Grand Valley Crew’s Bi-Annual Update – Volume VII, Issue 1 (March 2012)
The Crewthorn
Rowing—A GVSU Sporting Tradition Since 1964
www.grandvalleyrowing.com
Lasting Legacy For GV Seniors
Grand Valley Rowing’s Class of 2012 (l to r) Sam Fearnow, Marco Benedetti, Tucker
Anderson, Martin Reed, Jimmy Wilkie, Dayna Campbell, Hanna Jones, Lauren Adlof,
Lindsay Marshall, Nichole Hagoort. (Photo by Tyler Sellmer.)
April is GV Crew Alumni Month
GVSU Rowing and the GV Crew Alumni Association announce “Alumni Month:”
April 14—The 17th-Annual Don Lubbers Cup Regatta (Spring Lake, MI)
April 28—The 48th MACRA Championship Regatta (Grand Rapids, MI)
April 28—The 21st GVSU Rowing Spring Banquet (Allendale) (RSVP at team
website)
April 1-30—Grand Valley Rowing Alumni “Give-Back-To-Our-Team”
Month!
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These April home regattas and the spring banquet
are great opportunities to support the
GVSU’s Senior Rowers Look Back
Hanna Jones, ‘12
Major: Clinical Exercise Science
GPA: 3.2 Seat: Bow/3.
Why I Row: I row because the team
has become my second family. We
work together to achieve the same
goals, we push each other to be
better, we pick each other up after a
bad day, and I know I can depend on
them for anything. My freshman year
I did not think I would make it
through my novice year, but I
completely fell in love with the
sport.
Favorite memory: Winning a Dad Vail
medal my freshman year in the 2V8.
Funniest rowing experience: One of
the first times I was in a boat I
caught a crab, flew out of the shoes
and almost managed a somersault
out of the boat into the water.
Funniest thing that Coach B ever
said: Calling me a Leprechaun on
stilts when talking about how I row.
What GV Rowing has taught me:
Rowing has taught me to work hard,
manage my time and work harder
than I ever thought possible.
Would I do it again? Yes.
Funniest thing Coach B ever said: To
the team: “If you can’t handle
rowing, the bowling team and the
javelin catching team are always
looking for new members.”
What GV Rowing has taught me:
Rowing has taught me how to suffer
in silence (almost) through extreme
discomfort; to appreciate short car
trips; to always pack snacks; to
bring extra socks everywhere, no
exceptions; and that the best
sunrises happen when we are on the
water, and the rest of campus is
sleeping.
Would I do it again?: Only if Tyler
Sellmer's mom makes all the regatta
food.
Any other notable thing, GVSU
Rowing-related: Where’s the oarlock key?
Marty Reed, ‘13
Major: History. Minor: Political
Science
GPA: I plead the Fifth. Seat: 2,4,6,8.
Why I row: My family has been
involved with rowing forever. I have
rowed eight years.
Favorite memory: Winning gold at
Dad Vail my sophomore year and
racing in the Henley Royal Regatta.
Funniest rowing experience: Hearing
Jimmy shout “Shake and bake!”
during a BFE piece.
Funniest Coach moment: Mark
McIlduff running into an underwater
log watching us row. It nearly took
him out of the boat.
What GV Rowing has taught me: All
the hard work you put in to the
sport—it will pay off.
Would I row again: Truthfully, yes. I
enjoyed my time with GVSU Crew.
Lauren Adlof, ‘12
Major: Exercise Science GPA: 3.5
Seat: 2.
Why I row: The “Javelin Catching
Team” was already full.
Favorite memory: Rowing in the
Royal Henley Regatta in England.
From the team causing a scene in
the airports with our loud swishpants, to saving an old Englishman
who fell in the river, to climbing a
mountain in Wales on our day off...it
was an incredible opportunity not
only to row internationally, but also
to experience London and Wales
with the most amazing people ever.
Funniest rowing experience: Lauren
Holben.
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Tucker Anderson, ‘13
GVSU: Having Mark McIlduff as a
Major: Accounting and Economics
coach!
GPA: I plead the Fifth. Seat: Port/
Funniest thing Coach McIlduff ever
Starboard
said: “That lady was not having my
Why I row: For the sport of it.
banter.”
Favorite memory: My favorite rowing
What Rowing for GVSU taught me:
memory would have to be the two
That even when you want to quit,
month stretch from MACRA until we
there is still a little more left inside
got back from England in the
of you that pushes you to the finish.
summer of 2010. The 1300m sprint
Never back down!
at MACRA, Dad Vail Gold in the 4+,
Would I do it again? I often ask
Silver at ACRA, qualifying for the
myself, if I could do it over again,
Prince Albert Challenge Cup at the
would I row, and it always comes
Henley Royal Regatta, and beating
down to the simple answer of yes.
