Coach Matt Madigan’s final update from London

Our Sarah Trowbridge makes the most of closing ceremonies. (Thanks to Scott Gault for giving her a lift!)

This is my final entry. Debated about sending it, but figured I better close it out.

Thanks for the support and great work on the ‘Star. Great stuff.
-Matt

We’re glad you sent it, Matt. We couldn’t have ask for anything more than you and the girls gave us during these Olympics Games. We’re so proud of you all.
-TPS

There is a picture that one of the Potomac Boat Club members posted on the bulletin board in 2009. It is a picture of Margot rowing the single in Poland in 2009 with a handwritten caption, “Margot on here way to the Olympics 2012 The Form—Check It Out.” Often I would stop, check the technique (can’t help it), but more importantly the photo has served as a reminder of the Dream.

The Form - Check It Out

This spring we had an opportunity to seize the Dream and live the Dream with everything that goes along with an Olympic effort. It took a lot. The commitment of our families, specifically my wife, our supporters and our Potomac Village helped to make our efforts possible. However, Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge are the ones that demonstrated the hearts and minds of Olympians throughout the challenges and the joys of the journey it took to get to London and while we were there. Their efforts and determination will always have my respect. We knew in Chula Vista on April 12, that improvements needed to be made to what we were doing. Each race, each piece, each of the hard workouts during our three-a-day regimen, they took on the challenge and responsibility and did improve to the point of putting themselves in the hunt for a medal.

We do a race-talk the night before the race to go over details, logistics and race plans for the next day. Racing from Lane 1 and being the 6th qualifier to the field of 6 we knew we had challenges to be in contention for a medal. The lanes were also reseeded the morning of the race giving the more sheltered lanes 6 and 5 to the heat winners Britain and Australia. There also was the fact that Britain’s Kath Grainger, who had three Olympic Silvers and her partner hadn’t lost for three years and that the Australians were right on their heals. However, of the other four boats, US, China, Poland and New Zealand, we were not far off on splits from the heats and rep. and knew there was a shot at a medal. We focused on how to emphasize the first 1000 meters of the race and be in contact with the other boats. I asked Margot and Sarah for 2-3.5 seconds to be made up on the field and then raising the rate and essentially starting our sprint with 900 meters to go. We were going to go out and race for a medal without worrying about trying to beat Kath Grainger or the Aussies.

As expected the British went out fast and the Australians went with them. Margot and Trow had a great start and made up those 2-3 seconds on the Chinese and the New Zealand crew, staying in contact with both. However the veteran Polish crew, which we had raced bow to stern in the heats, had also found an additional gear and pushed to open water on the three trailing crews. Just as planned in the middle of the piece, our athletes began their push and were moving back on the Poles getting in front of the Kiwis and right with the Chinese. Both us and Poland paid that price. The Poles had gained enough of a lead to secure the medal and while we did negative split the 3rd and 4th 500’s we needed even more in the 2nd 500 to get through the other boats as the final four boats came across in contact with one another, 2.62 secs separating the boats racing for bronze.

Racing a final anywhere, you go out to have the your best race and take your shot at a medal. At the Olympics you also are representing your country, your team, your club, university, friends, family, etc., as it is a much higher profile event. For the British team, not only was their printed press, tv and swarms of reporters around the athletes, but the course announcers as well, inadvertently or not, would share information with the crowd and in the case of our race, did nothing but hype the British double. They went as far as saying, how disappointing it would be if Kath Grainger did not win, after her previous three Olympic silver medals. Kath Grainger and Anna Watkins handled the pressure and did win. Our athletes represented everyone and most importantly themselves at the highest level, handled the pressure and put themselves in contention.

In being 2.6+ seconds away from a medal, it feels like we were very close. However, there was some tremendous racing where medals were determined by tenths of seconds. The US Men’s 8 had a tough fourth place finish in a tight six boat field that had all boats close, but taking fourth by .3. Our Women’s Pair made the final directly and then raced to within .2 of a medal again in fourth. Tremendous efforts by both teams, but bittersweet in the end leaving the athletes dazed long after leaving the course. In a race that comes down to tenths of seconds over a 2k course, there is no greater gap in placement for all involved than the gap from 3rd to 4th as a medal can be a life changing event. Time heals all wounds, but the finality of the Olympics and retirement for many, another four years for others, is a reminder of how much efforts is put forth by the athletes, teams and sports that are taking place here.

