Volume XXIII
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No. 1
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FINAL
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February 2021
Tiffany Macon, 2012 co-Captain, ‘Competitive Desire’ page 8 February 2021
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Inside This Issue
SARA Boards
02 Inside This Issue & SARA Boards 03 Dear SARA Friends ... 04 Backsplash News 07 Winter Silence 08 Competitive Desire 10 Hooked On Rowing 12 Learning Resilience 14 Looking Back, Moving Forward 16 Coach Luke: Spirits Will Be High! 18 Keeping Things Light 20 I Love To Row 22 Who’s With Coach Jason? 25 Social Media Connections 26 Two 5th-Year Aussies Return 28 2020 Virtual E@Ten Eyck 30 Championship Journeys 31 Men’s Crew Endowment Report
SARA EXECUTIVE BOARD
SARA ADVISORY COUNCIL
Joseph Paduda ’80 President
Paul Irvine ’45 William Hider ’62 Edward Kakas ’64 James Breuer ’72 Bryan Mahon ’78 Ozzie Street ’80 Thomas Darling ’81 Andrew Hobbs ’83 Rick Holland ’83 Gordon Hull ’83 Barry Weiss ’83 Emme Entwistle Aronson ’85 Kristin Walker Bidwell ’90 Tracy Brown ’90 Jeff Pesot ’90 Donald Smith ’90 Christopher Ludden ’91 Sylvester Rowe ’92 Joseph Bufano ’99 Skye Michiels ’99 Aliza Seeber ’04
Cover Image > L-R: Emma Karpowicz, Tiffany Macon & Carmen Failla
Orange Oar Correspondents: Skyler Rivera, 2022 Louise C. Rath, 2023 Volume XXIII // No. 1 // February 2021 © 2021 Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association WWW.SaraRowing.com 2
Paris Daskalakis ’98 Treasurer Gillian Carlucci ’14 Secretary Josh Stratton ’01 VP / Digital Director DIRECTORS Charles Roberts ’61 Paul Dudzick ’67 Donald Plath ’68 Kenneth Hutton ’69 Paul Dierkes ’79 William Purdy ’79 Gerard Henwood ’80 Arthur Sibley ’80 Charles Clark ’83 Peter Hilgartner ’84 John Gilbert ’85 Jay Greytok ’87 Colin Goodale ’90 Jason Premo ’98 Lena Wang ’99 Adlai Hurt ’04 Joel Harrison ’07 Ryan Armstrong ’08 Ryan Patton ’10 Mark Vyzas ’10 Gillian Carlucci ’14 Rebecca Soja ’14
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US Men’s Head Coach: Dave Reischman – dreischm@syr.edu Women’s Head Coach: Luke McGee – lwmcgee@syr.edu Orange Oar Writer, Editor & Publisher: – Hugh Duffy – duffyfamily7@comcast.net Orange Oar Writer, Editor: Rebecca Soja ’14 The The Orange Orange Oar Oar
Dear SARA Friends ... Making the most of it. In this edition of the Orange Oar, you will read inspirational stories from our athletes about how they made it through the most frustrating event an athlete can encounter. You will hear how our coaches kept things together through Zoom calls, team texts and late night phone conversations, adapting to ever-changing restrictions and regulations while somehow continuing to recruit great student athletes. You will also read about our athletes setting aside their personal anger and frustration to think hard about how a canceled season and COVID-19 restrictions pale in comparison to the murder of Black men and women and our country’s continued inability to acknowledge and solve systemic racism. Not content to make a few statements and proceed on, they committed to continued, persistent efforts to help drive significant and lasting change. I learned a lot this year. How much more mature college “kids” are these days than when I was on the Hill. What my fellow alumnae/i really treasure about their time at Longbranch. How a few committed, talented, and passionate people can change the arc of Syracuse Rowing’s future. And how incredibly lucky I was to land here and somehow manage to row for Syracuse. Reality is Syracuse Rowing came out of 2020 much stronger than it went in. By the time you read this, we will have raised close to $500,000 for the five-year Championship Journey, our initiative to ensure SU Men’s Crew has all the resources it needs to reach the top. Thanks to Peter Henriques, John Gilbert, and Jay Greytok and our partners in SU Development and the SU Athletic Department we will likely achieve our goal of $1 million in pledges over the next five years. SU Women’s Rowing isn’t far behind; a core group is getting organized, learning what worked for the men and adapting those lessons learned to help buy critically needed equipment, pay for travel, and set our women up for their own Championship Journey. Our men and women are not just great athletes and great students. They are thoughtful, caring, passionate, selfless and committed. I am incredibly proud to know they wear Orange. Bleed Orange! Joe Paduda SU 1980
February 2021
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Backsplash From Charlie Feuer (Frosh 1978) Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania I run my own consulting firm, CBF Market Strategies, serving the Healthcare industry via Physician Practice and Medical Center administration of Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth Services. Also, I run a hobby / business as an agent for buyers and sellers of Antique and Collector Autos, Trucks and Motorcycles, Bucks County Auto Brokerage, doing all research, diligence, inspection and execution of marketing and transaction. I stay in touch with as many of “Drew’s Crew III” as possible including Tommy “Guitar” Darling, Bob “Baahb” Donnabella, Andy “Bear” Groch, Dave “The Rave” Pistachio and “Dandy” Drew Harrison. I believe this picture of a few SU Crew legends on victory day will bring a lot of smiles from the 1978 gang and era. – Charlie
From Kevin Rung, 1980 Offats Bayou, Texas
I am enjoying life in Galveston, Texas! We have a Texas A&M men & women’s crew here on the island. I am working with an ex-offender transitional housing non-profit in Houston. That’s been keeping me busy. I’m vaccinated, so I’ll be visiting Westchester County to see my daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren in February. – Kevin From James Olson, 2012 New York City My wife April Olson (SU 2013) gave birth to our first son Adler John Olson on December 27, 2020 weighing 7 lb.-3 oz. – James
^ L-R Jerry Jacobi, Charlie Feuer (IRA Stewards Trophy in hand), Tom Darling
James rowed the two seat in the 2012 IRA Grand Finals. He works as a Structural Engineer for Arup Group in their New York City office. 4
The Orange Oar
From Walter Kehm, 1959, Ontario, Canada
COVID-19 has severely affected our Learnto-Row Programme at the Guelph Rowing Club (photo >) in Ontario, Canada. Our Directors decided to make a transition from eights to recreation singles. Our fundraising has been successful and this spring we will have a fleet of stable recreation boats for our beginners. We are keeping separation on the water, for safety and health. We had to recruit additional coaches but as non-paid volunteers we quickly met the challenge. The big issue now is funding a boathouse addition. We live with hope that these days will pass!
