A Look Back

Rather an obvious title for a rowing post (that's all most rowers do, "look back.") What prompts this post is a nice e-mail I got yesterday from Jane Saunders, copied below.

Mr. Bousquet,

My name is Jane Saunders. I don't know if you remember me, but I was one of your rowers during the 2008-2009 school year. I was three seat behind Reagan Henderson in the novice four. I wanted to thank you for introducing me to the sport, as it has become a real passion of mine.

Upon leaving Bishop Sullivan, I had a year away from the sport, while living in Delaware, but picked it back up when I moved to Naples, Italy. I was offered the opportunity to train with a local men's club team called CRV Italia. I was taught to scull and I left by myself to train and learn from the older boys.

I am now a sophomore at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Last year, I rowed stroke seat for the novice eight. We won first place in the petite final of the New England regatta, fourth in the grand final at East Coast Athletic Conference Championships, and I was named to the Novice NEWMAC Conference Team. I made the varsity eight this year and we were given the opportunity to row at the Head of the Charles. The team is small and young but very strong. It reminds me a lot of my season at Bishop Sullivan.

Thank you again for developing me as an athlete and introducing me to this gorgeous sport. You created the spark.

Sincerely,
Jane

With a couple of pix included:

So I started thinking about the last fourteen (yes, 14) crew seasons and all the folks who have rowed for Catholic High. It started in the fall of 1999 when Victoria Klein, a senior who had rowed in Germany, came to me and asked about rowing in the Tidewater area. I put her in touch with the Hampton Roads Rowing Club where she met James Thomson, the club president. James told her, "Vickie, if you get four other girls from Catholic you can have a high school rowing team." So, Victoria found four other seniors (Christi Fallon, Jen Finley, Kristen Knecht as novice rowers and Bridgett Smith as a coxswain) and all came to me asking if I would coach them. I said yes, then bought a used 4 from the Virginia Rowing Club and Catholic High had a crew team! That spring we fielded three crews, all novices, sharing the same hull (Veni Vedi Vici) and joined the EVSRA. 

Below is a spread sheet showing the folks who have rowed for Catholic. I'm sure I missed some folks from the early years (I can't find the 2001 team list at all in my records.) If you have any missing information please comment and I'll add to the listings. Folks who rowed all four years are in bold. We'll start conditioning for the 2014 spring sprint season as soon as we get back from the Christmas break. Pull hard, Crusaders!

Last        First      

Name     Name        

                                                                                         

Altobello   Andrew                                                                  2010  2011  2012 

Amos        Tiffany                 2002                                                             

Archer      Evan        2000                                                                         

Avant      Josh                 2002 2003 2004 2005                                      

Barger      Spencer                                                                       2011       

Beaver      Katie                                                 2007                               

Becerra     Adam                                                  2008                         

Becerra     Eduardo                                                     2008                         

Becker      Mary                                      2005  2006  2007                               

Benvenuto  Melissa                                                                             2012  2013

Berkey      Nathan                                                                                    2013

Bishop      Josh        2000                                                                         

Brew        Kevin                                                                         2011       

Briggs      Kevin                                     2005  2006  2007                               

Brown       Lauren                                          2006  2007      2008                         

Bryant      Isa                                 2004  2005  2006  2007                               

Cabacoy     Kat                                                                                 2012 

Cain        Natalie     2000                                                                         

Camacho     Jeremy                  2002  2003  2004  2005                                           

Canepa      Andrew      2000                                                                         

Cenzon      Kimmie                                                            2009                   

Chang       Mary                                                  2008      2009                   

Chang       Anna                                                                          2011  2012 

Chavers     Kyle                    2002  2003                                                       

Clark       Erin                    2002  2003                                                       

Clark       Meghan                  2002  2003  2004  2005                                           

Colorito    Matt                                                              2010        2011  2012 

Crocker     Kyle                                                  2007      2008                         

Daniels     Katie                   2002  2003                                                       

Davey       Suzanne                 2002  2003                                                       

DeCastro    Nicole                                                2007                               

DeMartino  Joseph                                                                              2012  2013

Dexter      Audrey                  2002  2003  2004  2005                                           

Dexter      Erin        2000                                                                         

Dexter      John        2000  2001  2002                                                             

Dickerson   Darden                                                      2008  2009                   