Yale in an 800m sprint were all great
Even through all the sweat and tears,
memories and will surely be
I would do it all over again because
exaggerated as I get older, but when
the lessons I have learned from
I think of Grand Valley Rowing the
GVSU Rowing have been some of my
memories off the race course are
most valuable life lessons.
just as vivid as the ones on.
Funniest thing Coach B
Jimmy Wilkie, ‘12
ever
said:
“Tucker,
Major:
Health
you’re simply trying too
Would I do it Communications
hard…”
again? Is the Pope GPA: I plead the fifth.
What Rowing for GVSU
Seat: Bow Seat of V8.
Catholic?
Without
taught me: I was not the
Why I row: I row because
most outgoing person
the
intense
a
doubt, of
when
I
arrived
my
competition
and
the
hesitation,
or
freshmen
year,
but
great team atmosphere.
blink, YES.
throughout
the
four
Plus, if I didn’t row, I
years on this team I was
would just be fat and
able to become more
lazy like most other
expressive. The team also gave me
college kids.
good experience in my field of study
Favorite rowing memory: Rowing in
through my work as the team
England at the Royal Henley Regatta
treasurer.
in the Men’s V8.
Would I do it again? Yes. No doubt.
Funniest experience rowing for
GVSU: When Hallie hit the single
Lindsay Marshall, ‘13
from Texas.
Major: Clinical Exercise Science
Funniest thing Coach McIlduff ever
GPA: 3.0 Seat: Seven and Bow Seat
said: “We should have easilied
Why I row: Because of my teammates
Durham.”
and the bond I have made with each
What Rowing for GVSU taught me: I
person.
need to have my ass handed to me
Favorite memory of rowing for
in
GVSU: My favorite memory of rowing
order to better myself.
has been the trip to England we took
Would I do it again? Without a doubt
in the summer of 2010.
in my mind. The skills and work
Funniest experience rowing for
ethic I have obtained through GVSU
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Rowing are paramount to anything
else I could have gained from not
being on the team.
Any other notable thing, GVSU
Rowing-related: Home is where you
make it.
Would I do it again? Is the Pope
Catholic?
Without
a
doubt,
hesitation, or blink, YES.
Marco Benedetti, ‘11
Major: Statistics (B.S.), Biostatistics
(M.S.).
GPA: 3.6 (Undergraduate), 4.0
(Graduate).
Seat: Six and Seven this fall.
Why I row: Racing is an addiction.
Matt Schnobrich said it better than I
ever could:
“Rowing is blind to your athletic
origins and climbing the ladder
requires persistence and hard work.
Leave your ego on the dock.
Knowing what it feels like to put
your bow ball out front will always
keep you coming back.”
Favorite rowing memory: Head of
the Charles this year. The crew
worked great together and we
executed our race plan exactly how
we wanted to. Walking Drexel in
front of so many people was pretty
fun too.
Funniest experience rowing for
GVSU: If we’re being honest…the
Droid incident.
Funniest thing Coach B ever said:
“Cacophony.”
What Rowing for GVSU taught me:
Nothing can get you through an erg
test like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Would I do it again? Yep.
Dayna Campbell, ‘12
Major: Film and Video Production
GPA: 3.4 Seat: Coxswain.
Why I row: I was going to play soccer
for GVSU, but it didn’t end up
working out. The same day I decided
not to play soccer, I met Ola
Nwabara, the novice women’s coach
at the time, and the rest is history.
Favorite rowing memory: Winning a
gold medal in the Men’s Varsity 4+
at the 2010 Dad Vail Regatta in
Philadelphia.
Funniest rowing experience: I am
not sure I can pin-point one single
funny memory because every day I
find myself busting my gut in
laughter
from
something
that
happened with the team!
Funniest thing Coach B ever said:
When we were in England Coach B
asked if the row went well and I said
yes, but he must have heard
something else (not sure what) and
he told me he was going to replace
me
with
a
lighter,
better,
international
coxswain
for
“questioning his coaching methods.”
What Rowing for GVSU taught me:
Rowing
has
taught
me
that
everything happens for a reason.
Had I stuck with playing soccer, I
wouldn’t have had the opportunities
rowing has given me. The sport has
taken me all over the United States,
Canada, and Europe. I have won
more medals in four years of rowing
than I had in 15 years of soccer.