About the bonds of rowing, Walt adds: Bruce Ackert and I became lifelong friends. He rose to be a Colonel in the Air Force after graduation, carrying out top secret reconnaissance missions. He was also doing atmospheric tests measuring nuclear radiation in the atmosphere. It was his feeling that he contracted throat and thyroid cancer because of all these missions that could last up to 36 hours non-stop.
* SU 1956 Freshman Crew Back Row L-R: Stroke Larry Hawkins, 7 Bruce Baker, 6 Bob Braue, 5 Jim Edmonds, 4 Nelson Miller, 3 Glenn Vatter, 2 Bill.Laidlaw, Bow Lance Osachey (deceased), Front Row L-R: Dean Kimbell, Larry Weiner, Bruce Ackert (deceased), Walter Kehm.
During his last days on this earth he wrote every day from his naval hospital and talked about our University and rowing days together. It was all about the bonds and friendships that came out of rowing at Syracuse. When I coach our varsity and freshman crews I often refer to rowing and how it can be a lifelong lifestyle and the friends you make are lifelong. Best regards to all. – Walt.
< Walt in his 1X.
February 2021
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Backsplash (continued) From Brandis (Arcadia) Turner Park City, Utah Dan Turner, SU 2011, Mechanical Engineering Brandis (Arcadia) Turner, SU 2011, iSchool Welcome Benjamin Hudson Turner to the Turner family, born on May 5, 2020. In addition to Benjamin’s birth, Dan started a new job at Triumph Gear Systems, in Park City, Utah. The new job led us on an adventure out West. 2020 has been a rocky year for all of us, but we have found joy with our new addition and all that Utah has to offer! – Brandis Editor’s notes: Dan rowed for the men, and Brandis rowed three years for Coach Kris and then one year for Coach Justin. From Joe Paduda, 1980 Skaneateles, NY, & NH’s Upper Valley
^ The Turner Family at Arches National Park, Utah in August 2020. L-R: Jack, Gwen Arcadia (“Gaga”), Brandis with Benjamin, Dan.
Deb and I bought a place in New Hampshire’s Upper Valley; we’ll be here in the winter and in Skaneateles, NY, for the summer. Our daughter’s family is just a few minutes away so we get to see our new granddaughter (Aubrey June Walsh) a lot. I got a few miles in on the Connecticut River north of Dartmouth’s boathouse this fall; great memories of races on a beautiful race course. Great fat biking on the hundreds of miles of trails here in the winter! – Joe
From Pam Carey Schrock, 1983 Warrenton, Virginia I am celebrating 20 years at TransAmerica Life Insurance in their Meetings & Events Department. – Pam ^ Our barn after a winter storm.
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The Orange Oar
Winter Silence
From Coach Dave Winter images of Onondaga Lake’s Outlet and the Ten Eyck Boathouse.
From Coach Luke A new Empacher racing shell awaits the Women’s return to Ten Eyck.
February 2021
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Competitive Desire Like most rowing athletes, Tiffany Macon (SU 2012, co-Captain) has a complicated foundation in other sports. She played basketball until her sophomore year in high school when an injury sidelined her. And music was an additional block in her otherwise solid foundation. Tiffany graduated from the international baccalaureate (IB) program at Franklin High School in Stockton, California. She feels that there was also lots of competition there in academics and music to keep her motivated. Earning the trombone first chair or a coveted spot in the drum line in middle and high school fueled Tiffany’s competitive desires to excel. Enter Joan Rubinger (SU 1999, former coxswain), then-Delta Blades coach, who inspired Tiffany to pursue collegiate rowing by asking “Are you willing to work hard…?”, the corollary would be that Tiffany would see results. Tiffany had sought physical training competition, in addition to the rigors of academics and music, even in an IB program where her classmates were her daily competition to excel and succeed. Tiffany wanted to obtain an east coast education with a small city feel. New York, Boston and Philadelphia were out. Syracuse and the University of Texas were her top considerations, of many options. Alicia (Kochis) Strodel (2002, former Associate Head Coach) encouraged a fall trip to Central New York, ostensibly to coax Tiffany to visit during the larger fall and combined-spring time period that would occupy Tiffany’s time (not the winter, snow filled season). Tiffany faced many challenges upon arriving at SU.
Like all freshmen, she had to look to the upperclasswomen for keys to a successful transition to college life, starting over with humility. And junior year, SUWROW Head Coach Justin Moore raised the proverbial bar, with explicit delineation on the 6K under 24:00 standard to be eligible to train in the top group. Tiffany offers this reflection on achievement and retention of a seat: “Achieving first trombone chair offers a great translation to rowing: once you are there you don’t want to give it up.” And her implied admonishment to challengers: “You have to out work me … ” to get her seat, and “… I am not going to look back.” At SU Tiffany learned the need to analyze all aspects of her stroke, to fix it, and to be able to compete more successfully as a shorter athlete. Similarly Tiffany advocates tough and honest conversations to fix brokenness. Reflecting that the lingering built-up tensions in America that are all out in the open, Tiffany expresses her heart: “It is time for all of America to understand the racism and supremacy issues that we have. To eradicate the issues, we must first acknowledge the issues and the pain that they are causing.” Like implementing tangible steps to fix her crew stroke, Tiffany advocates honesty in dealing with societal problems: “Hard conversations must be had in order to move forward. Hard conversations lead to understanding and empathy.” Life now for Tiffany offers some of her same, yet different challenges. As a developing administrator in college athletics (Cal), she notes that there are
Bow Rebecca Soja, Macey Miller, Maggie McCrudden, Tiffany Macon, Carmen Failla, Chelsea Macpherson, Miranda Williams, Emma Karpowicz, Cox Allison (Todd) Van Schoonhoven.
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The Orange Oar
Memories of the 50s & 60s
Bow Emma Karpowicz, Rebecca Soja, Tiffany Macon, Carmen Failla, Emma Basher, Miranda Williams, Anna Kaszycki, Maggie McCrudden, Cox Allison (Todd) Van Schoonhoven.
not many women of color in the industry, especially in the fundraising discipline. “I do not see myself in spaces that I am in,” she reflects, yet that is what raises her competitive spirit to help create more opportunities for women of color in college athletics development. Tiffany: “Me being present and engaged in spaces that you do not traditionally have women of color will help change the next generation.” What gives her meaning to pursue fundraising is her passion to help give student-athletes an exceptional college experience. Currently her goal is to help Cal Athletics keep its premier reputation as an internationally-known university that provides ans extraordinary academic and athletic experience. She works with women’s rowing, track & field and cross country, as well as women’s water polo and men’s water polo to help secure gifts for their annual funds. To secure and steward gifts, she works with her coaches and colleagues to tell the great stories that the student-athletes generate through hard work in and out of the classroom and host events surrounding games, milestones, and accomplishments.
