Head of the Eagle
Sunday, October 30th, 2011Grand Valley’s rowing team had another fantastic showing at the Head of the Eagle regatta this past Halloween weekend. Both the men and women of Grand Valley performed very well against the stiff competition that included the University of Michigan, MSU, MSOE, Northwestern, Purdue, and Dayton. Even with the heavy competition, the GVSU crew came home with medals in almost every event. Crews took medals in the:
Men’s 2x
2nd PlaceGVSU C
2: Geoff Sadek ’09
1: Blake Donavan ’09
3rd Place GVSU A
2: Stefan Kuklish ’14
1: Chis Picklo ’13
Men’s Open Novice 8+ A
1st Place GVSU
Cox: Athena ’15
8: Burris ’15
7: Gaiglas ’14
6: Minore ’15
5: Kerjes ’15
4: Biochini ’15
3: Maodush-Pitzer ’15
2: West ’15
1: Ebert ’15
Men’s Open Novice 8+ B
2nd Place GVSU A
Cox: Hocker ’15
8: King ’15
7: Riemenschneider ’15
6: Bremer ’15
5: Dettloff ’15
4: Copus ’15
3: Siple ’15
2: Clark ’15
1: Bruckner ’15
Men’s Open 4+ B
3rd Place GVSU
Cox: Jeremy Schaumann ’13
4: Andrew Zwierzynski ’13
3: Ed Avena ’14
2: Anthony Anzell ’14
1: Peter Zwierzynski ’13
Men’s Open 4+ C & D
2nd Place GVSU
cox: Chris Simon ’14
4: Dominic Kootsillas-Conybeare ’13
3: Chris Deneau ’14
2: Sam Fearnow ’12
1: Stephen Brown ’14
Women’s Novice 4+
1st Place GVSU
Cox: Liz Teesdale ’15
4: Lauren Wetzel ’15
3: Hayley Wuori ’15
2: Kaitlyn VanBoven ’15
1: Alex Baldridge ’15
Women’s open 2-
1st Place GVSU B
2: Jordan Crendell ’14
1: Chelsea Shoop ’13
3rd Place GVSU A
2: Kersten O’Brien ’14
1: Staci O’Brien ’14
Men’s Open 1x
2nd Place GVSU C
Rower Thomas Sawicki ’14
3rd Place GVSU A
Rower: James Wilkie ’12
Women’s Novice 8+ C & D
1st Place GVSU B
Cox: Emily Bohn ’14
8: Lauren Wetzel ’15
7: Katie Fisher ’15
6: Kaitlin Courtney ’15
5: Elissa Besson ’15
4: Brittany Hyde ’15
3: Kelsey VanAmberg ’15
2: Courtney Panter ’14
1: Jasmine Turner ’15
3rd Place GVSU A
Cox: Liz Teesdale ’15
8: Victory Lloyd ’15
7: Hayley Wuori ’15
6: Kaitlyn VanBoven ’15
5: Alex Baldridge ’15
4: Jen Tagett ’12
3: Sam Holstine ’15
2: Marie Brown ’14
1: Mariah Supianoski ’15
Women’s Open 4+ A
3rd Place GVSU
Cox: Jordan Hart ’13
4: Rebecca Studer ’13
3: Amanda Paul ’14
2: Alese Garstick ’14
1: Amy Brunner ’13
Women’s Open 4+ B
2nd Place GVSU
Cox: Chris Simon ’14
4: Molly Visel ’14
3: Chelsea Shoop ’13
2: Beth Czarnecki ’12
1: Hanna Jones ’12
Men’s Open Novice 4+ B
1st Place GVSU
Cox: Athena ’15
4: West ’15
3: Bartaway ’15
2: Smith ’15
1: Maodush-Pitzer ’15
Men’s Open 2-
1st Place GVSU A
2: Justin Wegner ’13
1: James Wilkie ’12
2nd Place GVSU E
2: Geoff Sadek ’09
1: Blake Donavan ’09
Men’s Open Ltwt. 4+
3rd Place GVSU A
Cox: Jordan Hart
4: Dominic Kootsillas-Conybeare ’13
3: Christopher Deneau ’14
2: Anthony Anzell ’14
1: Justin Ebert ’15
Women’s open Ltwt. 4+
3rd Place GVSU
Cox: Chris Simon ’14
4: Molly Visel ’14
3: Hanna Jones ’12
2: Kersten O’Brien ’14
1: Staci O’Brien ’14
Men’s Open Novice 8+ C & D
1st place GVSU B
Cox: Mahan
8: Barla
7: Maodush-Pitzer
6: Stambough
5: Siple
4: Smith
3: Armstrong
2: Vrona
1: Marion
2nd Place GVSU A
Cox: McHenry ’15
8: West ’15
7: Riemienschneider ’15
6: Minore ’15
5: Kerjes ’15
4: Biolchini ’15
3: Dettloff ’15
2: Gaiglas ’14
1: Bruckner ’15
3rd Place GVSU C
Cox: Paillon ’15
8: King ’15
7: Omara ’15
6: Copus ’15
5: Scholten ’15
4: Bremer ’15
3: Clark ’15
2: Dillon ’15
1: Vanpoppelen ’15
Women’s Novice 8+ A & B
3rd Place GVSU A
Cox: Liz Teesdale ’15
8: Lauren Wetzel ’15
7: Katie Fisher ’15
6: Jen Tagett ’12
5: Elissa Besson ’15
4: Kaitlin Courtney ’15
3: Sam Holstine ’15
2: Marie Brown ’14
1: Mariah Supianoski ’15
Women’s Open 8+ A
3rd Place GVSU
Cox: Jordan Hart ’13
8: Rebecca Struder ’13
7: Amy Brunner ’13
6: Alese Garstick ’14
5: Amanda Paul ’14
4: Molly Visel ’14
3: Chelsea Shoop ’13
2: Jordan Crandell ’14
1: Hanna Jones ’12
Men’s open 8+ B.
3rd Place GVSU
Cox: Kyle Barnhart ’13
8: Andrew Zwierzynski ’13
7: Thomas Sawicki ’14
6: Adam Wlodkowski ’14
5: Peter Zwierzynski ’13
4: Sam Fearnow ’12
3: Stephen Brown ’14
2: Chris Picklo ’13
1: Stefan Kuklish ’14
Grand Valley took gold medals in the Men’s Novice 8+, Women’s Novice 4+, Women’s open 2-, Women’s novice 8+, Men’s open novice 4+, and Men’s open 2-, The Novice crews showed great progress and speed even with larger schools entered; evidenced by the Men’s Novice 8+ winning a gold medal and Women’s Novice 8+ winning a bronze medal. The Grand Valley rowing team finished up the regatta by taking home the Head of the Eagle Team points trophy. As the Fall season progresses, it is obvious that the Grand Valley Crew has a lot of speed to look forward to in the spring.
In Memory of Rachel Ring
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011Rachel Ring was a sophomore at Grand Valley and a member of the Novice Women’s Rowing Team. Described as “beautifully tall,†she was the kind of athlete every coach wants on their team – always smiling and radiating a positive attitude to her teammates. She was known for her work ethic, and she fit in immediately with the energetic, athletic group of novice women.
Rachel passed away on Saturday afternoon in a car accident on I-75. She was riding with two other friends from Oakland University when they were struck from behind by a vehicle that did not see their car slowing down. The accident involved four vehicles and ten people. The other passenger also died, and the Oakland student who was driving was sent to the hospital with injuries. No one else was injured.
Rachel attended afternoon practice every day and rowed three seat in a four-person boat. Her close friend Melissa Lankin sat in front of her as they learned to perfect the rowing stroke with their teammates. Rachel and Melissa blended so flawlessly as a pair that Coach Kelsey Arnold often told them they seemed to have been rowing together for years. After delivering this compliment, Kelsey would catch Melissa quietly reaching her hand back to Rachel for a fist bump and a little grin.
Fellow athletes, coaches, advisors, and friends are joining together to support each other as well as offer support for Rachel’s friends and family. Rachel’s smile will be missed at the boathouse every afternoon, but the energy that inspired her team will remain a part of the program, and her teammates’ rowing strokes will be a little bit stronger with her memory behind them. The Grand Valley rowing team will be pulling for Rachel as we move forward into the season and remember the power of one athlete’s ability to make the whole team a little brighter.
Head of the Charles Results
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011
Men’s Collegiate 8+
5th Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Williams College Boat Club
(Field of 40)
Lineup:
Cox: Jordan Hart ’13
8: Chad Condon ’13
7: Ryan Kasley ’13
6: Marco Benedetti ’12
5: Keegan Jahnke ’13
4: Ben Steele ’14
3: Robert Deweerd ’13
2: Justin Wegner ’13
1: James Wilkie ’12
Women’s Collegiate 8+
3rd Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Williams College Boat Club
(Field of 29)
Lineup:
Cox: Christopher Simon ’14
8: Carey Mankins ’13
7: Lindsay Marshall ’12
6: Nichole Hagoort ’12
5: Kylen Pattermann ’13
4: Maria Edelhauser ’14
3: Shelby Welbaum ’14
2: Lauren Adlof ’12
1: Jessica Vogl ’13
Men’s Alumni 8+
8th Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Northeastern University Rowing Alumni
(Field of 38)
Lineup:
Cox: Lisa Malloure ’08
8: Mike Stoll ’10
7: Cody Copas ’08
6: Dane Gallagher ’05
5: Dan Vainner ’08
4: Geoff Sadek ’09
3: Blake Donavan ’09
2: Dan Robertson ’09
1: Scott Feil ’10
Men’s Club 4+
15th Overall
(field of 50)
Guaranteed Re-Entry Next Year
Race Won By: Don Rowing Club
Lineup:
Cox: Dayna Campbell ’12
4: Tucker Anderson ’12
3: Jake Bouwman ’13
2: Austin Burris ’15
1: Zak Armstron ’12
Ross Anderson: 8th in Championship 1x
Dana Schmunk: 8th in Championship 4x
Men’s Collegiate 8+
5th Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Williams College Boat Club
(Field of 40)
Lineup:
Cox: Jordan Hart ’13
8: Chad Condon ’13
7: Ryan Kasley ’13
6: Marco Benedetti ’12
5: Keegan Jahnke ’13
4: Ben Steele ’14
3: Robert Deweerd ’13
2: Justin Wegner ’13
1: James Wilkie ’12
Women’s Collegiate 8+
3rd Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Williams College Boat Club
(Field of 29)
Lineup:
Cox: Christopher Simon ’14
8: Carey Mankins ’13
7: Lindsay Marshall ’12
6: Nichole Hagoort ’12
5: Kylen Pattermann ’13
4: Maria Edelhauser ’14
3: Shelby Welbaum ’14
2: Lauren Adlof ’12
1: Jessica Vogl ’13
Men’s Alumni 8+
8th Overall
Guaranteed Re-Entry
Race Won By: Northeastern University Rowing Alumni
(Field of 38)
Lineup:
Cox: Lisa Malloure ’08
8: Mike Stoll ’10
7: Cody Copas ’08
6: Dane Gallagher ’05
5: Dan Vainner ’08
4: Geoff Sadek ’09
3: Blake Donavan ’09
2: Dan Robertson ’09
1: Scott Feil ’10
Men’s Club 4+
15th Overall
(field of 50)
Guaranteed Re-Entry Next Year
Race Won By: Don Rowing Club
Lineup:
Cox: Dayna Campbell ’12
4: Tucker Anderson ’12
3: Jake Bouwman ’13
2: Austin Burris ’15
1: Zak Armstron ’12
Ross Anderson: 8th in Championship 1x
Dana Schmunk: 8th in Championship 4x
Head of the Charles – Boston
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011One of our varsity women’s parents found this release in the Head of the Charles Media Guide. Wanted to share it with you. Go Laker Navy!!
From the Head of the Charles official Media Guide it is posted online:
52 Collegiate Women’s Eights 3:32 PM Course
Record: 16:24.219 (Williams College, 2010)
Competitors: 29 Although Williams has been a fixture on the medals’ stand at NCAA Championships, capturing their sixth consecutive Division III title in May, they have only seen the HOCR Awards ceremony twice. Setting a new record last year, they will be back to establish a real name for themselves on the Charles. 2009 winners Grand Valley State University is back in the Collegiate event and will be a serious competitor. The second boat out of Williams (Bow 21) will have to keep an eye on GVSU, coming up from bow 23.
Good Press
The Grand Valley Rowing Alumni supports the Grand Valley Rowing Club as it continues to challenge current student-athletes to reach the highest level to which they aspire both academically and athletically, while continuing to build and sustain a nationally competitive intercollegiate rowing program.
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