taylor do in the British 4- at U23 Worlds? JM: Hattie finished 4th at the Worlds. They also raced an 8+ at Henley, against the US 8+.

OO: What (lessons, awareness, additional capabilities) have athletes brought to SU from national-team competition before? JM: The women who come back from the National Team have a capacity to engage in tremendously high volumes of training. They come to realize that the work we are doing is not ‘insane,’ but rather ‘necessary,’ if you are going to be racing at the highest levels in the world ... and in the NCAA final. Ohio State had six women on various U23 National Teams representing four different countries. One of the interesting side benefits of attending camp is that our women tend to meet women from other, high-performing, US collegiate teams. As they hear about the training engaged in by other programs, they become more willing to endure and encourage the high volumes that are required to be a national top 10 team.

OO: You’ve welcomed 14 athletes to campus for their first year. The group averages just under 5’-11” tall and includes one athlete from New Zealand and two from Australia. Did alums’ frequent flyer miles contribute to the effort to recruit your international athletes? JM: Yes – a great question. I used frequent flyer miles to travel to Portland and Seattle. We sought FF miles to help us offset a fall trip to Europe for Jim. Money is tight this year, and the donation of FF miles can really help offset the cost of recruiting for us.

OO: Can we now say we have an NZ pipeline? Can we attribute it to having already had Kiwis come to SU, a relationship with particular coaches or administrators or something else? 24

JM: I won’t go so far as to say that we have a Kiwi pipeline. It’s tough to pull the best kids away from New Zealand. The top talent is being told, “If you go to the United States, you will never row for us.” The catch-22 is that the women we are seeking to recruit ARE the top young talent in NZ. What does help, is that the women who have come from NZ have had fantastic experiences. The rowing community is a small one and news travel fast via word of mouth – both good news and bad news. Fortunately, all the news from Syracuse in Auckland has been fantastic!

THE ATHLETES ARE IMPACTED BY THE ENERGY OF THE PEOPLE ON OUR TEAM AND ON CAMPUS.

OO: How about the Aussies? JM: Maddie Horridge and Lucy Pearce are the two new Aussies. Maddie (from Brisbane) and Sarah Crummey (from Auckland) had the fun of joining, Kate Aemissiger (from Philly) and Maddie Holzman-Klima (from Seattle) in the winning undergraduate crew at the Evening at Ten Eyck. They joined four first-year men (two from Croatia, and one from the Netherlands) in a crew that rated 40 and topped our seniors by a canvas.

OO: You’ve highlighted some athletes’ performance in sweep boats and some as scullers. What’s the mix of each in the class – including folks who do both? How do these skill sets play into the combo of small boat rowing in the fall and racing big boats in the spring? THE ORANGE OAR

JM: I find that women who scull tend to train more in the summer – as it is easier to get out in a 1X, than to find a team or program that can meet your schedule. And we have always found that women who scull fast – under 8:00 for 2,000m in the 1X - move all boat classes well.

OO: For a long time, the recruiting model seemed to be that an assistant coach – perhaps the freshman coach – logged the travel miles and made the phone calls. And the head coaches could save their powder for those critical moments in ‘closing the deal.’ How does the staff divide that work now? JM: That was certainly the model when I was the assistant at Yale. I have some very specific leadership philosophies that apply to how we structure our recruiting: A) I believe that if I say to our staff: recruiting is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing we do. Then I must back up this statement with action. If recruiting is the most important job, and I believe it is, I need to be heavily involved in the day to day aspects of recruiting. B) Sales is tough. It can be a grind and hearing the words “Coach, we love the school and program but ...” can wear you out emotionally. I want to make sure that my staff sees me sharing in the less glamorous and most arduous aspects of our jobs. The truth is, if you are talking to the right number of candidates, you are going to hear 8-to-9 no thank you’s for every “Yes, I am ready to commit.” C) When I first took over, we were in a state that required us to essentially “take what we could get” in our recruiting. Now, six years later, we are in a place where we can be more selective with our recruiting and scholarship dollars. Recently, we have committed to personally observing every athlete to whom we are going to offer 1$ of scholarship money to train and race. This requires more time, more travel and more energy. But it is proving to be worth it. We have found some GREAT “B” level athletes with this process. There are a few in the class of 2020, who will become “A” level athletes very quickly. NOVEMBER 2016

Our structure is: Coach in Charge of Domestic / North American Recruiting – Alicea Kochis Strodel Coach in Charge of International Recruiting – James Lister Coach in Charge of final decisions on scholarship and all discussions of commitment – Justin Moore New Coach – I am excited to announce that the NCAA has approved a 4th paid coach position for Women’s Rowing, and the Syracuse has, once again, stepped up and funded this position for us. We have hired Carmen Failla (Syracuse 2013) Carmen rowed for me for three years and was captain in 2013. Since then, she has returned to her native England to coach at the Bedford School. Carmen offers our program the best of both worlds. While the other three coaches all have families, Carmen does not, and she possesses a healthy sense of adventure. She possesses the worldliness and maturity to drop into any country and spend 12-to17 days finding outstanding oarswoman. As a former international athlete at Syracuse, she can relate to how difficult it is to make the decision to come to America and study at Syracuse. She is completely familiar with our school and rowing program. She knows the water, our facilities, the various majors and how important sports are here. And….we can have her in Europe for a full month recruiting while based out of her home near Henley. In the summer, I am personally committed to spending 4 hours each day either on the phone or on the e-mail recruiting. I make an effort to be in at least two boathouses a week – either observing future potential athletes, or specifically scouting a top talent. I attempt to make at least one home visit each week. Alicea Kochis-Strodel does a fantastic job of running the logistics on all of our visits. I cannot tell you how many phone calls I have fielded from parents saying, “This was the most organized and best run official visit we have taken.” The sheer volume of paper (both NCAA and visit planning) is massive, and there is no one better than Alicea. Coach Lister – Also known as “The nicest man in the world”, may be the best person for a family who

is considering sending their child half-way around the world to university, to speak with. Jim’s annual trip to Australia begins with a 40 hour flight and then involves home visits and nearly a dinner a night with coaches who have become friends. Jim loves [to eat] lamb, but by the time he leaves Australia, he lets us know that he is ready to take a break for about a month. After communicating with our international prospects for 6-9 months, the families come to trust Jim tremendously.

OO: We now have so many more communication channels at our disposal, and the NCAA has implemented rules governing text messages, etc. How does this landscape look today in 2016? JM: I call kids and now 50% don’t even have their voicemail boxes set up. When I DO leave a message, it is often longer than a week before I get a return call. If I text a prospective student athlete, it is likely that I will hear back from them in less than 20 minutes. The world, she is a changing, and I (with all my grey hair) can either embrace this change or get left behind.

OO: Is there typically a list of factors that most influence recruits to choose SU, or does it vary by the individual? If so, what are the top five? JM: Here’s what we hear when kids commit to SU: 1) It’s about the people. The athletes are impacted by the energy of the people on our team and on campus. 2) Syracuse is a place where sports matters! Sports matter at 7:00 a.m. on Monday morning (rowing training) and at 9:00 p.m. on Friday night (football or basketball on ESPN). 3) The academic support the team receives and the academic success the team is having (3.4 all team GPA; 3.797 top 50% GPA; and eight 4.0s) speaks for itself. 4) Newhouse, Maxwell, the Honors Program, Engineering, Architecture, etc. When we tailor the program / degree to the dreams of the prospect, it is powerful. 5) Women’s Rowing steady rise in the national rankings. People are seeing what is happening in CNY.

Those are the big 5 factors affecting recruiting.

OO: You have coached national-team boats in international competition in the past. How does a more demanding Syracuse coaching calendar affect your ability to do that kind of thing? JM: I can’t. As I am getting older (I am only 47, but I feel a heck of a lot older than I did when I was running a Half Ironman and racing at the Head of the Charles when I was 38), I am finding myself (for the first time) limited in my energy. I really need those 6 weeks in the summer to ‘be quiet’ and to ‘recharge.’ Additionally, I really love my wife and want to be a good husband and father. From September to May, we coaches work just about every weekend. I tend to spend 3 hours every Sunday morning finalizing the training plan and accommodating the changes for the week to come. It is great to have some dedicated family time during the months of July and August.

OO: How fluid is the annual racing schedule? Are you still evolving it, and therefore, there are significant changes each year? Or is it settling into a pattern? JM: There are a few races that are ‘must have’ races. Right now the Head of the Charles and the Clemson Invite are two events that we want on our schedule every year. I think we have found a creative solution to maintaining our Cup Races with Northeastern & Penn and Boston University, by combining them into the Doc Hosea Invite. Our other priority is to race teams that are clear NCAA caliber teams. This is why I asked the team to endure the bus ride to Ohio State the Thursday after we returned from the Clemson Invite last year. Thankfully, this year, we were able to book Princeton on that weekend. This will be a much easier trip for our athletes, while maintaining the outstanding caliber of competition.

A Home Away From Home WITH ITS ADDITION OF AN ASSISTANT COACH THIS YEAR, THE SYRACUSE WOMEN’S ROWING TEAM HAS ADDED COACHING EXPERIENCE, INTERNATIONAL RECRUITING CAPABILITIES, INTERNATIONAL RACING EXPERIENCE AND AN ALUM WHO HAS LIVED THE GROWTH OF THE PROGRAM, ALL IN ONE PERSON. Carmen Failla ’12 has rejoined the program, and she is enjoying it. “It’s fantastic to be back,” said Failla. “It feels like a home away from home. I forgot how lovely the campus is and how much character the buildings have. It’s nice that I know my way around and can see improvements as I walk past Bird Library, through the quad, and at Manley.” Coach Justin Moore is enthusiastic about Failla being the person to expand the Orange coaching staff. “We feel incredibly lucky to be hiring a young woman who is extremely passionate about the sport of rowing,” commented Moore. “Carmen has outstanding credentials in the field of coaching and training highlevel athletes. She has trained and competed on the Division I level in the United States and at the nationaldevelopment level in Great Britain. She has tremendous institutional knowledge of Syracuse University and the ability to share the experience of being an international student who took the risk and earned the reward of coming to Syracuse to study and row.”

seasons. She helped the Orange first varsity eight crew to second-place finishes at the 2012 and 2013 Big East Championship. As a graduate student in 2013, Failla was recognized on the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team.

“Carmen has outstanding credentials in the field of coaching and training highlevel athletes.” - Justin M. “I had the pleasure of coaching Carmen for three years here at Syracuse,” stated Moore. “She was a tremendously inquisitive athlete and there was no one who achieved more personal change during their tenure as an athlete in our program. Her election to the captaincy was a testament to the respect the athletes and coaching staff had for her and a reflection of her ability to lead herself and others extremely well.” “I am so excited to be working with Justin,” said Failla. “As a student-athlete, he was a highly-influential, inspiring coach to me. He has a huge wealth of knowledge and I am so excited to develop my career being part of his program.”

A native of Bedford, England, Failla was a mainstay in the top Syracuse boat in her final three collegiate 26

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

SARA PRESIDENT JOE PADUDA ’80 VISITED WITH SU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOHN WILDHACK, AND THE A.D. WAS KIND ENOUGH TO GRANT THE ORANGE OAR ACCESS TO PART OF THEIR CONVERSATION.

GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF REVENUE SPORTS SUCH AS FOOTBALL AND MEN’S BASKETBALL, WHERE DO OLYMPIC SPORTS ‘FIT’ IN A POWER FIVE CONFERENCE SCHOOL’S ATHLETIC PROGRAM? We care deeply about all of our student-athletes at Syracuse University, and celebrate all of their accomplishments. We have been fortunate to have a great deal of success in the Olympic sport arena over the past few years, highlighted by national titles last year from men’s cross country and field hockey. We look to continue to build on our success in the Olympic sports; however, we need football and basketball to succeed. If those two sports are succeeding, the Athletic Department is in a beneficial position to succeed in all sports. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE CARRIER DOME AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT FACILITIES AROUND THE DOME. UNDERSTANDING THE UNIVERSITY IS STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES, IS IT TO EARLY TO DETERMINE IF OR HOW THE ROWING TRAINING FACILITIES, NAMELY THE STRATTON CREW ROOM AND FLANAGAN ERG ROOM, WILL BE AFFECTED? The Dome is an open-ended project currently. The Trustees have approved a budget for the renovation of the Arch [Archbold Gymnasium] and the Dome, which is an important step. We are now in the phase of determining what elements of renovations fit within the budget. There are some obvious upgrades in Arch that need to happen to offer our student population the type of recreation experience, and the current roof of the Dome needs to be replaced. Beyond that, it would be premature for me comment or speculate on either facility. I can tell you that the rowing programs – men and women – will always have a home and appropriate training facilities as long as I’m the Director of Athletics.

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

I SEE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BOTH PROGRAMS. WE HAVE VERY ACCOMPLISHED AND ESTABLISHED COACHING STAFFS FOR BOTH THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S PROGRAM.

ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO YEARS AFTER THE FIRST ROWING TEAM TOOK TO THE WATER, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE OF THE WOMEN’S AND MEN’S ROWING PROGRAMS AT SYRACUSE? I see a bright future for both programs. We have very accomplished and established coaching staffs for both the men’s and women’s program. The men had a nice showing last year making the IRA Regatta and the women’s team made the NCAA Championship for the second time in school history. [The women’s varsity eight was also invited to the NCAA’s three times.] Both programs continuously are placing athletes on national teams. I like the direction that Dave and Justin are taking their respective programs, and we – as a department – look forward to supporting them and assisting them to achieve success on the water and in the classroom.

JOHN COMBS

LIVING IN THE MOMENT 30

“There is no time like the present - goals, dreams, and anything on your bucket list need not wait ... ”

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

THE CONTINUING STORY OF THIS CLASSIC FRESHMAN WALK-ON WHO QUICKLY MATURED TO BE TEAM CAPTAIN OF THE MEN’S CREW AS A SENIOR HAS ANOTHER INSPIRATIONAL CHAPTER. IN THE SUMMER OF 2016, JOHN COMBS (CLASS YEAR ’08), HIKED THE APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL (A.K.A. AS SIMPLY ‘THE A.T.’, OR ‘THE TRAIL’), TRAVERSING THE 2,200-MILE WILDERNESS PATHWAY FROM GEORGIA TO MAINE IN FOUR MONTHS. JOHN DID IT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, WITH HARD WORK, AND WITH SUPPORT FROM HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. John’s A.T. story in some ways is a reflection of his journey to Syracuse to become an oarsman. Encouraged by his Mom, Maryann, to apply to Syracuse, he reluctantly clicked SU on his Common Application. And on his journey home from his visit to the University of Vermont, his Dad, George Sr., encouraged John to make a stopover at SU. A classic Central New York rainstorm on the eve of his visit planted thoughts of pessimism (“I remember thinking; ‘Dad: We’re already halfway home, lets just keep going’ ”), but sunny skies the day of his tour prevailed and gave rise to an inner voice, a kind of intuition, that spoke to him that he was supposed to study at SU. Turn the page. A few months later. Freshman registration. SU Quad. Then-Freshman Coach Phil Marshall observed an athletic, 6’-3”, 190-pound freshman, and encouraged John to tryout for the Crew team. Rising through the ranks to the final two frosh boats in the Spring he credits Phil with creating fun in the hard and boring workouts, “Not to mention the sometimes required 5 a.m. workouts!” Based on his solid foundation of soccer, skiing, and track as a youth, John enjoyed the workouts, and excelled. He later made the JV boat as a junior, and went on to stroke that eight at Henley that summer. He remembers winning every cup race in varsity as the two seat oar his senior year. He adds with esteem that his friend and co-captain Ryan Armstrong stroked that crew. When asked what he learned most from his rowing years, John offers: “When you are on a team, your teammates are relying on you. You must be fully committed to the 32

guys around you and go all in. You can always work harder. You can always dig a little deeper in the last 500 meters and find that extra gear.” He explained that rowing taught him how to endure. You had to learn to push through the pain in order to succeed. Turn the page. Inspired by an Outward Bound Camp experience at the age of 14 which he attended at the invitation of his older brother George, John felt an intuition in early 2016 to undertake the challenge of completing the A.T. Having used his industrial design degree to design cell phone accessories since graduation, he felt it was time not to “chase a dream,” but to “capture a dream.” So he quietly prepared and

John remembers steep sections, rocky sections, and hard sections of the Trail. But his memory is full of scenic views and reflections of inner peace. John found solace in the wilderness and his fellow hikers. He eschewed shelters for the comfort of his own tent except in all but the worst rainstorms. He hiked 8-12 hours most days, averaging about 20 miles per day. He admits that Trail life can definitely be lonely at times, missing his family and friends. Every week or so John picked up his ‘mail drops’ in towns along the Trail. His mail included home-cooked, then freeze-dried meals, which were prepared by his Mom, Maryann. At resupply (requiring a week or more of food), his pack weighed in at about 50 pounds. He adjusted his goals along the way, adapting to the demands of the terrain and listening to his body.