After our race, Margot’s family invited me to lunch and it was great to spend time with her family, and especially her Mom, Julia. I mentioned it in an earlier post, but she came over to London in the middle of chemo during her ongoing battle with cancer. Seeing her strength and having her at the races clearly shows were Margot gets here edge. Also, great to see coach Reilly Dampeer and Stefanie Kozuszek the day before the finals, as they helped to keep things balanced before races and over lunch.

As coaches our credentials get transferred to coaches/officials who come in for the second week of competition with other sports, so we are not able to stay and see other events. The athletes move into the main village while the majority of coaches head back home. I was able to visit the main village, eat at the dining hall and see some of the Olympic Village and Olympic Park. The USA House is the USOC sponsored center that hosts, Olympians, friends, and importantly USOC sponsors. Great to see so many familiar faces from the rowing community, National Rowing Foundation and the USRowing Board, but also from the Olympic community. Mary Lou Retton, Leroy Burrell, and Greg Louganis were all there the first night we were there and many of the rowers hung with the all of the swimmers on my last night in town.

Literally ran from USA house to catch the last train at midnight back to the Rowing Village for a 4:30 a.m. airport pick-up. I’ve been home all week catching up with wife kids, working with the transition from GeoIQ to ESRI, nursing a bad back and watching/sharing as much Olympic coverage as I could fit in with the kids.

It is always sad to see the torch extinguished. However, Jacque Rogge, IOC Chair invited the youth of the world to gather again in four years time in Rio. You never know what can happen, but that would certainly be a dream for any of the three of us. Margot and Trow are looking at starting coaching careers, and you can bet they will pour everything they have into their efforts.

Thank you for all of the support.

Coach Matt Madigan from London: On to the A Final … in incredible fashion

Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge are interviewed after a come from behind finish to get to the Final in the W2x in London.

What an incredible day of racing with come from behind victories and advancements more the norm than the exception. With racing in the Light Men’s Four, less than three seconds of margin between 1st and 4th in both races and with only three to go forward, and the Men’s Double with 3.07 seconds separating the six boats that made the A Final, it was an exciting day of racing to watch.

However, it does not get more exciting than when your crew is in a tight race to go to the A Final and gets it done! Margot and Sarah raced tremendously today. After missing advancing to the A Final in yesterday’s heats by one spot, they both expressed confidence and determination in what they were going to do during the team meeting we had last night. There was not even a question whether or not they would get it done; they both said it, planned for it and believed it. Today they lived it … but they sure made it interesting.

The starting system this morning had some issues. After the horn signaled GO, there was a long dull beep that is the false start system. USA had a good start was even with 4 boats, when the Czech Republic stopped. All boats can stop in first 100 meters if something like this happens and everyone had to go back while the officials sorted it out. They even did a test run that did not work, so after 10 minutes and an increasing crosswind, they started the race without the “boot” that holds the boat in place. Margot and Trow handled all of this beautifully, even helping to make sure the non-English speaking crews on the line knew what was happening, before coming out with an even better start. By 500 all boats had settled into their rhythm. With us in 3rd place behind China and Czech, the only surprise was that the Germans, who were in the World Champion Quad last year, were back.

The margins more or less stayed the same with China a few feet of open water ahead and us down to the Czechs by just under a second. For the middle 1000 meters no one seemed to move. As they approached 750 to go, and only 2 of the three boats to advance, Margot sensed that something needed to be done and did it. Yesterday in the heat, our double waited to long to go and the Polish crew got the jump. Today, Margot harnessed that experience, anticipated the Czech move, and proactively asserted pressure on the two leaders throughout the second 1000. The US boat and Czech boat went after each other without the margins changing much, as the rates and intensity came up. Then it happened. Trow and Margot decided it was time and threw down an incredible boat-speed-increasing move that walked right through Czech and halfway down China’s boat by the finish line. The grandstands really appreciated the effort as the noise level increased all the way through the finish line

Since the end of April, we have been doing back-to-back pieces, specifically to prepare for the races to qualify in Lucerne and in anticipation that we would have back-to-back heat/rep days here. It is awesome to watch the confidence of these athletes after a tight race yesterday, knowing they had to come back today and do it again, with confidence in their capabilities. Now that we have arrived at the A Final, there is additional work to be done in order to be ready. Since April they have raced with nothing to lose, and they should continue that on Friday at 12:10 p.m.

With the new format of racing, the A Finals for the medals are spread out across four days. Tomorrow there are three finals with the US in the hunt in the Women’s Pair, Women’s Quad and the Men’s 8+, with finals racing starting at 11:50 a.m. here in Britain. Should be a great day of racing!