^ Class of 2012 Carmen Failla, Keriann (Miller) Jimenez, Emma Karpowicz, Allison (Todd) Van Schoonhoven. February 2021
Tiffany advises prospective SU student athletes from warmer climates to invest in a substantial winter parka and pair of boots, and “Not just a rain jacket.” Adding, to ensure success: “… take advantage of both the athletic department’s support as well as the academic program’s support.” Tiffany gives a shout-out to the class of 2012 and her junior year roommates, who “enhanced my experience at Syracuse.” In addition to learning how to live independently, she also learned to live interdependently. “Some of my fondest college memories were living with Carmen [Failla], Rachael [Ogundiran] and Mikala [Almeida] and training and competing all four years with the class of 2012.” “I’m lucky to have college roommates and classmates that I can rely on today,” she adds. And, rest assured that Tiffany still closes her e-mails with “Go Orange!”
^ Tiffany with her two living grandparents, three parents, five siblings, and uncles and aunts. – The Orange Oar Editor. 9
Hooked On Rowing Being a Liverpool HS graduate, Walter MacVittie (SU Men’s Crew, 1978) was well acquainted with SU Men’s Crew Coaches Loren School and Bill Sanford. Walter’s step-dad, Joe MacVittie (SU 1951), had been the IRA dispatcher when the IRAs were held on Onondaga Lake.
In between his time at LHS and SU, Walter served on submarines in the U.S. Navy. He knew at the end of his tour that he wanted to continue rowing, and “Coach Sanford was instrumental in getting me accepted at SU and I will always be extremely thankful to him.”
“I will always remember his voice over the public address system telling the crews to launch their shells. Dad and Dick Horstmann (SU 1957) did a wonderful job throughout all of those years.”
“Joining the Men’s Crew in the fall of 1974 and being a part of the organization was a dream come true from my younger days. I never became the caliber of rower I hoped to be, always being a 3rd boater but it was still very fulfilling. I got to row in the IRAs three years: in a pair, four without- and a four with coxswain, which was a dream come true from my childhood. I did have a bit of success earning two medals at the Head of the Charles and will never forget our 3V boat win at the Eastern Sprints in Princeton. We beat everyone including Harvard that had beaten us by multiple lengths earlier that spring in a dual race.”
So as a young boy, Walter was already hooked on rowing. When Liverpool re-started its crew program in 1968 he immediately signed up. Alex Pregnar (SU 1966) was Walter’s first Liverpool coach. “He was a hell of a guy and coach. He recruited a bunch of multi-sport guys, I played football and wrestled. We won all our dual races that 1st year with an exaggerated layback that Coach Sanford would laugh at while watching us row by. “My senior year under a new coach we had great success again and took 4th in the High School Nationals. Not bad for a 2-year program.”
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L-R: Walter, Tom & Ed.
The Orange Oar
About his wife Debbie, Walter mentions that “… our first date was a blind date, and Debbie enjoys my passion for sailing and skiing, and travel around the world.” “We have a great time together, we just have fun,” adding that “… a few wonderful nieces and a nephew give us family warmth.” Walter’s and Debbie’s recent adventures have included exploring the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
About the 1978 IRA championship, “I will never forget the joyful tears in the loyal alums’ eyes when the ’78 1V won the IRA. They had hoped and cheered for SU so many years waiting for another championship!” In 1980, after a couple of years in the insurance industry, Walter moved to San Francisco and got into the computer graphics industry, eventually growing his business to three offices, including in Silicone Valley and Paris, France. “In the late-’90s the computer graphics service industry was losing ground to the PC, so in 1999 I reinvented myself and went to work for Pacific Bell.” Walter’s passions since his time at SU have included sailing, and his venues have been the entire world including almost every island in the Caribbean Sea. “Sailing became a big passion after I moved to San Francisco; and I have sailed and raced many great boats. The largest I have skippered (‘bareboating’) is 60 feet.” Another passion has been skiing. Now he splits his time between his Squaw Valley mountain home (shared ownership since 1984 with Ed Johanson and Tom Evancie (both SU 1978) and his home in Discovery Bay, California. Walter enjoys seeing Ed and Tom up at Squaw Valley during the winters, and he also enjoys the delta (water-oriented recreation) community in summers. After 15 years as an operational architect at Pac Bell, Walter retired in 2014, for which he gives a shout-out to Joey Peter (SU 1969) for his investment advise.
In 2018, Walter organized a reunion for the SU class of 1978. “It was something I will never forget. It was like we had never left college with all the banter. The Friday evening get together included all the members of the ’78 Varsity boat. Toward the end of the evening all us guys were having a great time, laughing and joking about the past. I looked over and all the wives were laughing and having so much fun and many of them had never met. I marveled how all us ‘big as life guys’ had also married the same type of wonderful women.” What does Walter remember most of being part of the SU crew program? “… I know that the hard work ethic and the ‘never giving up’ attitude - came from my years rowing. I never forget where that foundation came from.” Regarding his continuing association with his teammates: “The friendships from my classmates is what I will truly cherish. There is a bond between us that can never be broken.” And Walter adds that the Class of 1978 is organizing around an initiative within the Men’s Championship Journey, with more details to follow as they solidify.
– The Orange Oar Editor. February 2021
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Learning Resilience This past fall, the Syracuse Women’s Rowing team was fortunate enough to train on the waters of the Onondaga Lake and Seneca River for six weeks, while some NCAA teams were prohibited from returning to their respective campuses. While the team recognizes how fortunate we are to have had the successful fall we did, it did not come without adversity. Before we arrived in Syracuse, the team was broken up into four training “pods.” Each pod was created based off of living arrangements, and each coach was assigned a pod for the fall semester. The first month on campus was a test of our patience as the team endured one month of individual training before official team practices could begin. Classes started in late August, and practices began in late September. To protect our team from a potential cluster of COVID-19 cases, we had to limit our social circles to our “pod-mates.” We could still visit with teammates and friends outside of our pod, but we knew we had to stay vigilant in wearing our masks and with social distancing.
^ Freshman 4+ Cox Emma Dziedzic, Bow Mae Sweeney, 2 Julia Comerford, 3 Maddi Segarnick, Stroke Sarah Haney.