waited to tell his family until just 2 weeks before the onset of his adventure which coincided with his 30th birthday, April 1. But this is no April Fools’ story. After his friends threw him a surprise going away party, John started his A.T. self-discovery adventure at Springer Mountain in Georgia. A good friend of his from Philly joined him for the first ten days – “Quite an encouragement.” His first weekend off was two months later – in Pennsylvania – when he felt it appropriate to rest his weary feet. He spent Memorial Day weekend at home near Philly. Refreshed by family and friends, he was quickly back on the Trail. Noah Chase, and Mike McHarris who had walked on with him freshman year as well as Tyson Bry (Class year ’10) (per John: “three great friends”) joined him along his hike through the New England section. He reiterated how thankful he was of rowing at Syracuse – not only because of the physical and mental toughness it taught him – but most importantly from the lifelong friendships he made out on the water with his teammates. THE ORANGE OAR

He also admits that he was daunted by New Hampshire’s 112-mile stretch of the White Mountains and Presidential Range because of the extreme elevation changes and rocky climbs. But he knew that completing his journey would be worth the hard work. John’s makes this analogy of finishing the trail: “My ‘extra gear for the last 500’ came in the form of my brother George, who joined me for the last 60 miles to Mt. Katahdin. I met him in Maine’s Hundred Mile Wilderness.” He continues: “What a thrill it was completing the Trail and sharing the end of my journey with my brother!” When asked about what inspiration he could leave those that follow behind, John offers these words: “There is no time like the present – goals, dreams, and anything on your bucket list need not wait until your twilight years to be attempted. If you can live in the moment, not worry about the past nor be too anxious about the future, only then will you will really be living. It can be NOVEMBER 2016

scary taking a leap like I did but you have to learn to not regret failure, but only regret not trying at all.” In addition to his rowing successes, which included being named the David D. Godfrey Award winner as a senior, John can now revel in the satisfaction of completing the A.T.

Quietly, and humbly, he mentions that maybe it was time for him to register his completion of the Trail and get his official certificate from the Appalachian Trial Conservancy. Turning the page again, what will the future hold for John? “I will continue as a freelance product designer until I find something that matches my desires. I don’t see myself in a big office. I like being creative, solving problems and thinking outside the box.” He concludes: “I will live in the moment, wherever that leads.”

By Hugh Duffy ’80

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

John’s development as a rower mirrors that of some of the very best novice oarsmen we have had over the years. He didn’t stand out right away on the water but he worked really hard and then somewhere in the spring of his junior year the ‘light bulb went off.’ He really started to move the boat quite well. He ended contributing in a big way to a varsity eight that kept our streak of three undefeated cup seasons alive. - Dave R.

Class 2016-17 FIRST-YEAR ATHLETES

Coming off its first appearance at the NCAA Championship since 2002, 14 student-athletes have joined the Syracuse University women’s rowing team for the upcoming 2017 campaign. The newest Orange studentathletes join a program that placed 13th overall at the 2016 national championship regatta.

Coming off its best showing at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championship Regatta since 2012, 14 student-athletes have joined the Syracuse University men’s rowing program. The newest Orange rowers join a program that finished 15th at the 2016 IRA Championship Regatta in June.

“This group of 14 women has the potential to have a major impact on our team from the moment they step foot on campus,” head coach Justin Moore stated. “Averaging just under 5-11 as a group and combining nationalchampionship level rowing with a tremendous amount of raw athleticism, we are very excited to help them develop throughout their careers at Syracuse. They are disciplined, gritty, dedicated to their academics, and committed to advancing our program into the national top 10.”

“We are very excited to welcome this exceptional group of young men to our program,” said head coach Dave Reischman. “We believe they are a nice mix of athletes with international racing experience combined with athletes who possess the raw materials and work ethic to have a substantial impact on our program over the next four years. We can’t wait to get started with them this fall and introduce them to what it takes to be a Syracuse oarsman.”

Kate Aemissegger

Andrew Cummings

Maggie Block

Brennan Finley

Lilly Blouin

Declan Fischback

Sarah Crummey

Hadley Hoyle

Tara Eaton

Kenneth Hubbard

Madison Falzon

Pieter Kerpestein

Madeleine Holzman-Klima

Alex Manfredi

Maddy Horridge

Alex Ormsby

Hailey Hudson

Nick Ormsby

Caroline Kranz

Sveta Radovic

Olivia Kylander

Sam Snedden

Lucy Pearce

SunLee Stechuk

Liz Tarrant

Silviu Tudor

Emily Spencer

Luka Vrbaski

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

Story by Rebecca Soja ‘14

Catching up with

NATALIE

M A STRACCI SU Class of 2013 Two-time Olympian London 2012: SILVER W8+ (CAN) Rio de Janiero 2016: 5th W8+ (CAN)

THE TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN AND FORMER ORANGE OARSWOMAN RECOUNTS THE RACE FOR GOLD IN RIO AND SHARES WHAT SHE HAS GAINED FROM THE SPORT OF ROWING, PLUS SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT HERSELF IN AN EXCLUSIVE ORANGE OAR INTERVIEW.

THE ORANGE OAR

“

No matter what position you’re in on the race course, race with the intensity like you’re a length behind and the confidence like you’re a length in front. Be ferociously graceful and you’ll always go fast.

NOVEMBER 2016

” 39

MASTRACCI DEMONSTRATES GRIT AND GRATITUDE IN RIO

REFLECTING ON RIO It may not have been the medal podium result second-time Olympian Natalie Mastracci and her teammates had trained four years for, but her competitive spirit and enthusiastic attitude certainly led to a performance that fell nothing short of amazing. Following the A-Final race, Natalie bestowed these words of gratitude for the sport and the people who have blessed her journey:

NATALIE MASTRACCI ’13 AND THE REST OF HER CREW IN THE CANADIAN WOMEN’S COXED EIGHT FINISHED 5TH IN THE A-FINAL AT THE 2016 OLYMPICS IN RIO DE JANEIRO ON AUGUST 13TH.

Thank you, Rowing.

IT MARKED THE SECOND TIME THAT MASTRACCI HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A MEDAL AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES, FOLLOWING HER SILVER MEDAL FINISH IN LONDON 2012, ALSO REPRESENTING CANADA IN THE WOMEN’S 8+.