Final note, the support and notes on Facebook, other social media and via email are tremendous and we all appreciate it. In particular having both Margot’s and Trow’s family here has been awesome. Each day after racing it has been a priority to go check-in with them after racing before the cool down in the family area near the boathouse.   There are not words to describe the strength and support that Margot’s Mom Julia gives the team. She has been fighting cancer for 2 years is in the middle of chemo now and after each long day to get here is beaming with pride, providing valuable balance as well as an outlet during the emotions of the Games. Great reminder that we are fighting for positions in a boat race, and her battle with a different foe is bigger.  Thank you, Julia … Kick Cancer’s Ass.

Coach Matt Madigan from London: Let the Games begin!

Sarah and Margot ... fabulous

In a couple of hours is the Opening Ceremony.  This is the day that we have all been targeting some for months since qualification, some for years and many for the majority of their lives.  The torch itself arrived in London a few days ago via a Marine rappelling from a helicopter at Tower Bridge.  It has since traveled the boroughs of London after its trip from Olympia, Greece and around the country.  We put up a map of the locations on GeoCommons at http://geocommons.com/maps/186376 that shows how much ground they have covered. 

Matt (left) running with Olympic dreams back in 1984

Many discussions are focused on who should light the torch.  Of course, we are biased that Steve Redgrave, who earned a gold medal in rowing in every Olympics from 1984 in LA until 2000 in Sydney, is a favorite and our rowing biased choice.  To give everyone an idea of that timeframe, my brother dug up photos from when my Olympic dream was born in 1984, running with the Olympic torch through Sierra County in Northern California. 

Tonight’s run culminates in the Opening Ceremony.  Very few rowers from any country are attending, with racing starting tomorrow and since our base is in a satellite village about 90 minutes away from the event.  They also are trying to keep the ceremony short this year due to public, volunteer and  security reliance on public transit, so only athletes have been invited to march.  We will take a team photo, and then join the rest of the countries at our Village for a viewing to share the experience. 

Matt carrying the torch in 2012

Our athletes have been doing well.  Racing doesn’t begin until Monday, and we continue to put on the finishing touches.  Yesterday the opened the warm-up lanes for the first time and ran some practice starts.  A bit of chaos ensued, but everyone got in some starts.  With few lanes open on the course, there is sort of a rush hour that occurs on the water with crews doing everything from drills, sprints, starts, turning crews, and stopping to listen to their coaches creating some congestion.  Margot and Trow have done a great job navigating through it with some fun.  A couple of days ago Mahe Drysdale, the current five time World Champion in the single from New Zealand, turned right with them during a steady state lap.  As speeds from the Men’s Single and Women’s Double are similar, battle paddle ensued with our boat keeping their bow ahead.   The girls enjoyed the experience and made sure that I noticed that they stayed ahead.

Bus rides have been entertaining.  The general pattern is that everyone goes to/from cafeteria directly to the bus to the venue.  No assigned seats or teams on the bus ride home so it makes for some great opportunities to meet fellow competitors and make or renew friendships.  One ride had the section of the bus that I was sitting in, made up of Greeks, Cubans, Argentines and Americans.  We know each other from races and the Village and the Argentines and Cubans get along well.  Athletes from Argentina were passing around a cup of Yerba Mate Tea with a special cup and straw/spoon with a thick bunch of tea leaves ground within the cup.  Yerba Mate is a social drink that opens conversations and we had an enjoyable and very social ride home passing around the tea.  Not advisable as far as the drug-testing is concerned, but for a coach it was ok to share in the cultural experience.  Separately, we are happy to report that drug-testing is going on random selections across the athletes including Trow. 

National Team paint job

As we have settled in and all of the countries have arrived here, growing pains are noticeable.  Only one milk dispenser for 600 people caused a stir at yesterday’s breakfast.  Bus rides on the way to the course have become assigned seating on the way there and folks have been taken off of buses for not signing up properly.  Arrows were put down on the coaching bike path as coaches from many countries converge and sometimes don’t remember in England that riding on the left is the rule.  Sidenote:  While filming and timing from the bike, sometimes, I drift out of my lane.  Yesterday, a coach swerved quickly around me onto the grass as the double did some pieces.   Not sure why, but somehow I must have made him nervous.   There definitely a mindset of very strictly following the rules without deviance.  All this goes along with an event of this magnitude and everything gets worked out. 

Our staff here has been extremely helpful in working through anything that we need.  For the most part we have not had to ask for anything and things have run smoothly, which is a great sign that USRowing and the USOC at many levels took care of everything before the event.  We are very thankful for the ease of everything so we can focus on the rowing.  Special shout out to our medical staff who keeps the athletes ready, working long hours to do so.  Marc Nowak and Dr. Hosea have really helped me personally, when my back has been behaving badly. 