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There was too much at stake, and a slip-up could have been detrimental to our training efforts. The creation of the pods brought new friendships, virtual pod competitions, new workout-buddies, and bonds with our coaches. Many pods got together for “pod-luck dinners,” which proved to be a nice break from the stress and frustration of navigating COVID-19 on a college campus. The first morning back at the Boathouse felt like Christmas morning. Everyone was smiling ear-to-ear underneath their masks, and I would argue that the positive energy that day was more contagious than any virus.
^ Bow Lily Moffly, 2 Haley Uliasz, 3 Emma Braun, 4 India Aikens.
^ Stroke Ellen Pozzi leading her crew in practice pieces on Onondaga Lake. The Orange Oar
Around mid-October, Syracuse University had a very low count of positive cases, allowing us to merge pods and put together new lineups on the water. After weeks of distancing, COVID tests, and a lot of work in small boats, being able to practice as a full team on the Onondaga Lake made it all worthwhile. Our team learned resilience like we had never known before, which we will carry with us into our 2021 racing season. – Orange Oar Correspondent Louise C. Rath
“In a year where so much has been unfamiliar and uncertain, rowing and training with teammates was one part of life that actually felt ‘normal’ this fall. Even the little things like grabbing a run with a teammate or two helped keep me from losing my mind in the craziness of online school. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities we had, and looking forward to even more in the spring!” – Hannah Murphy ’23 “Training this fall took a toll on all of us. After missing the spring season, all any of us wanted was for rowing to be back to ‘normal.’ While that couldn’t have happened, I feel very grateful for the amount of water time we were able to have throughout the fall and it has shown how strong and resilient our team truly is.” – Grace Asch ’22 < Happy Australian Phoebe Robinson. Below: Practices on Onondaga.
^ Bow Heather Stafford, 2 Junior Ognovich, 3 Maddi D’Ambra, 4 Eliza Yager, 5 Grace Asch, 6 Emma Gossman, 7 Christie Castorino, Stroke Liv Schaertl, Cox Julia Roach > Mid-piece concentration: Bow Lily Moffly, 2 Haley Uliasz, 3 Emma Braun, 4 India Aikens, 5 Kate Ryan, 6 Lucy Pearce, 7 Helena O’Donnell, Stroke: Josie Kiesel, Cox Hannah Murphy. February 2021
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Looking Back, Moving Forward Two months later, on May 25, 2020, a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Floyd’s violent murder was filmed and outrage sparked in cities around the United States. Our world has changed again, this time not because of a virus but a violent hate crime that forced Americans to challenge racism and American values.
On March 11, 2020, the women’s rowing program stopped practice. The NBA’s season was postponed indefinitely and Tom Hanks was the first celebrity to test positive for COVID-19. Our world was permanently changed on March 11th. Our team did not travel to Clemson, South Carolina for spring training, the ACC and NCAA Championships were canceled and each teammate departed campus within 72 hours.
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Our team held a Zoom meeting to talk about the murder of George Floyd, COVID-19, and race. Every teammate and coach expressed feelings of sadness and a need for change; but more importantly we established a plan to find our identities, educate ourselves on race, and give back to the Syracuse community. Syracuse Women’s Rowing has participated, and often led, a student community outreach group called Young Scholars. Young Scholars partners with the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse to help Syracuse city students with homework through mentorship and games of pick-up basketball.
The Orange Oar
Three times a week after practice a group of girls from our team drive to the Boys and Girls club near campus. The rowers along with several other Syracuse University students and athletes spend about two hours helping the kids with homework, eating snacks, and introducing them to college life with games and conversation. Members of the Syracuse Women’s Rowing team have historically led the Young Scholars group, which is currently led by Grace Asch ’22. Young Scholars helped Syracuse Women’s Rowing build a bridge between the University and the Boys and Girls Club. But as a team, we wanted to do more. Women’s Rowing Head Coach Luke McGee had an idea to create a group including representatives from each women’s rowing team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, women who are motivated to create change and diversify rowing within their school’s community. Senior Christie Castorino (SU 2021) and I represent Syracuse rowing in what’s called the ACC Unity Group. ACC Unity meets once a month to plan and discuss events within our teams and communities that could introduce Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and youth who may never see a boat, learn about rowing and how to row. Our short-term plans include educating our teams on politically correct terminology, and how to be anti-racist, as well as the indigenous history on the lands our schools stand on through books, movies and discussion. Long-term, we hope to introduce rowing and college to kids in the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse.
< & ^ SUWROW in Florida training in January 2020. February 2021
In addition to learning how we can create change as a team, leading up to the 2020 presidential election our team rallied around encouraging 100% of our eligible teammates to vote. We attended Zoom sessions about the importance of voting and educated ourselves on the elections within our hometown. No matter what side of the aisle we stand, our team was determined to get our voices heard through voting. After the election, we learned 100% of the women eligible to vote on our team had voted! In 2020, we learned resilience and stood strong through countless challenges. In 2021, we are preparing to return to campus, stronger than ever, and in search of a spot at in NCAA Championships. We are preparing to enter an unprecedented season. Last year our season was canceled due to the first wave of COVID-19. The 2021 season will be different. As collegiate athletes, we set the standard for the Syracuse community. We are doing our part to stop the spread by wearing masks, social distancing, taking on-line courses and getting tested multiple times a week. We are training in small groups at the break of dawn and after classes conclude. In the weight room we train our minds and muscles to become sharp competitors. Our last ACC race was in Spring 2019. We are now training our minds, bodies, and hearts on one goal: to be at the starting line at NCAA Championships in 2021.
– Orange Oar Correspondent Skyler Rivera. 15
Coach Luke: Spirits Will Be High!
< Masked up; ^ unmasked. For about ten weeks, Flanagan Gym’s weights and ergs have been silent, as have the tanks in the William E. Sanford Rowing Performance Center. Women’s Rowing Head Coach Luke McGee is preparing for the women’s coxswains and oarswomen to return for classes to resume in early February, when that silence will soon give way to enthusiasm for a hoped-for on-the-water racing season. Luke reports that the fall training was very successful in that the team did not have one positive COVID-19 test, realizing the University’s and the Athletic Department’s paramount goal of staying healthy and safe. And during the fall training, Luke reflects: “Training in pods of 10 was challenging, but we spent the ever-so-important time before and after practice to create a team environment.” Visioning a Plan A and a backup Plan B, Coach Luke is eager to see his athletes return. Syracuse Women will have not rowed against an opponent for about 18 months when the hoped-for season starts in early April, 2021. And they will have not rowed inter-collegiately in almost 2 years. Plans A & B are dependent upon Ivy League participation, or not. Continuing recovery from the pandemic continues to plague decision making regarding the racing season.