DiFazio     Thomas                                                                  2010  2011  2012 

Donner      Mark                    2002  2003                                                       

Downs       Chris                                     2005                                           

Downs       Justin                  2002  2003  2004  2005                                           

Drewiske    Jeff        2000                                                                         

Duran       Nick        2000                                                                         

Dwyer       Kaitlin                                         2006                                     

Dyer        Diana                                                 2007      2008  2009                   

Edgington  Connor                                                                              2012  2013

Emde        Alyson      2000                                                                         

Enriquez    Mike                          2003                                                       

Eppley      Jarod                                                                                     2013

Eysaman     Andrea                                                                  2010  2011  2012 

Fallon      Christi     2000                                                                         

Farina      Michael                                                           2009  2010  2011  2012 

Fierro      Meredith                                                                            2012  2013

Fillio      Anthony                                                                                   2013

Finley      Jennifer    2000                                                                         

Flynn       Erin                                      2005  2006                                     

Forren      Cameron                                                                       2011       

Free        Chris                                     2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Galanides   Taylor                                                                        2011        2013

Gerber      Rachel                                                                              2012  2013

Gordon      Erin                    2002  2003                                                       

Gray        Russell                                                                       2011  2012  2013

Hall        Brendan                                                                 2010  2011  2012  2013

Hall        Jack                                                        2008  2009  2010             

Harris      Will                                                                          2011  2012  2013

Harvey      Sarah                   2002  2003                                                       

Hearn       Parris                                          2006                                     

Henderson   Reagan                                                            2009  2010  2011  2012 

Henderson  Nealy                                                                               2012  2013

Hogan       Brittany                                        2006                                     

Hood        Ryan                          2003  2004  2005                                           

Houston     Jeremy      2000                                                                         

Hutchins    Kellen                                                                              2012  2013

Hylton      Jessica                                                     2008                         

Johnson     Sean        2000                                                                         

Joo        Yunji                                                                               2012 

Jung        Hyunjin                                                                             2012 

Kang        Yuna                                                                                2012 

Kelly       A.J.                                                        2008  2009  2010  2011       

Kelly       Ann Marie                                                   2008  2009  2010  2011       

Kelly       Kevin                                                       2008  2009                   

Kim         Yuri                                                        2008                         

Kim        Alex                                                                          2011  2012 

King        Anna                                                                                2012  2013

Klein       Victoria    2000                                                                         

Knecht      Kristen     2000                                                                         

Knorr       Natalie                                                                       2011  2012  2013

Ko          Ara                                                   2007      2008                         

Ko          Minji                                                 2007      2008                         

Kopanski    Katie                   2002  2003                                                       

Koucheravy  Liz                     2002                                                             

Lambert     Jesse                   2002                                                             

Lassiter    Holt                                                                    2010  2011  2012 

Lee         Jina                                                  2007      2008                         

Lee         Kevin                                                                                     2013

Lee         Young Jae                                                                                 2013

Leeson      Haleigh                 2002                                                             

Lejman      Jakob                                                                   2010             

Linardich   Christi     2000                                                                         

Lockett     Sully                                           2006  2007      2008                         

Long        Courtney                                                          2009  2010  2011  2012 

Lynch       Chad                                                                          2011       

Mack       Hana                                                                          2011  2012  2013

Magno       Allison                                                                 2010             

Malloy      Meghan      2000                                                                         

Manning     Russell                                   2005                                           

Manuel      Gabby                                                 2007      2008                         

Martinez    Pilar                                                                   2010  2011  2012  2013

McAvoy      Moira                                                       2008                         

McCune      Victoria                                  2005                                           

McGonagle   Anne                                            2006  2007                               

McKenna     Brian                                                                               2012  2013

McNaught    Lauren                                    2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Mears       Kelly                                     2005                                           

Merrill     Amanda                  2002                                                             

Mezza       Alexandra                                                               2010  2011       

Minson      Lauren                                                      2008  2009  2010  2011       

Mohler      Anna                                                                    2010  2011  2012 

Monacchio   Cara                                                                    2010  2011  2012  2013

Monaghan    theresa                                   2005                                           

Morse       Laura                                                                   2010  2011  2012 

Morse       Kaitlyn                                                                       2011  2012  2013

