On June 23, 1894, the modern Olympic Games were founded. The International Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate this event. It is now celebrated in over 205 countries around the globe. Governor Phil Murphy added New Jersey to the places celebrating the day by declaring June 23, 2020 as Olympic Day for the State of New Jersey.

In his decree, Governor Murphy, recognizes the achievements of the women and men who have trained on Mercer Lake who have represented the United States in the Olympics bringing home medals from every Olympics since 2004. He also recognizes USRowing, the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA) and the Caspersen Rowing Center for their roles in preparing the Olympic and National Rowing Team athletes.
Governor Murphy pointed out the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created and the importance of promoting physical health in these times. As the State of New Jersey continues to open up with individual rowing programs to begin this week, the Governor has declared June 23 to promote 24 hours of digital global exercise.

Mercer County has a long history with rowing and our nation’s Rowing Teams. More Olympic Rowing Team Trials have been held in Mercer County than any other place in the United States. This includes the now famous 1936 Olympic Rowing Team Trials when the University of Washington “Boys in the Boat” earning their right to represent the USA at the Berlin Olympics. The 2004 Men’s Gold medal 8+ trained in Mercer County. The 2008, 2012 and 2016 Women’s Gold medal 8+ trained on Mercer Lake. The Caspersen Rowing Center is also playing a key role as the team prepares for the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games which are now scheduled for the summer of 2021.

To produce Olympians, it takes a team that goes beyond the athletes that will be at the Games. For those training at the Caspersen Rowing Center, this team includes the local community, especially those who have contributed to the team’s success by opening up their homes, providing employment opportunities and otherwise supported the athletes. This also includes Mercer County and the Mercer County Park Commission. Mercer Lake provides one of the top rowing venues in the country.

PNRA’s mission is to provide an opportunity for athletes of all ages, talents and backgrounds have the opportunity to develop this rowing abilities to their highest potential. For more information on PNRA and our programs, please visit our website at www.rowpnra.org.

The currents of racism and inequality in our country run deep. Our organization wants to actively break down constructs that allow that current to flow, especially in sport. Furthermore, as rowers, we know that the only way a boat can move forward against an unfair current is if we all pull together as one team. We know that we have to challenge ourselves and our teammates to do better, to be better. We have to hold ourselves and our team accountable. Only through respecting and indeed celebrating our differences can we truly come together as a team and win the fight against racism and discrimination in all its forms.

The PNRA Board of Directors

The latest edition of the Caspersen Rowing Center Happenings salutes the Class of 2020.  Check it out at: https://conta.cc/3csD0nd

May 21, 2019
West Windsor, NJ

Princeton National Rowing Association’s Mercer Junior Rowing qualified nine boats, including the first ever sculling boat, for the USRowing Youth National Championships. The teams walked away with plenty of hardware also winning Boys Novice 4+ and 8+, Girls Novice 8+, and Girls 2nd Varsity 4+ at the May 11-12 Mid-Atlantic Youth Regional Championships. The Mother’s Day weekend regatta on Mercer Lake marked the last home race for the 2019 spring season. The weather shortened event drew 56 teams from seven states competing in 36 events. The USRowing Youth National Championships, which will take place June 6-9, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida.

Mercer Varsity Girls’ Head Coach Matt Carlsen stated “All year I have been saying how I wanted to have our team as one of the deepest teams in the country. It has been a truly competitive season and our results at the regional championships show that the girls bought into that concept and went above and beyond the call of duty. Qualifying 5 boats on the girls’ side is truly remarkable, and this is our first sculling boat that has ever qualified from Mercer!”

On the boys’ side, the team qualified double the number of seats from last year and is looking to improve and continue building on a bronze medal in the 4+ at Nationals last year. “It’s a really young team – over half the team is sophomores – and to qualify as many boats as we did and have such solid results really speaks to the type of program and culture we’re trying to build here,” said Mercer Varsity Boys’ Head Coach Jamie Hamp. “I’m excited for Florida in a few weeks.”

The Mercer Junior Rowing Program provides opportunities for area high school students to participate in rowing. This Spring 2019 Mercer Junior Rowing is comprised of 153 athletes from 35 area schools. The 34 athletes who qualified the following boats for the USRowing Youth National Championships represent the following high schools:

Women’s Varsity 8+
C: Helena Wolk- Princeton HS
8: Sophie Craver-Princeton HS
7: Sylvie Tuder-Princeton HS
6: Erin Heyeck-The Pennington School
5: Morgan Linsley-Princeton HS
4: Logan Sudholz-Pennridge HS
3: Catherine Dyevich-Princeton HS
2: Caroline Gibson-Princeton HS
1: Ava Wisnoski-Northern Burlington HS
Women’s 2-
2: Riley Cooper-Hunterdon Central Regional HS
1: Elyse Szych-N Hunterdon HS
Women’s Varsity 4+
C: Sunny Hu – Stuart School
4: Kristen Harkins-Notre Dame HS
3: Eva Wojnovich-Council Rock HS North
2: Sarah Closser-Princeton HS
1: Jacqueline Armetta-Villa Joseph Marie HS
Women’s Lightweight 4+
C: Emma Dziedzic-Robbinsville HS
4: Chloe Couillens-Hopewell Valley Central HS
3: Riddhi Singh-Stanford Online HS
2: Cara Barkenbush-West Windsor Plainsboro HSS
1: Natalie Verlinde-Princeton HS
Women’s Lightweight 2x
2. Eveline Enthoven-Princeton HS
1. Abigail McAleer- Council Rock HS North

Men’s 8+
C: AnneMarie Huber-Stuart School
8: Jack Gallagher-Council Rock HS North
7: Brady Stergion-Notre Dame HS
6: Leon Deng-Princeton HS
5: Julian Thomas-The Pennington School
4: Joseph DiRusso-Notre Dame HS
3: Brian Radvany-Princeton Day School
2: Grant Smith-Montgomery HS
1: Andrew Griesinger-Princeton Day School

Men’s 4+
C: AnneMarie Huber – Stuart School
4: Jack Gallagher-Council Rock HS North
3: Grant Smith-Montgomery HS
2: Leon Deng-Princeton HS
1: Brady Stergion-Notre Dame HS

Men’s A 2-
2: Andrew Griesinger – Princeton Day School
1: Julian Thomas – The Pennington School

Men’s B2-
2: Spencer Stengle- Princeton HS
1: Thomas Closser – Princeton HS

About the Princeton National Rowing Association
The Princeton National Rowing Association, a 501(c)3 organization, operates the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located on the shores of Mercer Lake, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Princeton National Rowing Association is dedicated to operating a world-class training site for our nation’s elite athletes, providing opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and to expand rowing in the area through community-based programs. PNRA runs the Mercer Junior Rowing Program which provides rowing opportunities for youth from over 35+ area schools and the Mercer Masters Rowing Program which provides rowing opportunities for adults. In addition, PNRA offers the Rowing Is Growing Outreach program to economically-disadvantaged students in Mercer County. The center is a home to the USRowing National and Olympic Teams, as well as rowing clubs and schools.
For more information, contact Kristopher Grudt, tel: 609-799-7100 x100, krisgrudt@rowpnra.org or visit www.rowpnra.org.

Mercer Junior Jack Gallagher has been invited to attend the USRowing Under-23 National Team Lightweight Selection Camp in Princeton, NJ this summer.  The camp will select the Lightweight 4x to represent the USA at the Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida, in July this year.  The Camp will also explore options to race in the Under-23 National Team Trials for the Lightweight 2x, 2- and 1x.  The Trials will be held on Mercer Lake in early July.

http://www.usrowing.org/news/2019/04/11/usrowing-names-2019-under-23-selection-camp-invitees/

http://www.usrowing.org/news/2018/10/22/usrowing-training-center-crews-fare-well-at-the-head-of-the-charles-regatta/

USRowing announced today that PNRA has been named the USRowing 2018 Club of the Year!!

http://www.usrowing.org/news/2018/10/19/usrowing-announces-pnra-as-2018-club-of-the-year/

USRowing has announced their 2018-2019 Scholastic Honor Roll.  Mercer Junior rower Sylvie Tuder was named to the list.  Congratulations Sylvie!

USRowing Announces 2018-2019 Scholastic Honor Roll

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

The Caspersen Rowing Center came alive on Wednesday afternoon with some friendly, intra-boathouse competition among the different high school crews that train here. The Lawrenceville School, Hun School, Peddie School and Mercer Junior Rowing all took part in two co-ed events, each a 4.6K ‘round the lake’ timed race in two boat classes. The first group to go off was the 4+ (coxed 4s), 4X (quads), and  event. Next the teams seated 8s for the same trip. 

The weather cooperated and the Mercer Lake Challenge gave the crews a chance to test their speed as the Fall Head racing season gets underway.

Next up on Mercer Lake will be the Small Boat Challenge on October 6^th & 7^th , 2018.  The Mercer Juniors and Mercer Masters will compete at the Head of the Housatonic in Derby CT on October 6,^, 2018.

 

2018 Mercer Lake Challenge Results

            Men’s 8+ – 4:30pm                                         

Place    Bow                               Team                          Final Time
1           1                                     Mercer “A”                     16:11.3
2           3                                     Lawrenceville “A”                   16:48.1
3           4                                     Hun                                 16:58.3
4           5                                     Mecer “B”                       17:03.1
5           2                                     Peddie “A”                      17:07.6
6           7                                     Lawrenceville “B”                   17:46.1
7           6                                     Peddie “B”                      18:39.0
8           9                                     Peddie “C”                      19:17.1
9           8                                     Mercer “C”                     20:19.0            

            Women’s 8+ – 4:35pm        

Place    Bow                               Team                          Final Time
1           12                                   Mercer “A”        4+             18:05.4
2           14                                   Mercer “B”        4+             18:35.0
3           15                                   Mercer “C”        4+             19:26.9
4           16                                   Mercer “D”        4+             19:42.1
5           13                                   Lawrenceville    4+             20:26.1
1           17                                   Peddie “A”         4x             19:21.0
2           18                                   Hun                    4x             19:46.3
3           19                                   Peddie “B”         4x             20:09.2
4           20                                   Peddie “C”         4x             24:34.9
3           23                                   Hun “C”              2x             23:35.0
1           21                                   Hun “A”              2x             23:59.0
2           22                                   Hun “B”              2x             26:58.6
             24                                   Hun “D”             2x    DNS

                                                                                      

             Men’s 8+ – 5:10pm                                         

Place    Bow                               Team                          Final Time
1           27                                   Mercer “A”                     15:22.5
2           29                                   Lawrenceville “A”                   16:03.4
3           31                                   Mercer “B”                     16:28.0
4           30                                   Hun                                 16:44.5
5           28                                   Peddie “A”                      17:05.2
6           33                                   Mercer “C”                     17:31.9
7           32                                   Peddie “B”                      19:03.0
8           34                                   Mercer “D”                     20:12.5

                                                                                      

             Women’s 8+ -5:20pm                                    

Place    Bow                               Team                          Final Time
1           35                                   Mercer “A”                     16:41.6
2           37                                   Mercer “B”                     17:11.2
3           38                                   Mercer “C”                     18:24.0
4           39                                   Mercer “D”                     19:27.4
5           36                                   Peddie                             20:17.2

October 13, 2017

The Mercer Juniors and Masters competed at the Head of the Housatonic Regatta this on Saturday, October 7, 2017. The crews raced in ideal conditions on the 4.5 mile course at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Connecticut, and all of the Mercer crews had strong showings.

The Mercer Junior Girls, coached by Matt Carlsen, sent three varsity boats to Connecticut. Their first varsity crew of 8 competed in the 8+ Junior 1V women’s division. Rowers Katryna Niva, Sarah Closser, Elyssa Aronson, Emmanuelle Adamson, Bridget Parker, Kieran Wild, Mia Barkenbush, Sara Hansen and coxswain Maddie Peel finished the course in 14:19.4. Their time earned them a 4th place finish out of 18 boats.

The Mercer Junior Girls had two boats competing in the 8+ Junior 2V division. Their second varsity boat, coxed by Lauren Preston, consisted of rowers Sophie Craver, Julia Berdzik, Catie Vinch-Buck, Morgan Linsley, Jaqueline Armetta, Erin Dobbs, Chloe Couillens, and Eveline Enthoven. Their time of 14:54.7 earned them an impressive first place finish in a field of 20 boats. Following closely behind them was the Mercer Junior Girls’ third varsity boat, who finished in second place with a time of 15:05.2. Rowers Sylvie Tudor, Catherine Dyevich, Caroline Gibson, Erin Heyeck, Kristin Harkins, Olivia Andersen, Maheera Bawa, and Nathalie Verlinde, along with coxswain Helena Wolk, proved that talent runs deep for the Mercer Junior Girls.

The Mercer Junior Boys, coached by Justin Ochal, brought two varsity boats with them to Shelton. Rowers Dana Gajewski, Leon Dang, Evan Kinter, Jack Gallagher, Eli Kalfaian, Herbert De Cokere, Brady Stergion, and Pavel Zhelnin were coxed by Annie Huber in the 8+ Junior 1V Men’s Division. Their time of 13:27.6 earned them a 6th place finish out of a field of 24. The Mercer Junior Boys’ second varsity boat, rowing in the 8+ Junior 2V Men’s Division, finished in the top half of the field in 11th place. Coxswain Lauren Glogoff and rowers Chase Panfili, Andrei Dumitriu, Alex Brodowski, Brian Radvany, Aiden Sarafin, Alex Fradkin, Grant Smith, and John Mongelli finished the course in 14:59.7.

The Mercer Masters, also coached by Matt Carlsen, joined their junior counterparts at the Head of the Housatonic. The Masters Women’s 8+, coxed by Annie Huber, consisted of rowers Kristin Appleget, Sharon Waters, Rebecca Findlay, Terri Gruber McDonough, Cheryl Baldino, Ellen Tormey, Natasha Gajewski, and Cassandra Cohen. They placed 5th out of 9 boats with their time of 15:59.0. The Masters Women’s 4+ was coxed by Lauren Preston. Rowers Kristin Appleget, Cassandra Cohen, Rebecca Findlay, Terri Gruber McDonough finished the course in 18:07.2 to finish 12th out of 14 boats.

The Mercer Masters Men’s 4+, coxed by Maddie Peel, included rowers Miles Truesdell, David Potts, Michael Vaccaro, and Charles Gilbert. Their time of 16:39.0 earned them an 11th place finish in a field of 13.
The top Mercer Junior Rowing Program and Masters crews are now looking ahead to the Head of the Charles Regatta on October 21 and 22. This elite regatta attracts thousands of rowers to Boston each year, and the Mercer rowers are looking forward to proving themselves on the Charles River.

About the Princeton National Rowing Association

The Princeton National Rowing Association, a 501(c)3 organization, operates the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located on the shores of Mercer Lake, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Princeton National Rowing Association is dedicated to operating a world-class training site for our nation’s elite athletes, providing opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and to expand rowing in the area through community-based programs. PNRA runs the Mercer Junior Rowing Program which provides rowing opportunities for youth from over 30 area schools and the Mercer Masters Rowing Program which provides rowing opportunities for adults. The center is a home to the USRowing National and Olympic Teams, as well as rowing clubs and schools.

For more information, contact Kristopher Grudt, tel: 609-977-1094, krisgrudt@rowpnra.org or visit www.rowpnra.org.

July 11, 2017

West Windsor, NJ – Daniel Stoddard (West Windsor, NJ) and Andrew Hickey (Yardley, PA) have one more competition before they leave junior rowing behind them and join the ranks of collegiate rowers, and it will be the most significant.  Stoddard and Hickey will compete as part of the U.S. Junior National team at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania on August 2-6.  The duo qualified for the team by winning the un-coxed pair event at the Under 19 World Championship Trials at Mercer Lake on June 29.

“It will be an honor to represent the United States in international competition,” said Hickey.  “I can’t wait for the moment at the starting line when we hear the referee announce our boat as ‘U.S.A’,” he added.

Stoddard and Hickey served as senior co-captains for the Princeton National Rowing Association’s Mercer Rowing Club this spring and competed in the varsity eight with coxswain event at the 2017 Youth National Championships.

“We feel like the pair is our best event,” said Stoddard.  “We have been good friends since we started rowing five years ago.  We communicate well, which is really important in a pair” he added. The pair, also referred to as the 2-, is the most challenging boat for rowers to learn to row because the rowers must handle the tasks of steering and communicating the stroke rate which are the coxswain’s responsibility in most other boats.  One rower, Stoddard, steers the boat with a foot apparatus, and the other rower, Hickey, calls out adjustments to the stroke rate.  The rowers don’t have the benefit of facing in the direction the boat is travelling, as a coxswain would.

Stoddard and Hickey will be accompanied to the World Rowing Junior Championships by their coach, Justin Ochal, who has coached them for the past three years as varsity boys coach at PNRA/Mercer. 

“Coach deserves a lot of the credit for getting us to this point,” said Stoddard.  “Over the years, he has worked with us on technique and conditioning but also has taught us a lot about the mental part of rowing,” added Stoddard.

“Coach always finds opportunities to give us lessons on character, teamwork, and commitment,” commented Hickey. “He really cares about the guys he coaches,” he added.

The pair will continue training at Mercer Lake until they depart for Lithuania.  They are fundraising to help cover the costs associated with competing at a world championship.  More information is available at www.nrf.rallyme.com/rallies/8073. 

Other PNRA/Mercer junior rowers have seen success in competition this summer as well.  Emmanuelle Adamson (Princeton, NJ) and Eli Kalfaian (Millstone, NJ) were invited to be part of the U.S. Junior National Development Team and competed in CanAmMex events at Elk Lake in British Columbia, Canada this past weekend.  Adamson rowed in the girls’ varsity eight with coxswain boat which took first place.  Kalfaian rowed in the boys’ varsity eight with coxswain which also took first place.  Adamson and Kalfaian will return to PNRA/Mercer in the fall and serve as co-captains for the team. 

About the Princeton National Rowing Association 

The Princeton National Rowing Association, a 501c3 organization, operates the Finn M.W. Caspersen Rowing Center located on the shores of Mercer Lake in West Windsor, New Jersey.  The Princeton National Rowing Association is dedicated to operating a world-class training site for our nation’s elite athletes, providing opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and to expand rowing in the greater Mercer County area through community based programs.  The Mercer Junior Rowing Program provides rowing opportunities for the youth from over 25 Mercer County area high schools. The center is a home to the USRowing National and Olympic Teams, as well as rowing clubs and schools, including the Hun School, Lawrenceville School and Peddie School. PNRA received generous support from JLRacing, Holiday Inn and Residence Inn by Marriott. 

For more information, contact Kristopher Grudt, tel: 609-977-1094, krisgrudt@rowpnra.org or visit www.rowpnra.org.