Earlier this week, I had a great experience in meeting up with a group of teenagers and chaperones from Grace Church in Alexandria, where my wife and I go to church.  They had a trip planned to England as their “Journey to Adulthood,” class/experience was wrapping up after two years.  When they found out we were going to be in London at the same time we set-up a meeting.   I walked from the course to meet them in Windsor after practice.   We went out on a boat from Windsor, celebrated a service, and then went to a pub/restaurant where we were able to share experiences and tell some stories.  After we had our meal they dropped  me off at the Royal Holloway University where we walked around the grand Founder’s Building (Hogwart’s) on campus.  Then I was able to share something unique, by walking down to a security gate, where athletes/coaches enter, where the volunteers and security took pictures with the kids, about as close as you can get to the experience.  The really enjoyed the photos with the security (and their automatic weapons), seeing some of the athletes walk by and the campus.  It was very rewarding for me to share some of my experiences with these enthusiastic kids and thank you to Julie Simonton, Jonathan, Lee and Kelly as chaperones for making this happen. 

Where the food happens in the Village

The athletes had the morning off a couple of days ago, and I took advantage by heading to the Olympic Village in London.  The bus trip took went by all of the monuments and then to the Village.  What a place!  Everything is on a different scale.  I headed immediately to the Dining Hall with a Samoan kayaker who was on the bus.   HUGE.  Tables, athletes and food stations with all types of different cuisine, from British traditional, to Halal, to European, to McDonalds cover what looks like at least two football fields.   Fun to see some of the athletes that one recognizes such as Phelps, the beach volleyball team as well as teams from other countries all there together. 

The Village is a community of apartment buildings with plenty of green space.  Seemingly every room, balcony and window has a national flag hanging off of it and all of the athletes are going to and from training in their countries gear.  The Olympic Park is about a 15 minute walk.  There are busses for the athletes to the venues, but only with the right credential, as I found out when I tried to go to the Olympic Stadium without a track and field (Athletics) credential.  Very strict here.  The walk goes buy an enormous mall and then back through security.  The walking spaces are huge and the Orbit, Natatorium, Olympic Stadium also are enormous.  Everyone was busy putting the finishing touches on.  I took some pictures and then hopped on the Tube and a train back out for the afternoon practice.

So, everyone is really ready to get started.  Spares races were the final test over lunch today and it looks like the skycam, timing, etc. are all ready.  We still have three days until we race, so a couple of short rows to sharpen on Saturday and Sunday, but the work is done.  

They were showing some Olympic highlights on the big screens today with Chariots of Fire, or some other motivational music playing.   I’d by lying if I said I didn’t pedal just a little faster with some adrenaline and excitement for the coming week.  It is has been a long road to get to this point.  This is it.  Let the games begin.

Coach Matt Madigan: Now the fun begins

Coach Matt Madigan checks in on the way to London.  We look forward to more! -TPS

Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge go from PBC red and white ...

Now the fun begins.  Together, the three of us, Margot Shumway, Sarah Trowbridge and myself, have been through the ups and downs of training this year and since 2005 and 2006, when they started at Potomac Boat Club.   Countless hours spent on the Potomac and at the National Team Training Centers in Chula Vista, Princeton, and Mercer County (New Jersey), along with racing domestically and internationally, has led us to this very moment and this flight we are on to the 2012 Olympics Games in London.  I spent the second half of the weekend with my family and then left from Dulles, while Margot and Trow, packed up their temporary housing belongings in Princeton and headed out of Newark with the rest of the team.   Ed Ryan, our club president, mentioned he knows an airline story when he sees one, and I don’t want to disappoint after the last one regarding our return from Switzerland.

Since winning the women’s double event at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, Margot and Trow have aggressively gone after their workouts over the last eight weeks.  At the end of May and through early June, we were back at PBC and on the Potomac River to get our distance and aerobic training base back after a peak for the Qualification Race.  By training in DC, we were able to re-establish our base not only physically, but also mentally by reconnecting with family, jobs, teammates and our Potomac Boat Club community.   At the end of three weeks, we knew it was time to head back onto a course.  With the Occoquan course being taken out by a surprise dam release, the best place for us to go was Mercer and Carnegie to continue with other team members.   The US boats training in New Jersey included the Men’s and Women’s Eights, Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Women’s Quad, and the Light Men’s Four.  We were in good company.

After making arrangements with USRowing, Bryan Volpenhein really helped to facilitate our water time at both Mercer and Carnegie.  Not only is Volp a gold and bronze medalist in the M8+, he will have two crews, LM4- and M2-, racing in London.  He has been very helpful and his boats have been great training partners for our W2x.  With three individuals working together the intensity can turn up quickly.  By surrounding ourselves with other boats both on the water and crews on the land, a greater diversity of thought can be shared, which allows intensity to be focused on the workout.

To USA red, white and blue! (Margot and Sarah, front and center, on the Row to London page on Facebook)

Since our trials event, one of our themes has been taking full advantage of our second opportunity and doing what it takes to ramp up boat speed with our sights on the Olympics Finals.  Both Margot and Trow have done a tremendous job in taking ownership and attacking this process.  As a result they are fitter, faster, technically skilled, communicate better, and are more prepared than ever.  They have been doing triple-days with hard work on back-to-back days twice a week to prepare us for the heats/repecharge format that we will face in 14 days.  This final week of training for example had us doing interval 500s with competition followed by a bungee on/bungee off workout to 42 strokes/min.  A day of steady state followed with the next set of work being 2 x 2k just below race pace and 2 x 1k full at racepace-plus.   As a bald eagle flew about 50 feet above the double during the last 1000 meter piece, racing our duo for 150 meters, the athletes put together a Personal Best for the workout.  I knew with this sign that it was definitely time to head over the pond and get started on the next phase of training/tapering.

We continue to be grateful to the Village that supports us.  My wife and family sent me off with a American flags and “good lucks” and I certainly couldn’t do this without them.  Our families and friends are deserving of much praise and thanks for the sacrifices it has taken.  Volp, USRowing staff, Princeton National Rowing Association staff, Princeton University staff,  PBC, PRSF, Paul Knight, Erik Meyers, host families in New Jersey, Washington and San Diego, my coaching colleagues and everyone who has done the little things to get us here.  Chris Korzoniewski, Reilly Dampeer and Jim O’Conner have all stepped in to support our efforts and lend their expertise when I could not be there.   Financially, our thanks goes out to all of the contributors who have supported us along the way.

I also would be remiss to not thank all of the rowers who have helped GeoIQ.  Last week after seven years of effort, more from our founder Sean Gorman, the company sold.  Thank you Margot, Sarah, Ruth, Bill, Matia, Jenn, others and especially Don Spero and Sean for pulling us across the finish line.

When we land tomorrow morning, our itinerary has us heading to our housing at the University of London, Royal Holloway campus outside of London near Windsor and much closer to the rowing course at Eton-Dorney, which is still about 35 minutes away.  After dropping off gear and grabbing a quick bite to eat, we will take a bus to processing in central London, where we will receive our gear, get credentials and receive final instructions from USOC/IOC/LOCOG.  We became part of the US Rowing Team by naming at trials, racing in Lucerne and joining the other boats at the National Team Training Center.  Tomorrow, we join the other teams as part of the United States Olympic Team.

[Another update:  Made it through Heathrow and to the rowing village at Royal Holloway.  Great place, looks like all countries but GB will be staying here.  First impressions, tons of volunteers and security.  We returned to the dorms for a quick jog and dinner and to catch-up on sleep.  I may try to sneak down to start rigging the boat or head down the next day.   Yes, it's been a long day or two of travel, but nothing compared to the journey to get us here.]

PBC impresses the field in Chula Vista

Morgan Wimberley and Hilary Cumbest sit ready. Note the Zen-like focus on Morgan's face when boyfriend Michael Malone is kept at a safe 3000 mile distance.

PBC Open Scullers compete for slots on the Olympic Team at Trials

By: Michael Malone (with a little help from Morgan Constantine Wimberley)

Starting in December, several members of the OS team temporarily relocated to Long Beach, California, to prepare for the US Olympic selection regattas.  Joined by head coach Reilly Dampeer in early February, the team wanted to avoid weather associated issues of the Potomac that might interrupt their training effort.  Without the threat of flooding, ice, a deep freeze, and let’s be honest, their awesome boyfriends or girlfriends to distract them, the focus could be on one thing: rowing fast.

As the name implies, the first selection regatta was the National Selection Regatta I, held around mid-March. This event was the first step in selection of the Men’s 1x, among other events, for London. Two PBC rowers competed. In the red corner, the young upstart, 2011 Head of the Potomac M1x Champion, and aggressive blinker, Willy “Willy” Cowles.  In the blue corner, PBC Open Sculler emeritus, veteran 7-time National Team member, 1-time Olympian, and World Cup gold medalist, rowing for the U.S. Training Center, Samuel “Sam” Thornton Stitt.

Willy Cowles and Stephen Whelpley proved to be among the best of the best at trials.

Both Willy and Sam advanced out of the time trial – Willy comfortably in 6th, Sam just barely making it into the top 18 by 12 hundredths of a second.  Sam managed to find some speed during the regatta, and both advanced to the A-Final.  In that race, Sam finished third and Willy finished sixth after catching debris on his skeg.  The winner of the M1x race was the unaffiliated Ken Jurkowski, who qualified for the event in London at the 2011 World Championships.  Second place went to U.S. Training Center’s Warren Anderson.

The main goal of the OS team’s temporary relocation to California, though, was to compete for the Men’s and Women’s 2x bids at the second selection event, the informatively named Non-Qualified Olympic Trials and Paralympic Trials, held at the beginning of April.  Five boats wearing Potomac Boat Club colors raced, and the club’s results were very strong.

The highlight of the regatta was the Men’s 2x race. In the A-Final, Willy and Sam faced off once more: Sam rowing with Warren Anderson for the U.S. Training Center, and PBC’s Willy Cowles rowing with Penn AC’s Stephen Whelpley in a composite entry.  It was the battle of the S&Ws.  In what was the most exciting race of the day, both S&Ws jumped out ahead of the competition. While Sam and Warren were clearly favored to win the race, the other S&W matched them for over 1000 meters, even appearing to trade the lead a few times.

With open water separating the S&Ws from the third and fourth place boats, Sam and Warren made an impressive move in the third 500, pulling away from a fading S&W. While Steve and Willy finished second (6:22) to S&W (6:17), these were some seriously fast times. The result means that PBC’s Sam Stitt will (almost certainly) be on the 2012 USA Olympic Team. And while Steve and Willy did not earn the right to row the 2x, they embarrassed the other US Training Center boats, none of which even made the A-Final, and established themselves as two of the top elite scullers in the US.

The Women’s 2x had the best outcome for a PBC boat. Our top boat consisted of 5-time National Team member, Pan American Games W1x Champion, and occasional princess, Margot “!” Shumway; and 4-time National Team member, 5-time medalist in international competition, and succulent enthusiast, Sarah “nickname redacted” Trowbridge.  This boat demonstrated that you can train in DC (without having to leave your boyfriend for three months) and be fast, but found that the lack of competitive head-to-head pieces in practice worked against them.  While they advanced to the A-Final, Margot and Sarah were outmatched by the two US Training Center boats that finished first and second. However, those two boats declined the opportunity to compete in the W2x, which means Margot and Sarah have a second chance to make the team. With new found motivation, this dynamic duo will go to Lucerne, Switzerland to compete in the Regatta of Death, or the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta by those who dare not speak its official name. If they finish in the top two spots in Lucerne (May 20-23), WHICH THEY WILL DO, the Olympic slot will belong to them.

Our Katie Stainken and former Open Sculling teammate Mae Joyce Gay in Long Beach

Also competing in the NQOTPT was Katherine “Katie (the ‘i’ is dotted with a heart)” Stainken, who rowed with former OS member May Joyce “MJ, if you’re reading this get your single out of the aqueduct” Gay. MJ and Katie made it into the A-final, where they finished fourth.  This was uncomfortably close for Margot and Sarah, but impressively close to anyone else.  Major Minnesota Vikings fan and PBC’er Joe Ledvina rowed in the M2x with Union Boat Club member Nick Baker, where they finished 2nd in the C Final, just behind Boat Race winner Deaglan McEachern. Finally, PBC’s own Morgan Wimberley rowed the W2x with Hillary Cumbest, also rowing for PBC and replacing Morgan’s previous partner just before the regatta. They finished a frustrated 6th, and I better not say how many boats were in the event if I expect Morgan to still talk to me.

Finally, I’d like to add that while in Long Beach, OS team members were guests of various host families and rowed out of Long Beach Rowing Association.  The generosity of the LBRA is much appreciated by PBC and should remind us all of how supportive the rowing community truly is.

This week! PBC at the NSR II and Non-Qualified Olympic Small Boat Trials

Heat sheets and results (available April 9, 2012, after Athletes Meeting)

Katie Stainken trains for trials this week in California.

The U.S. Non-Qualified Olympic Small Boat Trials take place this week in Chula Vista, California.  A select few of our Open Sculling Program athletes have been preparing for this event in Long Beach since January.  Training has been tough, but every day our athletes have shown dedication and progress towards meeting their goals.

Willy Cowles training to win the Men's Double Sculls.

Competing in trials will be the toughest challenge many of these athletes have faced.  But winning here means overcoming just one more hurdle to representing the United States at the Olympic Games in London.

This week’s winners of the men’s double sculls and women’s double sculls trials earn the chance to race at the Lucerne Qualification Regatta in May.

Open Sculling Program head coach Reilly Dampeer says, “I am confident in the hard work our athletes have put in, which of course started years ago.  We can look forward to aggressive racing this week.”

Go get ‘em, PBC!

Kevin Baum lookin’ sharp in Oxford Blue

PBC's Kevin Baum, third from left, to race for Oxford

Okay, so maybe we’ll let him wear blue instead of red this one time.

PBC’s own Kevin Baum has been chosen to row for Oxford University in The Boat Race on April 7, 2012.  Kevin is one of two Americans who join an international crew from England, Germany, and the Netherlands to battle Cambridge during the 158th running of this historic competition.

Kevin previously rowed for the St. Albans School, Stanford University and has been a member of the PBC Open Sculling Program since 2008.  He is also the son of Senior Member George Baum.

PBC Open Sculling Program Coach Reilly Dampeer says of Kevin, “Kevin is a relentless competitor and exemplary member of the PBC team … and gives us a great reason to cheer for Oxford this year!”

(Causing certain members of PBC to ask, “Did we need another reason?”)

Click here for a story that includes a brief sound byte from Kevin.  For more information about The Boat Race, please visit http://www.theboatrace.org/.

Good luck, Kevin!  Your PBC family will be cheering you on from here!

Social Committee … Do we smell another happy hour?! (Or do we just smell the keg o’ rater?)

OS Stefanie Kozuszek reminds us what it’s really all about

Open Scullers launch for another morning of hard work on the water. (Photo by Igor Belakovskiy)

Tonight is the Rising Stars Dinner and Auction, an event to support the National Team and Olympic dreams of members of PBC’s Open Sculling Program.  Following the dinner, our Open Scullers will leave for California and the final leg of training for the regattas that will determine this year’s Olympic team.  Our shared hopes, dreams, and best wishes for success, go with them!

In this month’s look into the world of an Open Sculler, Stefanie Kozuszek reminds us that making the National Team is just the icing on the cake of being part of a hard working, close-knit team.

If you’d like to read more about Open Sculler Stefanie Kozuszek, please visit her bio page here (click).

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Happy 2012! I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season!

It’s a big year, an Olympic year, and the end of a four year cycle of hard work and effort by athletes from all over the world hoping to represent their nation in London. For the PBC Open Sculling Program, it means it’s time for us to kick it into overdrive. Following this weekend’s Rising Stars Dinner and Auction, a few of us will stay in DC and focus on building our fitness, targeting through to the next cycle. Others will head out to Long Beach, California, to prepare for the National Selection Regattas in Chula Vista in April. We all hope they will be greeted with flat water, warm weather, and a training environment that will lead them to a spot on the National Team.

It’s always interesting to see the reactions of people when you tell them that you are training to one day make the National Team or better yet, to make it to the Olympics. They usually hone in on the Olympic part and ask when the next Olympics are. The next time they see you they’ll ask something like, “So, make it to the Olympics, yet?”

Deep down, you know how much more work and how many more years you will have to put in to make that dream a reality. You’ll have to get up early, train twice a day, and throw in a little work on top of it all to help pay the bills. This and more run through your head when all the person waiting on the other side probably wants is the short answer. Still, you’re thinking that there is always more you can do, always something to improve on to give you that little extra edge … “No, not yet, but I’m working on it,” you say.

Sometimes it’s scary to share your ultimate goal with others. What if you never reach that goal? Will they think of you as a failure? Or will they respect that you had enough courage to chase those dreams? In the end I’ve realized that if you are doing what you what makes you happy, then who cares what someone else might thing.

The reality is that we won’t all make it to the Olympics or even to the National Team. But as long as we’ve tried our best and enjoyed the time that we’ve put in, each of us will be able to walk away with our heads held high knowing we were true to our dreams. The friendships built on this team alone are enough to make it all worth it, but we will have also bettered ourselves along the way.

But enough of that. It’s time to get fast!

Rise to the occasion, PBC!

Social Committee Chair Virginia Bryant and Coach Reilly Dampeer and her Open Scullers want to remind everyone that the Rising Stars Dinner is less than two weeks away!

The Second Annual Rising Stars Silent Auction and Dinner is coming up on January 21. This is your opportunity to play a vital role in America’s success in international athletic competition and the strong tradition of competitive excellence at PBC. Show your support: donate services or items for the silent auction, buy tickets to the event, bid up auction items!

For more information, check your mail for your invitation or click on a link below.

• Rising Star Dinner Information
• Auction Donation Form

See you there, PBC!

-The Potomac Star on behalf of the Social Committee and Open Sculling Team

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Please save the date:  January 21, 2012

Potomac Boat Club
Rising Stars Dinner and Silent Auction
An event to benefit the club’s Olympic Hopefuls

An invitation to Save the Date from Open Sculling Coach Reilly Dampeer:

The Potomac Boat Club Open Sculling Program is hosting the second annual Rising Stars dinner and silent auction on January 21, 2011, to benefit our Olympic hopefuls.

PBC is a partner of the USRowing Training Center

I am pleased to announce that this year’s event will take place at the prestigious University Club in downtown Washington, DC.  Potomac Boat Club members will receive an invitation in the mail soon, so please keep an eye out for it and RSVP as quickly as possible, since space will be limited for this special event.

The Open Sculling Program attracts talented athletes from across the United States to Potomac Boat Club to train for elite national and international competition.  The Program has produced athletes who have earned Olympic, World, Pan American and National Championship medals.  As we approach the upcoming Olympic year, our focus is sharp and our goals are to earn the honor of representing our country internationally and bring prestige to the club and program. Like all aspiring athletes who came before us, we strive with dedication, perseverance, and the hope to embody the competitive spirit and tradition that is Potomac Boat Club.

Proceeds raised from this event will fund travel expenses and entry fees for the 2012 Olympic selection regattas to be held in Chula Vista, California.  It will also fund the purchase of the latest training technology, state-of the-art equipment and resources for our athletes.

The 2011 event was a huge success, and I look forward to achieving even higher goals at this year’s Rising Stars event. PBC community support is key to our success. There are literally hundreds of sponsors, officials, coaches, and other individuals who make the achievement of an Olympic dream possible. We invite you to share this exciting evening with us and to be part of the enduring dreams of our athletes.

For more information regarding the Open Sculling Program and the donation of items for the Silent Auction, please contact me at redampeer@yahoo.com or (206) 819-6004.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Reilly Dampeer
Head Coach, Open Sculling Program

Open Sculling 2012 Preview

Katie Stainken at the 2011 National Selection Regatta

After a successful 2011, it looks like our Open Sculling Program is getting some new blood!  Open Sculler Katie Stainken contributes the following post.

To learn more about Potomac Boat Club’s Open Sculling Program and Katie, please visit The Open Sculling Program page at http://www.potomacstar.com/racing-programs/test/.  And check back soon for new teammate bios!

A big PBC WELCOME to our new Open Scullers and coaches!

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Since the last update from the Open Scullers, quite a few exciting changes have taken place. The biggest change is in the roster:  we now have four women and eleven men, who make for a crowded carpet at 6am when we do our daily core routine!

On the men’s side, Open Sculling Program veterans Willy Cowles, Taylor Frank, Sean Gorman, Joe Ledvina, and Michael Malone are joined by Greg Charte, Patrick Lacey, Matt Miller, Carl Thunman, Steve Whelpley, and Nate Kelly. For the women, Stef Kozuscek, Katie Stainken, and Morgan Wimberley are joined by Emily Carney.  Lucky for us though, Coach Reilly has recruited two new coaches to assist with the program and keep us in line: Jim O’Connor and Heather Barney.  Thanks to Jim and Heather for volunteering their time!

Looking back at Fall the Open Scullers participated in the Head of the Potomac, Head of the Occoquan, Head of the Charles, and the Fall Speed Order. All of these races offered great racing experience for the team as we geared up for winter training and the 2012 year.  We capped off the fall with a new challenge … the first annual PBC Triathlon, which consisted of a 10k erg, bridge loop run, and a quick row out to Roosevelt bridge and back.  Next up, we have a run test, 30 minute test, 6k test, and the annual erg marathon on December 31^st. Hopefully the weather will remain mild, or at least above freezing, and we will be able to continue to row through December and into January. With the 4-oar rule in effect and our large team roster, 2x and 4x will have to be the boats of choice.

It’s not all work with the Open Scullers, though!  We’re looking forward to decorating the ballroom and to hosting the PBC Christmas party on December 11, and then to our Rising Stars dinner in January, which was so successful last year thanks to you.  Some members of the team are also California Dreamin’, and will be heading out to train the winter months away in Long Beach, California, after the start of the new year.

As always, thanks so much for your support, PBC!  Stay tuned for more information on what your Open Sculling Program is up to and news of our upcoming events!

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