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Participation in the traditional early season kickoff Doc Hosea Invitational Regatta has been decided against. The SU Women will more likely race smaller venues instead, starting with the likes of Brown and Rutgers or Northeastern and Boston University to kick off their season in April. And the pandemic has also challenged families and especially international students with the moving targets of return dates, virus testing protocols, and travel requirements. Notwithstanding what is going on in the larger the context, “The University has been impressive, increasing testing for athletes, as well as testing the entire student body.” And the University has created their own lab to process the newly created initiatives. When asked about precautions during spring training, Luke replies: “We certainly respect the virus, health and safety definitely come first. Outdoors in the spring, the contact tracing protocol is ‘seat ahead, seat behind.’” And adds: “Once the spring thaw hits, it will be a short calendar until racing season.” While the racing season venues and opponents are in flux, preparations for the women’s return to campus are not. Coach Luke plans on “… there has to be a build-in to the women’s fitness and training regimen, based upon the team’s longer-than-typical summer break length,” while remembering that the team has been off campus since two weeks before Thanksgiving. The Orange Oar
During that short calendar span from return to campus to return to racing, Luke is seeking to “…recreate the memory for the women of what a race day looks like, what it is like to compete.” Luke envisions that there might be more seat racing this spring, not just to keep the women fresh and on their toes, but “… to ensure the boats have the right combinations across the gunwales throughout the season,” adding: “More seat racing will help keep the women razor sharp.” From the get go on pandemic-induced recruiting changes, the coaches have adapted their recruiting strategies, in particular adding a signature ‘Coffee with ’Cuse’ effort. The assistant coaches and athletes have customized their recruiting tool, offering unique glimpses of the University, as well as “Why rowing for Syracuse Women is special.” Athletes from all over the United States, as well as all over the world are responding to the uniquely crafted appeals. A firstin-family college student is under consideration, an indication of the success of the new initiative. And Luke acknowledges that “… changes to the recruiting process will be on-going.” What keeps Luke awake at night is anxiety of how to continue to provide the best on-campus experience for his charges, which “… Includes the rowing training and racing - components, as well as the academics.” He adds: “The biggest challenge is that it is really hard to do all of that in the face of the pandemic,” and: “We have to keep it all positive.” Over the winter break, Luke feels that the women’s leadership council has been on board with the health and safety requirements, as well as with the coaches’ encouragement for independent training to prepare the team for the spring.
Images for this article courtesy SU Athletic Department. February 2021
It is easy to envision Luke’s mantras: “Access to equipment, ergs, weights, cross training, train effectively…” Luke acknowledges that the pandemic has been challenging for the coaches and athletes alike, all having to adapt to Zoom and other on-line connections. Upon departure at the conclusion of the fall, the coaches encouraged the women to consider their venues, equipment and training regimens, as well as how to balance their own time. Per the NCAA, coaches were precluded from direct follow up. “We will find out [the first week of practice] how independent training went.” Looking back, Luke reflects, “Imagine a Zoom call in March of 2020 to inform the team that their season was cancelled.” One year of competitive rowing was lost, and the world has changed dramatically in the interim. Looking ahead, Luke believes that the return to campus and training will demonstrate the women’s commitment to rowing. The fifth-years, “… are making significant decisions to return to campus, and are demonstrating the importance of rowing to each of them.” Having a racing season will communicate that a new normal was achieved successfully. About putting on their racing uniforms, and heading to the race courses? Apparently the women will be ready for another go at it, per Luke: “The women’s urge to compete will be there. Spirits will be high!” “It will be very emotional to launch that first set of shells towards the starting lines.”
– The Orange Oar Editor.
< Port oars preparing for the catch. 17
Keeping Things Light His family back home in Florida have always supported Ken’s rowing, including attending many races as well as his choice for an extra year on the water. The extra time at SU benefited Ken to spend more time with his teammates, and to row for SU again. One of the reasons Ken chose to continue rowing is “I really like being on the team. I miss going out for a row on Onondaga.” “Rough, hard.” That is how Kenneth Hubbard (SU 2020, 5th-year senior) describes the cancellation of last spring’s racing season amid the athletic program dominoes across the country quickly falling for a few days, and then ultimately SU’s. Ken echoes Coach Dave’s drive to “Row ’til the University tells us that we can’t anymore.” Ken and his teammates were intent on improving on the 2019 IRA Petite Finals appearance by making the Grand Finals in 2020. “So much hard work, so much training…” Alas, it was not to be.
Per Ken, remote and hybrid learning worked mostly well, taking classes on-line as well as in hybrid format. “Follow up with professors was not as easy as talking after class. Sometimes e-mail replies were slower,” than he liked.
In the interim, Ken thought that it might be cool to apply to ‘Survivor,’ you know, that crazy castaway challenge adventure on a remote island. Alas, he did not hear back, notwithstanding his athletic abilities and outgoing personality. Thankfully, the University and the Athletic Department graciously offered 4th-year seniors the option to continue with their coursework as well as their training in spite of the pandemic. The University did hear back from Ken, versus the implied rejection via no reply from ‘Survivor.’ Of ten SU seniors on the Men’s Crew, Ken and four of his classmates opted in. Ken chose coursework towards a certificate in Data Science, building upon his degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. And he feels that the extra course work this year will come in handy at the completion of this academic year. He had interned in New York previous to his 4th year. And new skills will come in handy making him more competitive the next go-round. 18
For Ken, fall 2020 training was similar to other years, except for the pods concept of training together in regular groups. He was up every day at 6 a.m., and off to the Boathouse. “We accomplished what we normally accomplish, emphasizing stroke work, including in pairs and fours.” Coach Dave kept up with the requirement for 2x4K pieces, just like previous years. With the lack of a formal fall racing schedule, there was a variety of intra-squad races to keep the competitive spirits up. And there were larger boat practices on Fridays and Saturdays which allowed for technical work there also. And Ken still got in his required mandatory naps, no change there.
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Acknowledging that time spent racing is a very small fraction of the time with his teammates, Ken says that “Spending time in the erg room is what I will cherish the most. Taking the bus with the guys to practice. Listening to Coach Dave’s jokes while stretching before practice. Spending time at SU and with the team…”
Having been on independent training since about Thanksgiving, he is looking forward to getting back to in-person training with his friends, oh which he mentions come from all class years, but especially his Netflix (housemate) crew of Alex, Luka, Declan and Andrew. Ken gives a shout out to: “All Classes of 2020,” everywhere, students and sports teams alike. Seeing as they were all impacted, they “Can all look back on 3-1/2 years [pre-pandemic] with pride.” Ken is looking forward to putting on the Orange tank and paddling out to the starting line a few more times. Rowing is a challenge for Ken to rise to, every practice, everyday, whether racing or not. Per Ken: “The potential is still here to make the Grands this year!”
