Head of The Ohio Regatta: Results
Saturday October 2, 2004
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alleghany River
Pioneer Crews launch season with multiple medals
On Saturday, October 2, 2004 the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Crew kicked off the first of their major regattas for the fall season. The 18 th Annual Head of the Ohio is the fourth largest fall regatta in the country, with 100 College, Universities, Clubs and High School represented. One week earlier the team held time trials on Argo Pond in preparation for the regatta season. Results indicated crews were on track.
Conditions Saturday varied with the morning calm and temperatures in the low 60's and mid afternoon temperature dipping into the 50's with some strong winds and rain. Most of the races went off with out a problem, but timing by the race organizer caused a major headache for coaches and rowers. No results were received until late Sunday night, robbing teams of the their special moment. All medals will be mailed to the crews at a later date.
Pioneer Crews did especially well and the coaching staff is pleased with the performance of all crew members. The team received one Gold, one Silver and two Bronze Medals. For second year in a row the women's Varstiy four receive the Met/Plas Trophy.
BRONZE MEDALS:
Men's High School Novice 8+: 3 rd place of 17 boats.
Coxswain, Doug Webster. Rowers, Lee Warner, Ben Postema, Tyler Sanderson, Torsten Berg, Rob Graham, David Abbott, Josh Foster, Alan Wang.
Men's High School Varsity 4+: 3 rd place of 23 boats.
Coxswain, Maria Princen. Rowers, Joey Domino, Eric Wustrow, David Hamstra, David Elner.
SILVER MEDALS:
Women's High School Varsity 8+: 2 nd place of 32 boats.
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miekstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak, Phoebe Goldberg, Maren Greene, Grace Hollowell, Jessie Taggart.
GOLD MEDALS:
Women's High School Varsity 4+: 1 st place of 25 boats
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miedkstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak.
THE MET/PLAS TROPHY:
Women's High School Varsity 4+:
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miedkstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak.
OTHER BOATS IN THE TOP 6:
Women's High School Novice 8+: 4 th place of 19 boats.
Coxswain, Erica Macke. Rowers, Danielle Finch, Hayley Perry, Irene Farnsworth, Arielle Clinthorne, Paige Madison, Esther Barret, Katie Carito, Chrissy Brownlee.
Columbus Crew Classic: Results
Hoover Reservoir, Westerville, Ohio
Saturday, October 9, 2004
PIONEER CREWS DOMINATE
Pioneer crew dominated the Columbus Crew Classic on Saturday, October 9, 2004 on the Hoover Reservoir in Westerville Ohio. The Pioneers entered 13 events and came home with 10 medals from those events. The weather Saturday was a pleasant 70 degrees with sunny skies in the afternoon. Racing went off with out a hitch all day and results came quickly for teams entered. The fact that the Pioneers received medals in almost every category entered speaks well for the diversity of the program. This was the first regatta for the whole squad. Only select crew had participated the previous week at the Head of the Ohio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For many crew members this was their first regatta.
The morning started off on the right foot with the Men's Varsity High School 4+ receiving a Silver Medal. This was followed by a Gold Medal in the Women's Single, Bronze in the Men's Novice High School 8, Gold and Silver in the Women's Varsity High School 4+, Bronze in the Women's Novice High School 4+, Gold in the Women's High School double, Bronze in the Men's High School Fist Varsity 8+, Silver in the Women's High School First Varsity 8+, and Bronze in the Women's High School Second Varsity 8+.
"The hard work and dedication show we are a fine team"
Crew Members receiving Medals:
BRONZE MEDALS
Men's High School Varsity 8+
Coxswain, Maria Princen. Rowers, Joey Domino, Eric Wustrow, David Hamstra, Matt Remsen, Lee Warner, David Elner, Matt Mahoney, Tor Berg.
Men's Novice High School 8+
Coxswain, Doug Webster. Rowers, Tyler Sanderson, David Abbott, Michael Bailey, Mariano Sastre, Tyson Gersh, Josh Foster, Justin Martini, Alan Wang
Women's Novice High School 4+
Coxswain, Katie Carito. Rowers, Danielle Finch, Hayley Perry, Derian Kuneman, Arielle Clinthorne.
Women's High School Second Varsity 8+
Coxswain, Lauren Talley. Rowers, Sarah Weisbuch, Jee Chang, Maureen Maier, Julia Ager, Rina Manikas, Leah Helzerman, Sarah Kurz, Amy Fingerle.
SILVER MEDALS:
Men's High School Varsity 4+
Coxswain, Maria Princen. Rowers, Joey Domino, Eric Wustrow, David Hamstra, Matt Remsen.
Women's High School Varsity 4+
Coxswain, Maria Prince. Rowers, Phoebe Goldberg,, Julia Ager, Grace Hollowell, Jessie Taggart.
Women's High School First Varsity 8+
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miekstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak, Phoebe Goldberg, Maren Greene, Grace Hollowell, Jessie Taggart.
GOLD MEDALS:
Women's High School Single
Amy Fingerle
Women's High School Double
Molly Junck, Grace Hollowell
Women's High School Varsity 4+
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miekstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak
Jack Speakmon Regatta: Results
Columbus, Ohio
Griggs Reservoir
Saturday, October 3, 2004
Pioneer Crews breeze to second overall
On Saturday in windy conditions that caused long delays and cancelled races, the Pioneers raced to second overall in the junior division at the Jack Speakmon Regatta in Columbus, Ohio. This is a fine showing for the Pioneers against the Cincinnati Juniors program comprised of high schools from the greater Cincinnati area.
Windy conditions with gusts in excess of 30 mph made for a long day. Racing was halted at 10:45 for the organizers to consult with coaches. A decision was made to eliminate all novice races for the afternoon and proceed with varsity only. This unfortunately denied rowers of an opportunity to row.
The novice high school men overcame a number of obstacles to come home with a gold medal performance. The rowers flipped their boat while turning at the starting line and damaged the boat quite severely. Starting officials helped them right the boat and get them on the course after their event had already started. A dejected crew came off the water thinking they had rowed for no time. The elated crew of coxswain Maria Princen, and rowers Lee Warner, Torsten Berg, Tyler Sanderson and Mariano Sastre later found they had won the gold medal. This was costly medal, but gratifying.
The women's varsity eight with three seniors rowing for the last time at this regatta walked away with the silver medal. The seniors seem to be savoring their last moments as their season winds down.
The women's varsity four came away with a bronze medal. After coming home with gold medals all season the junior rowers seemed dejected picking up their medal. Coming in third is something that just doesn't sit well with them. But learning to deal with what was dealt to them will make them even more determined not to let it happen again.
The men's varsity four came away with a fourth overall in their race. The can take heart in the fact that they would have been first against only high school teams.
As the fall season comes to a close the whole team is realizing how strong they are. We have been a dominant force in all the regattas we have entered. The team has consistently place in the top three against high schools and junior programs all season.
Points Trophy Standing: Second In Junior Division
Crew receiving Medals:
BRONZE MEDALS
Women's Varsity 4+
Coxswain, Julia Lathin Rowers, Heather Mieksty, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak.
SILVER MEDALS
Women's Varsity 8+
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miekstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak, Phoebe Goldberg, Maren Greene, Grace Hollowell, Jessie Taggart.
GOLD MEDALS
Men's Novice 4+
Coxswain, Maria Princen. Rowers, Lee Warner, Torsten Berg, Tyler Sanderson, Mariano Sastre.
Results : Wyandotte, American Heritage River Fall Classic Regatta
Sunday, November 7, 2004
Detroit River, Wynadotte, MI.
Well, here we are at the end of another fall season. I find myself with many conflicting feelings. A sense of relief, that it is over, and bit of melancholy knowing that I won't be seeing most of you. I know I have a lot of things to do. I do supposedly have a life outside of crew.
As we begin this transition of new and old, I look at the freshmen and see fresh new faces eager to learn and hopefully to please. I look at the seniors and realize that I saw them in the same way. Our program is based on new novices learning to discipline them selves and become strong, proficient varsity rowers. My interaction with them is somewhat limited. They see me as the one deals out the punishment for behaving badly, they see me as the impatient coach when they step into a varsity boat and haven't paid attention to the details given them by the assistant coaches. They see me as the Team disciplinarian. They slowly must learn that they will have to earn the respect due them through hard work and dedication. I look for that spark, that sense of accomplishment, the joy of moving a boat together. I look for hard working dedicated rowers that will sacrifice for the good of the team.