PREPARING FOR RIO The Thorold, ON native first picked up an oar in 2007 and then made the move to the states to row for the Orange. As a student-athlete, Mastracci got a taste for international racing as a member of the Canadian U23 National team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She then took two years off to train and compete with the Canadian National Team full-time, during which she competed in the World Rowing Championships among many other international regattas, and earned Silver at the London Olympic Games. Mastracci returned to Syracuse for the 2012–2013 seasons to complete her degree and race with the Orange Block S on her chest once more and then was back at it again with the Canadian National Team gearing up for Rio.

RACING FOR GOLD After enjoying the excitement of the opening ceremonies, the schedule of racing for the Women’s Eights began with two heats. The first place finisher in each heat would advance directly to the A-Final while the rest vied for the remaining four spots in the repechage. Canada placed third in it’s heat behind Great Britain and New Zealand and had a chance for redemption in the reps where the women proved they deserved to be in the race for medal contention, winning by open water nearly 4.5 seconds ahead of second place Romania.

Mastracci, sitting in seven-seat of the stern pair, and her teammates, many of whom had raced with her four years prior, dreamed again of holding their heads high on the podium with medals around their necks. And they knew it wouldn’t be easy, and they knew it was going to take everything they had within them, so that’s what they gave, pulling for each other every stroke down the 2,000 meter course. Off the start, the Canadians pressed for the lead. In an impressive demonstration of guts and fearlessness they stuck their bow ball out in front and kept it there for the first 1,000 meters with the rest of the pack chasing. (It was exhilarating to watch!) In the third 500, the favored Americans stole the lead, pushing the Canadians back to second. One can only imagine the emotion and pain the women experienced as they entered the final section of the race course. They had made an early statement and had to dig deep to hang on. Ultimately, the Canadians had drained the tank and didn’t have a final surge in the final sprint to earn a medal in an extremely tight and elite field. They crossed the line less than two seconds behind Bronze medalist Romania in a time of 6:06.04. Great Britain secured the Silver and the Americans reclaimed the Gold in a time of 6:01.49.

Thank you so much for letting me see countless countries across 5 continents. For letting me test the limits of my strength and endurance. But most importantly, thank you Rowing for these incredible people you have shown me. People who dig into the depths of their hearts for those around them. People who bite and claw and scratch for every inch of propulsion. People who tirelessly show support, who push you to be better, who dream as big as they can and who ... together you believe whole-heartedly without a doubt that absolutely anything is possible. I’ve always said there’s something a little wrong with everyone who rows (because you have to put yourself through so much for even the tiniest improvement) ... but I think I’ve had it wrong. There is something so right with each and every one of us who rows. We become selfless for the dreams of our boat, and give everything for them. To everyone I’ve ever rowed with: as silly as it is, I can honestly say ‘I’ve loved you all.’ I hope you always felt me support you through the water. I can’t thank you enough for letting me follow you and feel that magical run of the boat with you. If you’re considering rowing, jump right in both feet, eyes open, heart strong. It’s so worth it. Eloquent words of humility and unwavering grace and conviction as always from the one and only Natalie Mastracci, and all we can say on behalf of SARA is “Thank You Rowing, for sharing with us, incredible people like Natalie Mastracci.” Keep doing what you do, Natalie! Because whether you are in a boat, on an erg, or simply just standing in one’s presence beaming and gesticulating, you inspire more people than you know. Thank you for continuing to bring pride for Syracuse Rowing and your beloved Canada. We’ll follow you wherever you go because you always take us on an unforgettable ride.

The final, in order of Lane assignment from 1-6, included: the Netherlands, Romania, reigning Olympic Champion and record holder USA, Great Britain, Canada, and New Zealand. It was expected to be a close race and medals were up for grabs. 40

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH NATALIE MASTRACCI Do you remember what thoughts, emotions and sensations that were running through your mind and body during the Olympic Final from the first stroke off the start, to the first 250m, to coming through the 1000m with bow ball in Gold, to the final sprint? Our goal in this race was win or die trying. You know the outcome. I remember the pressure I was driving through the foot stretchers every stroke. I remember the spirit of our crew, everyone yelling support to one another, pumping each other up. I remember what Lesley said but I can’t tell you.I remember pushing myself harder, thinking about my family. I don’t remember leading at the thousand because it only matters where you are at the finish line. I remember believing we could win until the finish line. I remember the shock when I saw our placing. And I will remember how much it hurt, a deep very physical hurt, to have medaled in every race the last four years except at the Olympics for the rest of my life.

THE ORANGE OAR

When did the ambition of rowing in the Olympics first cross your mind?

What three traits are most critical for an Olympian to possess?

After I came to Syracuse it seemed as though I had been set on a path to the Olympics. Kris Sanford was incredibly accommodating: letting me take out the single to get in extra practice, helping me with my technique in the tank, figuring out ways to offset the cost of competing with the U23 national team in the summer and finally assisting me in the decision to leave school to pursue the Olympic team. In many ways Kris guided me in the initial steps to the Olympics.

Above all things there is nothing that replaces desire and drive. It doesn’t matter how much physical potential you have; if you don’t want it, you’re wasting your time.

What makes all of the hard work and sacrifice worth it? It’s the buttery feeling of the boat. It’s finding a drive to the line when you’re already at maximum. It’s pushing yourself to do what you think isn’t possible. But most importantly it is the people that you go through the journey with. Racing with someone is a permanent bond. Having that deep and trusting bond with someone is worth all the hard practices a coach can throw at you.

NOVEMBER 2016

Did you meet any ‘celebrity’ athletes in Rio, or who do you wish you could have met? I have been trying to meet Lebron James and Michael Phelps for two Olympics now and haven’t found them.

If you could compete in any Olympic sport – summer or winter games – what would it be? Speed skating. Doesn’t that look like fun? Plus, I think my quads would transition well into that sport.

What is your race day jam?

Proudest accomplishment to date?

What have you learned from rowing / what do you value most about the sport?

2012 Olympic Silver Medal. It’s not really the physical medal that I’m proud of, many can attest to the fact that I’ve almost lost my medal several times. What I am proud of is the journey I was so lucky to partake in, in pursuit of this medal. Having to leave school and support myself. Fighting through three separate rib injuries over two years. Almost not making the team for which I had given up my whole life. I am thankful to have been tested in such a way and am proud of the certainty it has granted me that nothing is insurmountable

You can’t hide in rowing. Not physically (unisuits … ) or mentally. In this way I believe the sport creates open and honest people who train themselves to love to work hard.

with determination.

The more you learn the more you need to keep learning. There are always more questions to ask, people to talk to and ideas to share. You can never know everything there is to know about rowing, so keep asking questions!

Run The Jewels, Kanye, and any hard and fast remixes.

The sport is as simple or complex as you want to make it. We could debate for days on the merits of rigging and different technical styles but really all you have to do is cross the finish line first.

Favorite food / indulgence after a race or conquering a challenging workout? What’s next for you?

As far as I’m concerned there have never been enough ice cream, stuffed crust pizzas or chicken wings in the world to celebrate coming home after competing abroad.

Going to school in January, “Interactive Media Design” at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.

Interests / hobbies / talents other than rowing? What did you do when you weren’t training?

Any other words of wisdom to share?

I love art! Drawing has kept me sane during our intense training blocks and in between racing.

Favorite workout?

Also, just because someone has said that you have talent doesn’t mean you can stop working hard. If anything it means you should be working harder! Never stop pushing yourself. Never stop asking questions. No matter what you’ve achieved

600 Hard Strokes.

there is always more to learn.

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL

JASON PREMO ’98 REPORTS ON THE HEAD OF THE SCHUYLKILL: Fun time splashing around on the Schuylkill! Conditions were Onondagish, so the first eleven miles or so (by my estimation) of the race felt just like home. We handled them pretty well and came together for a nice throw-together row, which put us in the top third of the field. The mixed 8 turned into more of a throw-together composite boat, with just two Orangepeople (Lena Wang and Dick Yocum) racing. They did well with it, taking home a bronze. Next year with a little more planning and earlier commitments, I think we could really dominate that event with ALL Orange rowers. My favorite part of these alumni events is getting to know the men and women from all different eras of Orange. I always say it’s such a joy to share something so special – this Orange community – with so many fine people.

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

ABOVE: Jason Premo (’98), Andy Mauer (friend of the program), John Delaney (’15), Brian Calandro (GA early 90’s), Jay Hillebrecht (’99), PJ Kaputa (’98), Bill Bater (’79), Stephen Hoskins (’15), Coxed by Christine Kaputa (’98)

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

HEAD of the CHARLES REGATTA

MEN’S ALUMNI 8+

photo credit: row2k

photo credit: Sport Graphics

bow 31

out of 50

C: 8: 7: 6: 5: 4: 3: 2: 1:

Christine Kaputa ’98 Bill Bater ’79 Jason Hillebrecht ’99 Chris Bickford ’12 Josh Stratton ’01 Jay Abbott ’01 Adam Conrad ’06 Andrew Berster ’02 PJ Kaputa ’98

photo credit: row2k

WOMEN’S ALUMNAE 8+

bow 44

out of 45

WOMEN’S CLUB 1X

The Head of the Charles isn’t just another race. It’s a rowing spectacle and brings people together. 2016 marks the first year SARA entered a Women’s Alumnae 8+; the crew of recent graduates reunited and soared from the back of the field to boast one of the best performances for Syracuse, automatically qualifying the boat for 2017.

out of 30 50

THE ORANGE OAR

Gillian Carlucci ’14 Deirdre Fitzpatrick ’16 Maggie McCrudden ’14 Kari Tomeny ’16 Yasmine Hemida ’16 Kristin Hanifin ’14 Tiffany Macon ’12 Amy Ludovici ’15 Caroline Habjan ’15

photo credit: Sport Graphics

SYRACUSE ROWING WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST TWO-DAY ROWING EVENT AS BOTH CURRENT STUDENT-ATHLETES AND ALUMNI CHARGED DOWN THE 3-MILE COURSE AGAINST STRONG COMPETITORS (AND SOME PRETTY STRONG HEADWINDS ALSO).

C: 8: 7: 6: 5: 4: 3: 2: 1:

NOVEMBER 2016

bow 23 Rebecca Soja ’14 51

out of 33

C: 8: 7: 6: 5: 4: 3: 2: 1:

Rebecca Spraggins Ashley Johnson Saydee McQuay Rachel Caldwell Hattie Taylor Sarah Konishesky Lauren Richards Arianna Lee Madeleine Holzman-Klima

photo credit: row2k

WOMEN’S CLUB 8+

photo credit: SCULLINGFOOL Photography

WOMEN’S CHAMP 4+

out of 19

bow 7 C: 4: 3: 2: 1:

Alyssa Vasiliou Shannon McCann Lexi Gill Christina Tobias Kate Aemisegger

WOMEN’S CHAMP 2X

photo credit: SCULLINGFOOL Photography

bow 7

photo credit: SCULLINGFOOL Photography

WOMEN’S CHAMP 8+

bow 28

out of 39

C: 8: 7: 6: 5: 4: 3: 2: 1:

Tara Eaton Olivia Humphrey Alexis Dorner Haley Jones Lucy Pearce Odinaka Ezeamama Paula Hughes Emily Andolfatto Emily Spencer

out of 21

bow 9 2: Sarah Crummey 1: Christine Habjan

photo credit: row2k

MEN’S CHAMP 8+

bow 24

out of 26

C: 8: 7: 6: 5: 4: 3: 2: 1:

Dominic Santora Andrew Reichard Pieter Kerpestein James Messner Nick Tavares Svetislav Radovic Matthew Barni Michael Glaude Sam Busco

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

SURVERY SAYS

A LOOK INTO THE ENDOWMENT

We are working to improve the alumni information we have in our database. We want to have the best information on you possible so as to ensure we maintain a quality connection between you and the rowing programs. Toward that effort, you will be receiving a SurveyMonkey survey in the near future. It will arrive in your email either from the Coaches, the database Administrators (Jason Premo – Class of ’98 or Beth Clagett Marks – Class of ’83), or through SurveyMonkey itself. Please, PLEASE take a few minutes to fill it out. Each participant will receive positive vibes from Jason Premo himself as a prize!

THE ORANGE OAR

NOVEMBER 2016

BACKSPLASH BACKSPLASH NEWS OF OUR ALUMNI

Walter MacVittie ’78 L to R above are Walter MacVittie, Ed Johanson and Tom Evancie all class of ’78 sailing in British Virgin Islands in our SU crew attire. Just need some better oars than these paddles. Crew makes best friends for life!

Christine Getzler Vaughan ’02 Christine Getzler Vaughan (class year 2002) and family have recently moved to Surabaya, Indonesia where Christine is the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Consulate General – a job filled with lots of travel to many of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands talking about U.S. foreign policy, educational opportunities and other types of outreach. Surabaya is a 30-minute flight from Bali, and her guest room will be available for SU rowing alumni until 2019.

Beth Landgraf ’05 Beth Landgraf ’05 married Lexie Watkins (Albion College, ’04) on July 23, 2016 at The Quarry in Hingham, MA. They live in Weymouth, MA. Beth and Lexie are traveled to Hawaii in October for their honeymoon and to participate in the Ragnar 200-Mile Relay.

THE ORANGE OAR

Matt Morrow ’07

Tim McDermott ’86

Another climbing trip in the books with some of the guys from Class of 2007! L to R above are Mike Beck, Matt Morrow, Andrew Ross and Jimmy Bader. We went down to Peru for a couple of weeks to climb Alpamayo (pictured behind us @ 19,511’) in the Cordillera Blanca Range. The trip was fantastic and we’re already concocting ideas for the next adventure!

Kiev is great. Wonderful seeing Jim Haas ’85 and the family.

Joe Paduda ’80 ur daughter Erin was married in July at O our house in Skaneateles; I performed the ceremony. A great time although Deb and I are far too young to have a son-in-law. My son Cal is a fifth-year senior at SU, looking forward to his last lacrosse season and graduation in May. Alums traveling to Syracuse, if you need a place to stay, we usually have room; we’re on Skaneateles Lake too!

NOVEMBER JULY 2016 2016

Jim Kries ’59 In 1957 I rowed bow in a boat full of seniors having recently been demoted from the varsity, I was a sophomore. Rowing seven was Robert Angelucci. Early this month I was awaiting surgery in a local hospital when in walked the anesthesiologist Bob Angelucci sporting the same distinctive profile. Could it be? Here, 57 years later, was “Angie’s” nephew.

Jennifer SacheckWard ’94 Jennifer Sacheck-Ward ’94 with her new son, Brayden at the Cambridge Boat Club during the Head of the Charles weekend. Brayden is sporting a nice SU sweatshirt.

Peter Romano ’03 My wife Teresa and I welcomed a baby boy into the world on April 6, 2016 – Luca Xavier Romano! We live in Cary, NC. No doubt we got him familiarized with the sport during the Olympics!

As an interesting side note this is the boat that consistently beat the varsity boat and missed going to Henly, England by under two seconds. I live in Indian Lake, NY.

“I GOTTA TELL YOU, I’VE GIVEN THE CREW MONEY AND I’VE SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM, BUT FOR EVERY PENNY I SPENT, I GOT A HECK OF A LOT MORE BACK.” “Joe’s loyalty to SU and the Syracuse Chargers Club will never be surpassed. RIP, Joey. You will always have a special place in my heart for what you did for SU crew and for me personally. God bless.”

LAST 10

In between climbing into his first boat in the 60’s and saying farewell in 2016, Joe made lasting friendships, and, no surprise, rowing was a part of many of them. “I lost my friend of 51 years,” said Ken Hutton. “With his generosity and unbounded enthusiasm, Joey cast a shadow bigger than one would think possible, given his diminutive stature. Joey stories abound. His Facebook page is flooded with photos and thoughts from crews he coxed from literally around the world. I have my own memories of double-dating in college to attending multiple Big East and ACC Basketball Tournaments thanks to the tickets Joey secured as a generous annual donor to SU.”

Acknowledgements have poured in for Joe Peter ’69 who lost his fight with cancer November 4. Their recollections cannot possibly touch on all the aspects of Joe’s life as husband, father, grocer, financial advisor, coxswain and devoted alum. They do capture the spirit of the man who touched so many. “Joey walked on his frosh year,” recalled his first coach, Bill Sanford. “He started as fourth boat coxswain. He stayed with it, always with a positive attitude that was infectious to his rowers. He got his break in his sophomore year and got a JV race. His persistence had paid off. He continued his love of the sport after college until he died.

“In an age of changing loyalties, Joey’s loyalty for SU and ‘my team,’ as he often referred to our program, never wavered. He was always about wearing the Orange. RIP, Joey. Thank you for everything you have done for many generations of SU rowers during the 47-plus years you have been associated with our program. You will be missed.”

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Being there. It is what Joe did, and athletes from the men’s and women’s programs remember him for it. “I have a photo taken April 4, 2014 at Community Rowing in Boston,” said Lynne Pascale. “It is a typical Joey Peter moment. He’s at a race with some alums (left to right): Tiffany Macon, Syd Axson, Joey, myself, Coach Justin Moore, former SU women’s coach Mark Lyvers, Bonnie Nault and Maggie Peterson. Joey was always a supporter of the women’s team and regularly showed up for our races.” “Joey was an original and always himself. I think he also cherished the relationships he gained through rowing. As I’ve come in and out of engagement with SARA through the years, Joey was a constant presence, giving his unvarnished opinion on various issues and always attending all events. Joey also compiled an amazing record as an SU rowing benefactor, and he did this humbly.”