As to how the pandemic tested Ken’s resilience, he feels that “Going forward, I will take everything with a grain of salt.” And as to how he figures he leadership as a 5th-year senior will change, well: it won’t. “I will continue to lead by example, with hard work.” And Ken will continue to keep things light in the boat, so apparently that won’t change either.
February 2021
Come summer, employment is still on Ken’s radar screen, as is the possibility of rowing for Oxford Brookes. – The Orange Oar Editor.
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I Love to Row “Definitely heartbroken.” That is how Andrew Cummings (SU, 2020, 5thyear senior) reflects on the loss of last year’s racing season. At the time Andrew was relishing putting closure to his time at SU, just adding his final racing season to his 3-2/3 years on the Men’s Crew. Andrew had been training hard, rowing his winter ergs every day, but he realized that he wasn’t in control. Loss of the racing season became surreal to Andrew. A co-captain of the 2019-2020 crew, Andrew wanted to pass the baton and give another oarsman an opportunity to lead this year. On his contributions to this year’s team “I can still have a similar impact as last season,” stating that his elevated leadership traits will not change. When talking about what guides him, Andrew replies “Adding value to every practice, adding value to every seat race.” For his on-the-water role, Andrew plans on “Adding as much value [as he can] to each boat on the water.” Andrew has grown in his personal training habits over the last year. Having something so close to fruition, then losing the racing season, Andrew is paying more attention to his diet, health and taking care of minor injuries.
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He is being accountable to his teammates on social media, “Anyone want to do a Zoom erg?”, as well as sharing workout suggestions and images of training. As to where he thinks he projects himself now, he suggests “In the 2V group gunning for the 1V.” He reports that many of his teammates seem to have a good system in place for workouts, and also seem to be getting in good independent workouts based upon coaches’ e-mail suggestions. “The guys are excited to see what we can do this spring!” The regular meetings and Zoom workouts help the guys think about each other a lot, a form of accountability. Andrew didn’t particularly enjoy the way that the 2020 season ended. He originally chose SU through a thoughtful combination of academics and rowing. His decision to opt in for a 5th year to earn a certificate in Data Science “Is on par with my original decision,” and “A big factor was one more opportunity at a 2K.” Hybrid and remote learning have had their highs and lows for Andrew, but he is making it work, and sometimes he feels that remote learning is harder than in person learning.
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Andrew will cherish the seven coaches that were instructive along the way. And he will miss the Clemson and Florida training camps. “The key ingredient that I will miss is being with the guys, being on the team,” explaining that teammates challenge one another, motivate one another and hold each other accountable. Unlike other rowing programs, SU had a fall 2020 oncampus semester, so Andrew was able to experience that in-person training, complete with rowing with his friends, and in 8s. Part of the reason he chose SU was the demonstrated community of the team. “Having the common team goals” will be hard for Andrew to find elsewhere. “And it will be hard to find a similar group of guys.” Through the pandemic, Andrew feels that he will be more resilient because he had something as important to him as rowing, and it was temporarily taken away from him. ^ Original retirement of Andrew’s racing jersey. “It will be the best feeling in the world” to row out to the starting line again for the first time in two years. “Having the opportunity to race, looking back, now that would put closure to my career.” About putting on the Orange tank: “It’s a sacred thing. We only wear them when we race. There is nothing quite like it. When you put on the Orange tank you know it is going to be a good yet tough day, a competitive day.”
“During the pandemic it was critical to have friends and teammates to be able to call up and stay in touch amidst training.” But not having the incentive of in-person workouts grounded him more in the sport of rowing and less in the rewards of having a racing season. After the hoped-for spring racing season a job or more rowing await Andrew, possibly at Oxford Brookes. “I don’t know how many more workouts I will have. I enjoy rowing. I do it because I love to row.”
– The Orange Oar Editor.
< My Mom and Dad after the Head of the Charles. Andrew and his Grandpa (also a rower) > February 2021
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Who’s With Coach Jason? OO: What is the current outlook for on-campus training when the students return? Fall 2020 showed that it was possible to train safely despite the health challenges. In addition to frequent weekly testing for the virus, our athletes completed daily health questionnaires, performed temperature checks at the Boathouse and wore masks at all times aside from when they were physically in a boat on the water or on a properly-spaced rowing machine. We are happy to report that throughout the two months of team training this past fall season, we had no positive cases among the team and got in a very solid block of training and instruction. The spring semester will look similar regarding safety protocols, but it also presents some new challenges. Winter training will add additional challenges with the Syracuse winter requiring most, if not all, practices to be held indoors until the weather allows for rowing outdoors. The erg rooms will be more sparsely populated this winter, the work and focus will remain the same – building engines to row boats faster. OO: What is the current outlook for the spring racing season? We are hopeful and eager to get some racing done this season! There are ongoing discussions with other teams around our league, even some non-traditional opponents, about how to safely conduct races and scrimmages this spring. Dual races or tri-races seem feasible. Holding the Eastern Sprints or the IRAs are trickier propositions mainly due to size. Nothing is set in stone yet, so we will need to be flexible and ready for changes. There are no guarantees. We can do everything right and still have races canceled. However, our aim is that our athletes still find fulfillment and purpose in training and bettering themselves and the team, regardless of when the next race is. When the time comes, we want Syracuse to be ready. 22
OO: When was the last time the coaches coached an oarsman in person? The last official practices this fall were the week before Thanksgiving – so it will be nearly three months before we see the team again on campus for our first (tentative) practice on February 8th, the first day of spring semester. In normal years, it is common to be away from the rowers for about three weeks at winter break. A combination of elimination finals in-person in December, pushing back the start of the spring semester, and the removal of our Florida training camp are responsible for this lengthy time apart. It is not an exaggeration to say that the time apart this winter is an order of magnitude greater than what we are used to. OO: How has training changed under COVID? Since mid-March 2020, we had seven weeks of in-person coaching and practices at Syracuse. That is about 15% in-person training versus 85% remote, at-home training. Being unable to physically coach the team is tough. Occasional Zoom calls don’t really cut it when you’re trying to check in on 40 athletes. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from mandating workouts over these break periods off-campus, so there is a lot of faith involved that your athletes are doing their workouts and staying on top of fitness. At the same time, I try to keep a positive perspective on things. One thing that I hope this period has taught our athletes is how to be more self-sufficient with their fitness and goal-setting. We as coaches are there to provide direction and support if needed, but can’t physically hold rowers accountable – they must learn to do this themselves. Being accountable to oneself and one’s teammates is an extremely valuable life skill long after their rowing days are over. The Orange Oar
OO: What does remote training look like? Recommended winter training has centered on the athletes improving their aerobic fitness, both rowing-specific and cross-training. The idea is for the guys to accumulate and maintain as much fitness as possible. Then we will ramp up intensity as we approach the traditional race season.
Nonetheless, this provided an opportunity for us to innovate our recruiting approach and still share our story with recruits. We hosted a number of virtual visits over Zoom where prospects and their families could hear from the coaching staff and current studentathletes in a more accessible way than ever before.
OO: How have the athletes managed to keep up with their diets, stay healthy, get treatment and advice for minor injuries, stay fit, etc.? During the past year, Syracuse Athletics have made almost all of their support services available remotely to help our athletes stay on top of everything while away from campus. This includes our academic coordinators, counseling and psychological services, athletic training room, and nutrition services. And of course, athletes are always able to reach out to the coaching staff directly for whatever they may need.
The ‘how’ of recruiting was a new challenge this year, but the ‘who’ was equally important. Most high schoolers had their seasons fully canceled last spring and summer, so many didn’t have traditional race results to share. However, the athletes who still improved throughout the pandemic showed that they had the mindset to be successful as a Syracuse rower.
OO: Talk about developing cohesiveness when the team regroups? Thankfully, COVID-19 did not change what makes a boat go fast. This fall, we had a great opportunity to work with the team and evaluate our athletes’ strengths and weaknesses. This spring, we will have another great opportunity to work with the team and evaluate our athletes’ strengths and weaknesses. Some may have used this long winter break to better themselves, some may have just stayed flat, and some may have taken steps backwards. All of this will become apparent once we get back on the ergs and on the water together. OO: Talk about recruiting. One of the biggest blows to recruiting was the NCAA prohibition for coaches to travel or to have prospects visit campus. Essentially, this reduced our recruiting to Zoom calls and virtual tours. One of the most important parts of recruiting the right prospect is getting them to see our beautiful campus, meet their future teammates, and experience what it’s like to be an actual Syracuse student-athlete. These personal, physical connections are a big piece of how prospects make their decisions. February 2021
Our incoming Class of 2025 athletes showed me their character this past year by grinding out miles and personal bests on the erg, putting together their own makeshift home gyms, or seeking out creative or innovative ways to get on the water and gain valuable experience. Our incoming rowers demonstrated a desire to get faster and compete at the highest level. We already have eight committed athletes in this class and look to add 2-3 more as admission decisions roll out in the spring. OO: Talk about the 5th-year seniors who returned. I never realized how valuable it would be to have 5th-year guys stick around until this group of guys came back this fall. Our 5th-years have provided a unique form of leadership, perspective, and overall depth to our program this year which has been an immense boost. I am so thankful that they decided to extend their Syracuse Rowing careers and continue to impact the team in numerous ways.
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OO: Jason, you are a coach. Explain the discomforts of coaching during these times. As a coach, the thing that gets you up out of bed every day is interacting with your athletes and helping them get better. The between-the-lines stuff. The races are great – and we all love a good fast boat race – but the things that really matter are the little moments every day. Greeting the guys as they roll into the Boathouse and chitchatting about their day. Seeing the light bulb go off in a rower’s head when you finally get them to make that change. Losing my voice shouting at guys in the last 500m of an erg piece. Cracking jokes on the water and hearing the collective groans from the whole boat. Seeing a freshman hit a big PR on an erg test faster than they ever thought possible in high school. Watching a sophomore step up their game and move from the 4th boat to the 2nd. Hearing a junior start to exercise their voice as a leader after being quiet their first few years. Reminiscing with the seniors and realizing how far they’ve come since they first stepped through those Boathouse doors four years ago. Being an ear for athletes when they need to be heard, and having those hard conversations when they need to listen. These are the some of the things that I’ve missed the most over the past year. I feel super lucky that we were able to do even a fraction of these this past fall, and hopefully we can do many more this spring. That’s what keeps me going.
OO: How do you anticipate building team spirit and the urge to put the orange jersey on again and row proud for SU? This is a major challenge without a clear solution. The best we can do to build team spirit is to remind our athletes why they do this, that this situation is not permanent, and that each person can still add value to the team in their own individual way. We would much rather have 40 guys packed in together at the Sanford Rowing Performance Center, or have five eights lined up across on Onondaga Lake ready to do battle. We will get back to that in due time, but we need to be stoic and do our part to make sure we are ready for when things return. This team is a group of young achievers who truly love this sport, are curious to push their own limits, and are committed to making Syracuse Rowing the best it can be. Throughout it all, the Orange Jersey with the Block S still represents the storied legacy of Syracuse Rowing - past, present, and future. At some point, racing will return, and Syracuse will be ready. OO: Open Mic: We spend a lot of time and energy worrying about things we can’t control, instead of investing that energy into things that are within our control. Sport is pure in the sense that one can always find ways to improve themselves if they put in the work. We can sit around and lament all the things we can’t do, the opportunities that we’ve missed, or cry foul that things are unfair… or we can get to work. I’m looking forward to getting back to work with the team very soon, and I’m excited for what comes next. “Who’s with me?” – Coach Jason via e-mail exchanges with the Orange Oar Editor.
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The Orange Oar
Let’s Get Social...
World Championships, Sarasota, Florida September 24 – October 1, 2017
ONE OF SARA’S MEMBERSHIP GOALS FOR 2019 IS TO INCREASE THEIR PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SARA’s primary communication goal is to increase our presence on social media. Our emerging generation of athletes and their families, as well as friends and supporters of Syracuse Rowing are connecting on social media more and more. SARA’s presence there will help us achieve our membership theme of “staying connected, reconnecting … and cherishing memories!” You can connect with SARA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to receive timely information such as getting directions to races, race reports and host tent information. You can also make connections with your teammates in advance of your attendance at a race or a SARA-hosted event. And you can make professional connections on LinkedIn. When was the last time that you visited the SARA YouTube Channel? On YouTube.com, Type in: “SU Alumni Rowing Archives” in the serach box and view many uploaded videos. See you there!
February 2021
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Two 5th-Year Aussies Return In March 2020, the NCAA voted to grant springsport athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the Syracuse Women’s Rowing team, this ruling allowed three members of the Class of 2020 to study and compete for an additional year at Syracuse. Of those three, two are from Australia. Maddy Horridge and Lucy Pearce never questioned whether they would come back to Syracuse if they were given the chance. Lucy Pearce was in the middle of an at-home cycling workout on Zwift when Head Coach Luke McGee called her to deliver the news. “My entire body filled with pure joy and of course I rang my other graduating seniors, now fifth years, to share our happiness. The next thing I realized was that 3 hours of calling family and teammates had passed and I had set new records for both power and time on Zwift,” Pearce said. Both Horridge and Pearce recalled the ‘unfinished business’ they had in Syracuse, and the emotions that came with the cancellation of the 2020 season, as they decided to return for another year.
^ Maddy Horridge smiling mid-practice. “I was very sad to have left the team in the way we did. It was very abrupt and quick and because everything happened so quickly, I was in shock for brief period of time. I didn’t want to go home,” Horridge said. Pearce recalled the moment the Class of 2020 heard of the NCAA’s decision to cancel spring sport championships. “We just fell silent with severe disbelief that our four years together had just ended. We all knew that this pandemic is bigger than all of us, but it really was tough to know that we wouldn’t cross that finish line together ever again,” Pearce said.
The team was gearing up for an annual springbreak training trip in Clemson when the NCAA announced the cancellation of spring sport championships, and thus, the end of our 2020 racing season. Within days, Horridge and Pearce were flying home to Australia. ^ Lucy Pearce during practice pieces on Onondaga Lake.
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The Orange Oar
These emotions made coming back to campus and rowing on the Onondaga that much more meaningful for Pearce and Horridge, who described the moment as “surreal” and admitted that it gave them goosebumps.
As the team looks towards the 2021 racing season, Horridge and Pearce will not soon forget what it took to get them to this moment. “To me, pushing off the dock together with my teammates will be the epitome of success amidst this pandemic,” Pearce said. – Orange Oar Correspondent Louise C. Rath.
^ Maddy Horridge and Lucy Pearce at the 2019 Head of the Charles Regatta.
^ Fall 2020, Lucy Pearce and roommates. Top L-R: Rachel Pierce, Christie Castorino, Lily Moffly, Josie Kiesel. Bottom L-R: Helena O’Donnell, Hudson Moffly (dog), Lucy Pearce.
< Maddy’s Pod: After a Saturday morning practice. Clockwise from top: Louise Rath, Meg Varcoe, Alena Criss, Luisa Gathmann, Maddy Holzman-Klima, Maddy Horridge, Phoebe Robinson, Kamile Kralikaite, Ellen Pozzi. February 2021
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2020 Virtual E@Ten Eyck Date October 17, 2020 2020 Virtual E@Ten Eyck Hosts Pete Hilgartner 1984 Claudia DeSimone Lucey 1984 Analytics Registered 164 Alums 117 Parents 28 Other 19 U.S. States 25 Global Nations Germany Netherlands New Zealand Norway Ontario, Canada Queensland Sweden Australia Class Range Sponsor
1954 < xxx > 2020
Many thanks to Ken Hutton!
Program One Hour Zoom SARA President Joe Paduda SU Athletic Director John Wildhack Coaches Presentations Live Coaches Q&As Jay Greytok w/ “Boost the ’Cuse” Report
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Honorees - Women’s 2020 Seniors (*5th Year) Kate Aemisegger Sarah Crummey Madison Falzon Madeleine Holzman-Klima* Madeleine Horridge* Hailey Hudson Lucy Pearce* Ellen Pozzi Tara Ryan Honorees - Men’s 2020 Seniors (*5th Year) Andrew Cummings* Brennan Finley Declan Fischback* Ken Hubbard* Pieter Kerpestein Alex Manfredi* Alex Ormsby Silviu Tudor Ian Ustanik Luka Vrbaski* Women’s 8 Boat Dedication Donor Susan Church Andersson, 1984 Name No Brakes Men’s 8 Boat Dedication Donor Anonymous Name Professor Jesse Burkhead
The Orange Oar
< Women’s 2021 Captains: Megan Varcoe (left), Josie Kiesel (right).
< Men’s 2021 Captains: Jakob Andersen (left), Cameron Grimm (right)
2021 E@Ten Eyck Vision & Call For 2021 E@Ten Eyck we are continuing to target the fall. We have five people who volunteered to be part of the 2021 E@Ten Eyck planning committee and we are looking for more. If you would like to volunteer to help continue the fabulous tradition of SU’s Evenings @ Ten Eyck, please contact Peter or Pam. And please continue to monitor communication from SARA. – Pam Carey Schrock via e-mail to the
Orange Oar Editor.
February 2021
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Championship Journeys Men’s Crew
Women’s Rowing
The Men’s Championship Journey started a year ago, led by Peter Henriques (1980) and John Gilbert (1985). Working with SARA Fund Raising Director Jay Greytok (1987), our head coaches, SU Development, and SU Athletic Development, Peter and John developed a five-year plan to ensure our athletes have all the resources they need to compete at a championship level. With a detailed budget including funds for coach retention, equipment, international and domestic travel and other necessities, the Journey began in earnest in November.
The women are beginning their Championship Journey as well, with a tight focus on raising funds to buy another Empacher eight to match the one donated by Susan Andersson in 2020.
Since then, over a half-million dollars has been committed to over the Journey’s five-year term, and we expect to hit the million dollar goal later in 2021.
Longer term, the program needs to raise funds for international travel - specifically to take the women’s team to Henley - as well as for more equipment and recruiting support. A core team has been meeting to get things going, and they will be working closely with SU and Jay Greytok to ensure the women have the resources that they need. The Men’s and Women’s Championship Journeys require all of us - please respond when someone contacts you to learn more about where we’re going and how you can help our athletes get there. – SARA President Joe Paduda.
^ Coach Dave and Coach Jason (both top left) with the Men’s Crew on a Zoom call. 30
The Orange Oar
Men’s Crew Endowment Report
February 2021
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Syracuse Alumni Rowing Association 1264 Minnow Cove Skaneateles, NY 13152
Spring 2021 edition of the Orange Oar The current winter silence at Ten Eyck will soon give way to boisterous activity. And our crews will again depart the docks in search of victory. The Spring 2021 edition of the Orange Oar (~ March 31, 2021) will contain updates on the Championship Journeys and SARA database connections, as well as accounts of our coaches and athletes’ return to the water. Please also look for Rebecca Soja (2014) as she joins the Orange Oar team as a writer / editor. We are looking forward to Rebecca’s leadership and creativity to making the Orange Oar a treasured account of rowing at Syracuse University. – Orange Oar Editor. 32
The Orange Oar