I certainly have been lucky to see this kind or rower come through this program. I look at the seniors savoring these last moments of the fall season and realize they will soon be leaving this team. I cannot help but be happy to see the joy in their faces and realize that we as coaches have had small part of their development as rowers, but most of all as happy well adjusted young adults. It is our hope that we are giving them the tools to deal with life's hard ship through their involvement with crew.
As usual, thank you all for letting us be a part of your life.
On Sunday under a crisp blue sky the Pioneer Crew finished out their fall regatta season at the American Heritage River Fall Classic Regatta, in Wyandotte on the Detroit River. Entering 6 events, the team came home with 4 medals with some of the crews placing just outside of medal contention. The team has consistently done well all season and the coaching staff is very pleased with the whole teams development.
The junior women's novice 8+ walked away with a medal and the women and men's varsity 4+ have continued their success that they have enjoyed all season long. The consistent development of the novice crews has been a pleasant surprise and we hope to see them move into varsity boats with equal success.
The team will hold their end of season banquet this coming Friday at the Pioneer High School Cafeteria at 6 pm.
Crews receiving medals:
JUNIOR WOMEN'S NOVICE 8+ SECOND SILVER MEDAL
Coxswain, Erica Mackie. Rowers, Arielle Clinthorne, Danielle Finch, Esther Barrett, Elaine Ezekiel, Angela Frakes, Hayley Perry, Irene Farnsworth, Chrissy Brownlee.
JUNIOR WOMEN'S VARSITY 4+ SECOND SILVER MEDAL
Coxswain, Julia Lathin. Rowers, Heather Miekstyn, Molly Junck, Claire Luczak, Grace Luczak.
JUNIOR WOMEN'S VARSITY 4+ THIRD BRONZE MEDAL
Coxswain, Lauren Talley. Rowers, Phoebe Goldberg, Julia Ager, Grace Hollowell, Jessie Taggart.
JUNIOR MEN'S VARSITY 4+ THIRD BRONZE MEDAL
Coxswain, Maria Princen. Rowers, Joey Domino, Eric Wustrow, David Hamstra, David Elner.
Passion and Balance
What is it that drives an individual to put in so many hours of practice for less than half an hour on race day in the fall and about seven minutes in the spring? What drives an individual to give up sleep and social activities to take part in this thing called rowing? It is the absolute passion that we have for this sport. You must learn to love training; each stroke is it's own reward.
Charles Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change". I believe we must learn to adapt every single day, to make subtle adjustments in everything we do.
Coaching is about winning. It is about observation, it is about motivation, it is about patience, and it is about being human. It is about learning more about your rowers than you should possibly know. It is about them teaching me more about myself and being alive. The struggle to do the right thing, to say the right words that will ignite the spark in the athlete. Why do I struggle with myself and what kind of person I am, what kind of coach I am? It would seem that it is easy to put together a winning team, but finding the right balance of work and compassion is difficult. What I want for them and what they want for themselves don't always mix together.
Why is it easier to get girls to row together than boys? Girls want to go fast and boys want to go hard, but they ultimately go slow. Fighting the boat, the oar, the water, will finally give way to allowing the boat to do the work. We all want to learn to row correctly but some take longer than others to find the way. The Tao Teh Ching says, "The way is easy, yet people prefer bypaths".
Balance is an essential part of rowing. We must learn to balance to the boat, constantly adjusting our hands, our body, and our legs. Learning to feel. Using the inner ear. Subtle adjustments. Letting go of the ego. Letting the group be more important than you. We must also learn to adjust and balance our lives. Rowing is just a part of daily activities. Families, homework, social activities play a vital part of our life. This balancing act makes us an active partner in everything we do. The bonus for all this work is, great friendships and being in great shape.
You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with and I am lucky to be surrounded by the best coaching staff I could imagine. Coaches that do so many things to make every day move as smoothly as is humanly possible. Coaches who put balance and perspective back into things when I go off on a tangent and can't seem to work my way out of it. A coaching staff that believes, and has the passion for rowing, and working with young adults.
The leaves will change color; the days will get shorter, all signaling the end of fall and the end of another year of rowing. The melancholy of fall and winter will bring the hope of spring and a new start. We will take a short break to rejuvenate ourselves and then finish the year off with the spring racing season. The passion will subside for a while but will come back and drive those that feel the need to succeed and be a part of the team, to do it over and over again. They will take this passion and make it a part of their lives.
So as my niece always says, "See you when I see you".
Keep the passion and balance.
Sincerely,
Michael Dove
Head Coach
Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Crew