SU In the Papers!

Today, the SU Crew team was featured in The Daily Item, the local newspaper of Sunbury, PA. Last week a reporter and photographer/videographer came to check out our team. They took some great photos and video of our team, that can be found at the links below.

Rowing Provides a Full Body Workout by Gina Morton

Local Video - Full Body Workout

Please excuse the fact that I sound like a total airhead on the video, but I was really nervous! When I first started coaching, I told Coach Jim that I would do anything but drive the trailer. Coach Jim has kept to his word, but is happy to have an assistant around to do things that he doesn't like. Apparently "other duties as assigned," includes being on camera, because Coach Jim is camera shy. (Jim, don't worry, I'm just razzing you).

The video features glimpses of our boat house, the novice women carrying their boat to the water, and the men's varsity four in action.

Unveiling of the "Coach Tomko"

Saturday was a proud day for Susquehanna University Crew. On April 24th, we christened the "Coach Tomko," after our beloved former crew coach who brought the team to where it stands today. In the works since fall of 2009, it was amazing that we could keep the secret, but asked "Coach" Brian Tomko down to the river to help with our dual meet against the Universityty of Scranton.

Coach Brian Tomko and Coxswain Jill Martin '05 having a pep talk before Head of the Charles 2004.

The "Lite 8:" Alyssa, Kate, Dawn, Sara, Jill, Ashley, Jess, Rachael, and Coach

Coach Jim began by introducing "Coach" to the newer team members and crew families. I suppose that Coach began to become suspicious once Jim mentioned how big of an impact that he had on our team and how he was such a great mentor. I wanted to share a few words about my "Coach" and got to unveil the name on the new Vespoli ES V1, the "Coach Tomko."

How could I put into words the impact that my Coach had not only on my collegiate rowing career, but also on the person that I have become today.

Brian Tomko and the SU Crew Team taught me more about my personal values, teamwork and trust, care and concern, and leadership than I have ever learned anywhere else.

Upon graduation and to this day, it is hard to think of Brian as anything but "Coach."

Just when I had thought I lost my faith in rowing during my junior year, I had an amazing opportunity to join the Varsity Lightweight 8. With the help of Coach, our Lite 8 learned to fly, with him right by our side. Nothing excited Coach more than to see us reach our goals, and it was always clear by the wide grin he wore on his face. That is why we are here today, in this moment to celebrate and thank our coach for giving so much to his team and rowers.

As the SU Crew family, new and old, we are eternally grateful for the hard word, dedication, and perseverance Brian Tomko committed to our team.

As a small gesture, without words, his spirit, commitment, and love of the sport will carry on -- in the dedication of the "Coach Tomko."

I'm a little bit happy to say that we made him turn red and shed a few tears, but I think that is just another testament to how big of a heart he has, and how much he has cared about our team over the years.

President L. Jay Lemons was on hand to further congratulate Brian. It was especially touching that he mentioned that so many current students and alumni have shared with him that crew has touched their lives in innumerable ways, as well as their admiration of Coach Tomko.

President Lemons, Coach Brian Tomko, Rachael Gebely, and Jim Gross

Varsity 8 Ladies in the "Coach Tomko"

I'd ask that if you have any memories about Coach that you would like to share or well wishes, please post them under the "Comments" section.

History Cont.

In the Spring of 2002, SU Crew traveled to Washington, DC for "Capitol Classic," a small regatta geared toward Division III crew teams. Although a rainy, almost miserable day, the crew team saw great success and brought back several medals. Two first place medals were earned by the Lightweight Varsity 4 and the Women's Novice 4 (my boat) in "Synergy." Synergy was the perfect name for a shell. Synergy literally means the interaction of discrete parts which create a total effect greater than the sum of individual efforts. It alludes to the power of synchronicity and teamwork.

Unfortuneately, on a wet and windy trailer ride how, Synergy's hopes were literally crashed when a wet strap allowed it to fall off the trailer and be run over by two cars. It was the first boat tragedy I ever experienced, although not the last. With the help of University insurance, we were able to replace Synergy with a new lightweight women's 4. Much debate occured over the name, but "Fusion," seemed to be appropriately fitting along with the openweight women's 4, "Unity."

History Lesson of the Day

This week I have been a neglectful blog keeper and coach. As many of you know, my full-time job is working in Housing and Residential Life at Bucknell University. I oversee 10 different residential buildings, supervise the Resident Assistants, counsel students, teach classes, and a lot more. This week is our final week for room selection, so I have been working until 10 or 11pm at night. I was lucky enough to be able to coach on Tuesday morning. Someone asked me, "Why would you ever get up that early to coach?" I simply responded, "Because it is the best part of my day." I love the students that I get to work with at Bucknell and the things that I get to do in my full-time job, but rowing has always held my heart.

One of my goals in the upcoming weeks is to tell you the story of the Susquehanna boats. As a team member from 2001-2005, I often joked that I was the team's oral historian. I love story-telling and think that every team needs to know where it came from in order to know where it is going. While I have some crazy stories, I promise you that I don't exaggerate.

I wanted to start with the story of "Annalia," but quickly realized that Annalia's history is based on the other boats of the Susquehanna fleet, as well as the members of the team.

Fall 2001 Fleet:

• 2x - Double Trouble
  
• Vespoli DL4+ (Bow Loader) - Edna M. Sheary
• Vespoli DM4+ - Charles B. Degenstein
• 2001 Vespoli DM4+ - Unity - delivered fresh in the wrapper that fall
  
• Vespoli DS4+ - Synergy
• Vespoli DL8+ - Shane's B.O.W.
• Poccock 8+ - Joel Cunningham/Athena/the Poccock/Clifford

At Head of the Occoquan that year, we picked up Meridian (1997 Vespoli DM8+), which we purchased used from a high school rowing program. Believe it or not, rowing in Meridian was considered a privilege that spring, and she raced well.

The plus sign (+) stands for plus the coxswain, instead of being a "straight" boat or minus (-) without the coxswain. Sculling boats (two oars per person) have an "x" after the number of rowers.

Vespoli is an American boat company started by rower and coach Mike Vespoli. Vespoli uses a classification system of two to three letters to describe the hull type and recommended size of the crew. "D" stands for the "D-Hull" designed by a naval architect and hydrodynamics expert, and was born from the most comprehensive rowing research that had ever been done at the time. Fours are classified as small (S), medium (M), and large (L), while the eights have an additional extra-large (XL) category.

• S 4+: 135-160lbs S 8+: 125-155lbs.
  
• M 4+: 160-185lbs M 8+: 155-185lbs.
  
• L 4+: 185-220lbs L 8+: 175-205lbs.
• XL 8+: 195-225lbs

Vespoli recently introduced the "E-Hull" which was designed by the naval architect who's boat won America's Cup. They are more similar in nature to Resolute shells now, also designed by an America's Cup winner architect.

As you may have noticed, only two boats remain in the Susquehanna fleet (Unity and Meridian). Edna belongs to the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association (CPRA). More to come later!