BY JAY RHODES ’89

The current men’s coach, Dave Reischman, paid Joe a visit two weeks before he passed: “I asked him about his fondest memory of Syracuse Rowing. In his usual humble way, he said he was just honored that his coaches and teammates let him be on the team. He talked about all the alumni races over the years, the trips to Henley and all of the ‘first class’ people he met. He said he enjoyed every minute of it.

been more loyal to his beloved Syracuse crews over the past four decades. Joey was always there, through tough years and great ones, for women, men, varsity eights and pairs alike. If you wore orange, Joey was there for you.”

If you were a friend of Joe’s, you knew it. And if you were a friend from Syracuse Rowing, well, the the fact he saw you through blue and orange glasses was unmistakable. “I first met Joey almost 40 years ago when he came to congratulate us at the awards dock at the IRA,” said Joe Paduda. “No one was happier than Joey, and no one has

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Speaking of Joe’s gifts, many alums recall getting opportunities they would not have had otherwise. “I remember how critical SARA and Joey were in 1978 after our freshman IRA victory,” said Tom Darling. “The varsity had won as well and we didn’t know whether SU would send both teams to Henley. Thanks to the generosity of the SARA Board and SU Rowing alumni, with Joey being one of the dedicated alums who donated, our trip was made possible. Our entire

’78 team owes Joey a debt of gratitude for making that once-in-a-lifetime event a possibility. Thank you, Joey, for your generosity with your friends and to SU and your love for rowing and racing.” Two of my personal memories of Joe bear a striking resemblance to Lynne and Tom’s recollections. The first time I truly realized how much Joe loved SU Crew was when we were racing Rutgers on the Raritan River. In the middle of the piece, after checking on the Rutgers crew to my port, I looked back down the course and noticed something out of the corner of my eye to starboard.

He went on to report on the current athletes: “The entire Syracuse Men’s Crew team went to Joe Peter’s wake to pay their respects. I normally don’t share private email exchanges, but Coach Reischman told me: ‘It was all their doing. The captains asked me if it was OK if a few of the guys showed up to the wake. Next thing I hear, the whole team is there. Good guys.’ THAT is the caliber of men who represent us.”

Standing on a piece of shoreline with no visible access, one hand grasping a tree to keep from falling in the river, one foot on terra firma and one arm waving furiously as he hooped and hollered, was ... Joe Peter. Ten years after Tom Darling got to go to Henley thanks to Joe’s generosity, I did, too. While we were there, Coach Sanford told us to be at the boat tent at a non-racing time, suited up and ready to go. Wondering what was happening, we did as were told and learned that we were having our picture taken – on the water. A photographer stationed himself on the bridge, and all of the SU boats, big and small, spread out across the river. Who would commission a photographer and dream up such an audacious and beautiful photo? Joe Peter. Joe’s impact has been felt by younger generations. Jason Premo’s first reaction was personal: “Syracuse Rowing lost its best friend.”

Our thoughts are with Joe’s wife, Jan, and his two children, John and Julie. Tom Darling remembers how Joe and Jan hosted parties at their house. “I remember Joey’s generosity with his friends, family and to SARA,” he said. “Every year before the SARA Annual meeting, Joey would send an email out to everyone on the SARA Board inviting them to his house to celebrate his birthday. We all looked forward to going over to wish Joey Happy Birthday after the meeting and enjoying the amazing amounts of food that Jan would have prepared for everyone. It was quintessential Joey and Jan, generous and welcoming in their home.” Those who speak of him leave no doubt as to Joe’s legacy in Syracuse rowing and how we all can honor it. “We have very little time on this earth to make our mark,” said Joe Paduda. “Joey made the most of his. All of us who have worn the orange, and those who will, stand on his shoulders.” “His legacy for all of us to emulate is how he unconditionally loved, supported, and followed SU Crew,” said Ken Hutton. “With Joey’s death, there is a hole in the SU Crew Armada. Whether you pulled an oar, steered a boat, or coached an athlete who did, we all were impacted in some fashion by Joey.

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“Let us all fill that hole and extend Joey’s shadow in spirit, practice and deed. If all of us extend Joey’s legacy and passion, I can’t help but believe that rowing at Syracuse would benefit immensely.” It has been mentioned again and again how humble Joe was when he talked about his contributions to Syracuse Rowing. So it is fitting to recall something he said when he was inducted into the Syracuse Rowing Hall of Fame in September 2015. “I gotta tell you, I’ve given the crew money and I’ve supported the program, but for every penny I spent, I got a heck of a lot more back.” In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joe’s beloved SU Crew: Syracuse University Men’s Crew Head Coaches Fund, c/o Orange Club, 810 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY 13224 or online at www.cuse.com/ giving.

NOVEMBER 2016

SYRACUSE ALUMNI ROWING ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 7202 SYRACUSE, NY 13261 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

@syracuserowing

Syracuse Alumni/ae Rowing Association

SARA MEN’S ROWING ENDOWMENT Donation can be sent to: Central New York Community Foundation Memo line: SARA Endowment 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13202 Or donate via credit card or PayPal to: www.cnycf.org/sara All donations to the SARA Endowment are tax deducible. MEN’S CREW HEAD COACH’S FUND & WOMEN’S CREW HEAD COACH’S FUND KRIS SANFORD EQUIPMENT FUND Checks for other men’s or women’s team donations should be made payable to “Syracuse University” and sent to the Orange Club. Memo line: Men’s Crew Head Coach’s Fund or: Women’s Crew Head Coach’s Fund or: Kris Sanford Equipment Fund

Syracuse Row-O-Rama

November 2016 Orange Oar

Articles inside

Our Beloved Joey