Neal        Devin                                                             2009                   

Newbern     Amanda                                                                        2011  2012  2013

Nolan       Corey                                                                   2010  2011  2012 

Norton      Scottie                 2002                                                             

O'Brien     Mairin                                          2006  2007      2008  2009  2010             

Odegaard    Kristen                       2003  2004  2005                                           

Odegaard    Laura       2000                                                                         

O'Meara     Brennan                                                                 2010  2011  2012 

Payne       Christina   2000                                                                         

Person      Janelle                 2002  2003                                                       

Peterson    Mike                                                        2008                         

Petrovich   Ellen                                                                                     2013

Prentiss    Whitney                       2003  2004  2005                                           

Prevatte    Airielle                                                                      2011  2012  2013

Prokopius  Megan                                                                         2011  2012  2013

Quill       Catherine                                                               2010             

Rashid      Aziza       2000                                                                         

Reinagel    Heather                                   2005                                           

Remich      Jeff                    2002                                                             

Roberts     Cole                                                              2009                   

Salazar     Ben                                                         2008  2009  2010             

Salazar     Thomas                                                                        2011       

Saunders    Jane                                                              2009                   

Scarpelli  Daniel                                                                              2012  2013

Schoening   Erin                                                              2009  2010  2011       

Schrader    Mandy                         2003  2004  2005                                           

Schrader    Meg                     2002  2003                                                       

Schwing     Michael                                                     2008  2009  2010  2011       

Sharp       Mandy                   2002  2003  2004  2005                                           

Shubert     William                                                                                   2013

Shubert     Jordan                                                                        2011  2012  2013

Shubert     Taylor                                                                        2011  2012  2013

Sigala      Jaime                                                             2009  2010  2011  2012 

Sigala      Juan                                                                          2011  2012  2013

Silver      Shannon     2000  2001  2002                                                             

Silver      Sydney                  2002                                                             

Simmons     Caroline                                                                      2011  2012 

Smith       Bridgett    2000                                                                         

Smith       Ryan                                                                    2010  2011       

Snellings   Liz                     2002  2003                                                       

Sorber      Nick                                                                                      2013

Stevens     Trudy                                           2006  2007      2008  2009  2010             

Stone       Caitlin                                                                 2010  2011  2012 

Strauser    Ethan                                     2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Tejada      Yusuf                                                                         2011  2012 

Thomas      Dustin                                    2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Thompson    Danielle                                              2007                               

Titus       James                                                                         2011       

Titus       Rachel                                                                  2010             

Turner      Robert                                                                                    2013

Villaverde  Philip                                                            2009  2010  2011  2012 

Walker      Grace                                                                                     2013

Walker      Nicole                  2002                                                             

Walsh       Lillian                                                                                   2013

Walsh       Ryan                                      2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Watts       Ann                                                   2007      2008  2009  2010             

Watts       Jeremy                                                                        2011       

Wayler      Josh                                            2006  2007      2008  2009                   

Welch       Marissa                                         2006  2007      2008  2009                   

Welch       Matt                    2002  2003                                                       

White       Rebecca                                                                                   2013

Wild        Becky                                                                               2012  2013

Williams    Kady                                      2005                                           

Winchester  Jessica                 2002                                                             

Wood        Matt                                      2005  2006  2007      2008                         

Wren        Will                                                  2007                               

Zawacki     Melissa                 2002  2003  2004  2005                                            

2013 Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships

Forty five schools, 220 crews and approximately 1300 rowers gathered for the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships at Occoquan, Virginia on Saturday May 11. The morning consisted of preliminary heats with qualifying crews competing in final races in the afternoon (64 of the crews failed to advance.)  We sent three crews to this regatta and two advanced to the afternoon racing. (Last year neither of our two crews managed to advance out of the heats.)  With only three rowers and a coxswain returning from the previous year, this regatta was a good opportunity for the sophomores and juniors to see what States are about and to mentally prepare for next year. For our seniors it was a great trip to put a cap on their high school rowing experience.  We saw lots of very talented teams and learned that to be successful at this level we need to raise the bar on our fitness, training and endurance.