More importantly, without rowing, I
would never have met some of the
most important people in my life.
Sam Fearnow, ‘13
Major: Criminal Justice
GPA: 3.5 Seat: 4
Why I row: Keeps me in shape and
affords me interesting opportunities.
Favorite rowing memory: Rowing to
the quarry during a blizzard.
Funniest experience rowing for
GVSU: Coach B’s launch hitting
Coach Geoff’s launch, and Geoff
falling in the water.
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Funniest thing Coach Bancheri ever
said: Too many to choose from.
What Rowing for GVSU taught me:
My body is capable of accomplishing
a lot more than I would have
guessed.
Would I do it again? Sure.
Nichole Hagoort, ‘12
Major:
Psychology
&
Criminal Justice
GPA: 3.2 Seat: 6
Why I row: Rowing has
given
me
the
opportunity
to
push
myself daily as well as
force myself to pick up
skills that will be crucial
to life beyond college,
like time-management
skills, prioritizing, and
dedication. But beyond
those things, rowing has
become
a
lifestyle
change, where one is
always
looking
to
improve oneself. If I can
carry
that
attitude
beyond rowing and into
my life after, I know I will
be
successful
in
whatever I choose to do.
Favorite
memory
of
rowing for GVSU: I can't
narrow
all
of
my
memories down to one
specific moment that I
can call “favorite.” I think
for me it is all the little
moments of success.
The day you pulled a PR
on your 6K, the day the
whole team had a water
balloon fight, the day we
rowed a BFE in a
hurricane, or even the
small funny jokes with
teammates. It’s the little
moments I remember the most and
will carry with me throughout my
life.
Funniest rowing experience: I can’t
say it was too humorous at the time,
but this past winter training, Coach
decided we should do pieces in the
middle of a yacht super-highway on
New
Year’s
Eve.
Although at the time, I
The biggest
was a little worried for
our safety, in retrospect
lesson I’ve taken
I’d bet the onlookers got
quite a show.
from Grand Valley What Rowing for GVSU
taught me: I’d have to
Rowing is that if
say
my
path
to
GVRowing is a little bit
you want more,
different than most other
seniors. As a junior in
you can have
college, I decided to
transfer to Grand Valley
more—you can
based solely on its
women’s
rowing
have as much as
program. I had been
rowing at a different
you’re willing to
school
that
wasn’t
competitive on even a
fight for every
state level, let alone
national
level
and
day. And that is
decided I wanted more.
So knowing I would only
what it took for
get to compete with GV
rowers for two years, I
me to be
decided to make the
switch.
successful in this
Would I do it again? Yes,
in a heartbeat. I have
sport: a daily
been an athlete since I
was ten, and a collegiate
commitment to
athlete for two years
before trans-ferring to
strive for more
GVSU, yet I have learned
more about myself (and
than what I
what I am capable of) in
this sport than in any
already have.
other aspect of my life.
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17th Annual Lubbers Cup
April 14!
GVSU will host two regattas this spring, the 2012 Don Lubbers Cup Regatta,
April 14 on Spring Lake, and the 48th MACRA, at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids
on April 28. The Lubbers Cup provides early season sprint racing against top
competition, all on a six-lane, partially buoyed course.
Make plans now to be there April 14 at Spring Lake, or at the MACRA April 28 in
Grand Rapids, and as always, at the biggest race of the year, the Dad Vail in
Philadelphia. Join us at the Grand Valley Alumni Tent to reconnect with old
friends and cheer the team to victory. Check out the team’s website at
www.grandvalleyrowing.com for the most up-to-date information on GV
Rowing.
MACRA/Spring Banquet April 28
Following the 48th-Annual MACRA Regatta at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids on
Saturday, April 28, GVSU Rowing will host its 21st-Annual Team Banquet at the
Main Street Pub in Allendale.
Find
more
details,
and
www.grandvalleyrowing.com.
RSVP,
at
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the
GVSU
Rowing
website:
2012 Coach Paul Springer Scholarships
In 2010, former Grand Valley rower James Muir (1978-‘79) established a rowing
scholarship to honor his crew coach, Paul Springer (1970-‘82). Muir intended to
help provide the same benefits of the rowing experience he enjoyed to current
and future Grand Valley student-athletes. He has now extended the challenge to
other alumni and friends of GVSU Rowing to promote and support this
scholarship in order that it may become a lasting legacy. (Please give at
www.gvsu.edu/give.)
In fact, because the Springer Scholarship Fund is not yet fully endowed, Shane
Szalai, ’96, Ryan Quick, ’97, Kevin Van Houten, ’92, and Mike Stoll, ’10, gave the
money for this year’s Springer Scholarships. The 2012 winners of the Coach Paul
Springer Rowing Scholarships are third-year juniors Justin Wegner and Carey
Mankins, both two-year members of GV’s top Varsity 8s.
We thank the Grand Valley Rowing Alumni who served on the Springer
Scholarship Selection Committee: Mike Stoll, ’10, Kevin Van Houten, ’92, Ryan
Quick, ’97, Shane Szalai, ’96, Mark McIlduff, ’10, Alexandra VanderArk, ’11,
Breanna Bouwman, ’03, Pamela Besteman, ’96, Linzi Proctor, ’06, Lisa Malloure,
’08, Michelle Nielsen Fryc, ’96, Kelli (O’Brien) Robertson, ’09, Sarah Zelenka, ’09,
and Jenny (Smith) Palk, 02, who—with their continued support and the support
of other GV Rowing Alumni—look forward to awarding even more scholarships
next year.
What It Takes To Be A Successful Rower
By GVSU Rowing President Marco Benedetti, ‘11
This is my attempt at summing up four years of rowing into one page. Certainly
not an easy task, so I figured I would start at the beginning. During my
freshman year at Grand Valley, a former coach gave me a piece of advice that
stuck with me through my career here: “The best rowers have a very high
tolerance for boredom.” And what a fitting saying it was for me, just getting
started on a training program that centers on the adage, Mileage Makes
Champions! Indeed, it has been proven true year after year, whether it’s during
a 20k erg or a Darth Vader Row in Florida, some of the most productive sessions
are really boring. If an athlete doesn’t put in the time to build his or her aerobic
base, there’s a very low ceiling that will get hit in November.
However, there are other things that define great rowers other than the ability to
“tolerate” mileage. If I could respectfully re-write Coach Kington’s quote, I think
it would go something like this: “The best rowers have a high tolerance for
boredom, an even higher tolerance for physical discomfort, and aren’t afraid to
face failure.” The second part of this quote will really hit home for my
teammates, who just had (if I may) a very successful 2k test, something that
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goes hand in hand with physical discomfort. Truly, if you can’t handle a little a
lot of pain, you will not make it far in this sport.
On the other hand, it’s not the prospect of pain that has me nervous at the
starting line. The fear of failure weighs much more heavily on an athlete’s mind
than physical discomfort ever could. There is a lot of risk to be had when one
commits to a sport in which a successful year boils down to six minutes at the
very end. Those who fear failure will never risk it, and therefore will never be as
successful as those who do. The best athletes are not only physically prepared
to race, but also able to face and overcome this mental barrier. Only then will
they be able to invest everything and take that risk, whether it is an extra move
with 600 to go or an extra 30k per week in the fall.
Those athletes will have complete trust in the work that
both they and their teammates have invested. That is
Take control
what gives them the confidence to succeed. This is what
of the things
gives US the confidence to succeed.
you can
control, and
don’t sweat
the things you
can’t, for if
you master
the former,
the latter
won’t be an
issue…. If you
can apply that
to the rest of
your life, you
can live it
without
regrets.
Athletes like this are fueled by a stubborn, unwavering
desire to win, starting in June and ending at the finish
line in Georgia. If you get nine of these athletes in a
boat, they’re probably going to go pretty fast. If I can
leave you all with anything that I’ve learned in my four
years at Grand Valley, it would be to embody these
traits as much as possible. Take a risk and invest
yourself as much as you can in this sport, trusting that
the work you and your teammates have put in will pay
off. Take control of the things you can control, and
don’t sweat the things you can’t, for if you master the
former, the latter won’t be an issue. At the end of the
day, the crew that is most successful is the one that can
win on a day where everything goes wrong. If you can
apply that to the rest of your life, you can live it without
regrets.
Finally, I want to thank my teammates for making this
year such a memorable one. The trust you all placed in me as the president
means more than any medal ever could, and your support and cooperation
throughout the year has been immensely helpful. I have seldom felt part of
something so much greater than the sum of its parts. It is truly humbling to be
involved with such a great team comprised of such great individuals. I look
forward to competing alongside all of you this spring and seeing you all become
successful in your future endeavors, rowing or otherwise. To everyone else who
made my rowing career what it was (my family, coaches, past teammates, and
all who came through this program before me): thank you for giving me the
opportunity to extend your legacy.
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Give Back To Further Extend The Legacy
As mentioned on page one, April 2012 is Alumni “Give-Back-To-Our-Team”
Month. Please take a moment to reflect on all Grand Valley Rowing has given
you, and give back just a portion of that to continue and extend the legacy. It
just takes a moment to give online at www.gvsu.edu/give. You can also give by
calling (616) 331-6000 between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or
mail your gift to: University Development, GVSU, 301 Michigan St. NE Ste 100,
PO Box 2005, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2005. Please be sure to note “Crew
Fund” or “Paul Springer Scholarship” when you give.
2011 Head of the Charles Results:
Collegiate Eights, Men (40
entrants)
1. Williams College 15:09.57
2. University of Virginia 15:20.12
3. Georgia Tech 15:30.02
4. Orange Coast College 15:30.75
5. Grand Valley State University
15:31.06
Collegiate Eights, Women (29
entrants)
1. Williams College 16:57.50
2. Bates College 17:18.51
3. Grand Valley State University
17:22.29
4. Wellesley College 17:32.60
5. William Smith College 17:34.92
Alumni Eights, Men (38 entrants)
1. Northeastern University Alumni 15:27.93
8. Grand Valley State University Alumni 16:17.66 (Qualified for automatic
2012 entry)
13. Michigan Rowing Association Alumni 16:34.37
2012 CRASH-B Results:
Open Women
11. Carey Mankins 7:01.9 (3rd U-23)
33. Kaitlyn VanBoven 7:17.9
Open Men
17. Nate Biolchini 6:06.3
53. Ryan Kasley 6:14.0
95. Geoff Sadek 6:24.1
135. Jacob Bouwman 6:34.5
Lightweights
24. Jessica Vogl 7:40.2
52. Dominic Kootsillas-Conybeare
6:49.8
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A special thanks to Mark McIlduff, M.S.'10, for providing the rowers and coaches
with wonderful accommodations and great food while in Boston!
2012 SPRING RACING PREVIEW:
GVSU Rowing Head Coach John Bancheri talked during spring training about his
hopes for the spring racing season: “I’m really, really impressed. This is the
most-fit crew that I’ve coached at Grand Valley, across the board. There’s some
great talent, so the competition is keen to make the first boat, and as a result
our second and third boats are going to be very competitive.”
Coach Bancheri couldn’t find a weak spot with his team: “Just overall, things are
going great. Academically, our kids are doing fantastic. Our women are 3.49
average. Our men are 3.2. Our erg scores are even more impressive. They’re
producing all around: academically, athletically, socially, they’re having a good
time with it. It’s very exciting. We’re off to a bang, and in a few weeks we’re off
to San Diego for the Crew Classic to knock heads with the best Division I Varsity
programs in the country and see what we can do.”
To sum up, Bancheri reverted to full-on Jersey mode: “All I gotta say is look out
for da Laker Navy. We got all guns blazin’, and we expect to blast a few people
outta da water.”
GVSU Rowing’s Spring 2012 Schedule
March 29-April 2—San Diego Crew Classic (Select Crews only) (San Diego, CA)
March 31—The Non-San Diego Regatta (Belleville, MI)
April 14—The 17th-Annual Don Lubbers Cup Regatta (Spring Lake, MI)
April 20-22—SIRA Championship Regatta (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)
April 23-28—Final Exams
April 28—Graduation
April 28—The 48th MACRA Championship Regatta (Grand Rapids, MI)
April 28—The 21st GVSU Rowing Spring Banquet (Allendale) (RSVP at team
website)
May 6-10—Road to the Dad Vail Training Camp (Atlantic County, NJ)
May 10-13—The 74th Dad Vail Championship Regatta (Philadelphia, PA)
May 24-27—The 5th ACRA Collegiate Club National Championship Regatta
(Gainseville, GA)
Update your Contact
Alumni Office!
Information
with
GVSU’s
You can get in touch with other GVSU alums at www.gvsu.edu/alumni. Also, be
sure to update your own contact information by sending an E-mail to
alumni@gvsu.edu or calling (800) 558-0541.
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When you or anyone you know closes a home loan
with Awareness Home Funding, they will donate
$250 to GVSU Rowing. The Awareness Works 4 U
program supports this cause you care about.
Go Lakers!!
www.Awareness Works 4 U.com
866-98-AWARE
The Crewthorn GVSU Alumni Relations and
Grand Valley Rowing Team
One Campus Drive
110 Kirkhof Center
Allendale, MI 49401
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U.S. Postage