THE HISTORY
Dublin Crew was founded in the late summer of 1991 by Joanne Cooper-Novak. After visiting with members of the Greater
Columbus Rowing Association (GCRA), Joanne was able to recruit Robin Kingma and Kelly Mackey, to volunteer their services for
21/2 years to get the Dublin Crew program started.
Robin Kingma began her career as a three-year varsity rower at Marietta Senior High School. At Duke University, Robin was a
four-year varsity rower. After graduation from Duke, Robin coached Dublin Crew for four years. Robin was a four-year Masters
rower with GCRA and served as president of this organization for two years. Her full-time job was with Nationwide Life Insurance
Company as a Pension Services Manager. Kelly Mackey rowed for the Ohio State University Varsity Women's team for three
years. After graduation from OSU, Kelly moved to California and rowed for the Mission Bay and Long Beach Rowing Clubs. In
1990, Kelly returned to Ohio and coached at OSU for a year before joining the Dublin Crew coaching staff.
During the summer of 1991, the first season of Dublin crew, six young innocents were not-so-gently persuaded to become
the original members of Dublin High School Team. The rowers were Sarah Cooper- Novak, Leah Glowacki, Jacque Newton,
Laura Seamans and Wendy Swart, and Lisa Leppert was the coxswain. After only five weeks of practice, these ladies entered
their flrst race, the Speakmon Regatta. At this race, all of Dublin's competitors were college teams. Despite the booing and
harassing of their competition, this upstart young high school team captured a highly respectable second place.
At the end of the flrst crew season, Laura Seamans quit the team. The remaining flve members became the "Founding Five."
These flve determined young ladies set an outstanding example for the future members of the Dublin Crew. They worked
together for six seasons before graduating in 1994. They rowed their last race for Dublin High School at the Toledo International
Regatta. At Toledo, they won the prestigious Ladies Cup for Dublin. All five of these women rowed for college teams: Sarah
Cooper-Novak, Ohio State University; Jacque Newton, Purdue University; Leah Glowacki, University of Dayton; and Wendy Swart
and Lisa Leppert, Miami University.
After one year, Dublin Crew grew from the "Founding Five" to the fabulous number of 50. With the increase in crew members,
the coaching staff also grew. In addition to the varsity coaches, Robin Kingma and Kelly Mackey, the team had two novice
coaches, Laura Beck and Paul Moore, and two assistant coaches, Tim Freund and Toby Thogmartin. The Dublin business
community has contributed generously through their donations and participation as sponsors of Dublin Crew. As a result of this
support, during the second season, the team purchased two used four-man boats, one used eight-man boat, 24 oars, and the
crown jewel of the fleet: their first unsullied, shining shell, the "J.R. Mason." In addition to the boats and oars, the fantastic
Dublin trailer was lovingly constructed by J.R. (Jim) Mason, John Leppert, Steve Kuhnash and David Novak.
As to the name Dublin Crew, it is the original name that focused on the suburban area. It has never been associated with the
Dublin City Schools. In fact, from day one, Dublin Crew has attracted rowers from many cities including Columbus, Grove City,
Hilliard, Marysville, Plain City, Powell, Westerville and Worthington. In 2005, Dublin Crew evaluated a name change to either
Scioto rowing Club, The Greater Columbus Youth Rowing Club or The Big Green Machine. It was concluded to keep Dublin Crew.
Dublin Crew is proud to have been the first high school team in the Columbus area. In the first 21 years of existence, Dublin
Crew . . .

led the charge for other high schools in Central Ohio to organize their own crew teams including merging with one of the
teams, Wellington, in the early 2000’s;

has had 34 coaches teach more than 400 high school athletes the sport of rowing on the Scioto River at Griggs Reservoir;

has seen these same athletes row or cox at the Dayton, George Washington , Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, University of Miami (FL),
The Ohio State University, Old Dominion, Purdue, and Rutgers, to name a few;

relocated from the west side of Griggs Reservoir to the East Side;

built a wonderful boat compound that will house more than 20 boats;

saw its food trailer stolen in 2012 and the generosity of parents and the Columbus community respond;

hired the first full-time coach of the Club, Farrah Edwards; and,

took over and has hosted one of Ohio’s largest high school regattas for 11 straight years, The Ohio Governor’s Cup.
In the 22nd season of Dublin Crew, 71 high school athletes and five coaches led by our full-time head coach, Farrah Edwards in a
fleet of 16 eights and fours, continue the tradition of rowing excellence on the Scioto River at Griggs Reservoir.
COACHES
Head Coaches
Others Coaches
1991-92
Robin Kingma
Kelly Mackey
1992-93
Robin Kingma
Kelly Mackey
Laura Beck
Paul Moore
Tim Freund
Toby Thogmartin
1993-94
Robin Kingma
Kelly Mackey
Laura Beck
Paul Moore
Tim Freund
Toby Thogmartin
1994-95
Robin Kingma
Kelly Mackey
Laura Beck
Paul Moore
Tim Freund
Toby Thogmartin
1995-96
Kelly Allison
1996-97
Kelly Allison
1997-98
Kelly Allison
1998-99
Kelly Allison
1999-00
Kelly Allison
2000-01
Greg Harvie
2001-02
Greg Harvie
Russ Merritt
2002-03
Greg Harvie
Jim Adian
Russ Merritt
Gina Crooks
Romy Rotolo
2003-04
Greg Harvie
Gina Crooks
Katie Rychener
Don Meves
Natalie Smith
2004-05
Greg Harvie
Gina Crooks
Stacey (Kadela) McNamara
Joe Lambert
Don Meves
2005-06
Greg Harvie
Tama Carleton
Don Meves
Gina Crooks
2006-07
Greg Harvie
Tama Carleton
Don Meves
Gina Crooks
Addie Patterson
2007-08
Greg Harvie
Gina Crooks
Don Meves
2008-09
Gina Crooks
Katie Baylor
Randy Fielder
Jared Crooks
Don Meves
2009-10
Gina Crooks
Jared Crooks
Don Meves
2010-11
Gina Crooks
Jared Crooks
Don Meves
Kaileigh Sansom
Ellen Heister
Jill Mohr
2011-12
Gina Crooks
Jared Crooks
Farrah Edwards
Joe Lambert
Jill Mohr
Katie Dodson
Ellen Heister
Don Meves
2012-13
Farrah Edwards
Ashley Dzurnak
Joe Lambert
Lucas Serdar
Ellen Heister
Pat Scharar
Kate Sweeney
2013-14
Farrah Edwards
Allison Elber
Jennifer Morris
Paul Henning
Pat Scharar
Greg Harvie