 

The results are available here: here. Since we had never raced against most of the 45 schools participating, I'm comparing our finishes against those of a known quantity -- Norfolk Academy. Note that in event 11 our MV4 crew was placed in the same heat as Norfolk Academy's varsity four and we finished about 35 seconds behind them with a 13% lag behind the 1st place time. Our WV4 crew in event 14 was placed in the fastest of the three heats and performed better, finishing 15 seconds behind NA's time (in the following event) and with less than a 9% lag behind the 1st place time.  Our WJV4 crew in event 32 finished 22 seconds behind NA's winning time but with the smallest percentage lag of only 6%. All-in-all, I'm pleased. If we continue to work on both technique and endurance we can continue to make significant gains across the board. Will reported that in his event the WJV4 crew was in third after about 500 meters but fell back to sixth by the finish. I  don't have any pics, and the videos did not come out due to errors on my part, but please send me any shots you may have taken and I'll add them to this post. I managed to lose the videos of Brendan's races and below are the only frames I got from the the other camera -- shots of Will and Hana turning the GoPro on and off. Maybe we we need a dedicated videographer!

2013 Independent Schools Championship

After a long day at Mathews on Saturday the 4th, we competed in the Independent Schools Regatta on Sunday the 5th. The weather was still as dreary as the day before and the breeze was still up. This would be the last regatta of the season for most of the crews. Like last year, we finished second to Norfolk Academy in most events. We did place ahead of Norfolk Collegiate, Broadwater and Cape Henry in the final team efficiency scoring.

Below are the videos shot this regatta.

In the MN4 we had a horrible time with the wind swirling in lane 1 and were way off point at the start. Pilar straightened the boat out and we spent most of the race making up lost ground. If the course were longer we may have reeled in NA, but as it was, we finished 2nd, a harbinger of the way the day would play out.

Our MV4 crew was in a five-lane event and were comfortably in second place (a half a boat length up) with about 150 meters to go when the Norfolk Collegiate guys put together a tremendous sprint and walked right past us to finish a couple of seconds ahead. A hard lesson to learn, but it was eye-opening how an efficient sprint can make the difference.

In the MV8 event we again finished second to NA but extracted a bit of revenge on Collegiate by walking past them in a strong sprint to the finish. I guess turn-about is fair play.

Lastly, the coxswain's race. I believe a new Bousquet-created trophy is in the works...

The coxswain's race coxswain:

2013 Big Mathews

    We participated in the "Big" Mathews regatta on May 4th, a long, windy and overcast day.  This was another learning experience for our program. There were eighteen schools (many we haven't seen this season), 44.5 events, and racing in up to eight lanes. Our results were mixed, but according to the regatta organizers, our "efficiency points" (of 17.9%) were better than those of Kempsville, JEB Stuart, Hickory, Granby, and Gar-Field. The local schools that were more "efficient" than us were Cox, Maury, 1st Colonial, and Princess Anne (who hit 37.6%)   Of course, everybody was far off the pace of the elite Robinson High School from northern Virginia with a 91.3% efficiency (100% on the men's side and 82.7% on the women's side.) The 100% rating means they won every event they entered.

With the breezy conditions and the floating starts, comparing the times from event to event are pretty irrelevant, but I do need to give kudos to the Mens Novice four crew for finishing third in their heat of six (and yes, the finish times were not recorded...), to Natalie who braved the horrendous conditions to row the single, and to our four senior coxswains (I suppose five if we count Meredith!) who raised the fun quotient at least 75 points by finishing 2nd in the coxswain's race at the end of the day.

Below are the results as I got them and the video that was recorded. Additional stills will be added over the next few days.

 

   The Mens' novice 4 crew finished third in their heat. There is still some tension evident in the oarsmen, but Pilar does a good job of helping to keep the boat relaxed and confident. The regatta organizers were thinking of running the top three finishers in each MN4 event in another "final" race at the end of the day, but later reversed that decision.

   Our Mens' varsity 4 finished 2nd ahead of Gloucester, Forest Park, Hickory and River City. A good row by this crew and a good coxing job by Brendan.

    In the W2V4 race Megan and Anna pulled double duty, having just come out of the WV4 1500 m race. The waves had built up to nearly un-rowable conditions and the crew was in Four Mile Run, after an unfortunate incident with Nike.

    Lastly, perhaps the highlight of the day, the coxswain's race: