For Immediate Release

February 25, 2016

West Windsor, NJ

In 2016, National Champions will be crowned, Olympians and Paralympians will be made and thousands of athletes will have a chance to test their ability to row at Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park. The Princeton National Rowing Association (“PNRA”) will host 10 major events including two national championships, Olympic/Paralympic/World Championship trials, and several regional and conference championships on Mercer Lake this year.  The Mercer County Park rowing venue has been characterized as “arguably one of the best regatta courses in the country” by USRowing.  The fairness of the course and the level of regattas bring people from around the country to compete and watch rowing competition.  These events provide over $10 million of economic impact to the region each year according to studies performed by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and PNRA.

“PNRA has worked hard to develop a race course and overall regatta experience that is nationally recognized as being one of the best. It’s exciting to be the host venue for so many prominent events this spring” stated Events Manager, Hilary Gehman.  “The Mercer County Park facilities and the great volunteers in the area have allowed us to build this reputation.”

2016 marks the third year that PNRA has hosted the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship Regatta.  The IRA scheduled for June 3-5, 2016, is the National Championship for the collegiate open men, lightweight men and lightweight women which are not NCAA championship sports.  First raced in 1870, the IRA National Championship came into its current form in 1895 and figures prominently in the bestselling book “Boys In The Boat.” Last year saw the University of Washington edging out California-Berkeley and Princeton for the open men’s championship with Cornell and Stanford taking the lightweight men’s and lightweight women’s National Championships respectively.

USRowing’s Youth National Championship will take place June 10-12.  This event brings together the top scholastic and club teams from throughout the United States to crown the National Champion in 18 different events.  Last year’s Youth National Championship in Sarasota, FL, featured 163 teams from 39 states.  PNRA’s Mercer Junior Program will work toward improving last year’s second place finish as they compete on their home course.

PNRA’s Mercer Junior Rowing Programs will also be competing in the Mercer Lake Sprints, April 16-17 and the USRowing Mid-Atlantic Junior Championships, May 7-8.  Both of these events are for high school aged athletes representing both club and scholastic programs.  The Mercer Lake Sprints will bring 2,500 athletes from as far away as Georgia and Illinois to compete in the two day event.  New in 2016 is the Sweep Sprint Championship Event. This will be the last event of the regatta on Sunday and will be limited to the top 6 teams. Teams will be selected based on performance in their Women’s Varsity 8, Men’s Varsity 8, Women’s Varsity 4, and Men’s Varsity 4. Each of these 4 boats will race 500 meters in relay style to determine the overall Sweep Sprint Champion.  The Mid-Atlantic Championships will feature approximately 1,500 athletes and serve as the qualifying event for the 2016 USRowing Youth National Championships.

The Knecht Cup scheduled for April 9-10, is one of the largest collegiate regattas in the country. This regatta is a 2 day collegiate regatta that attracts 70 teams from as far away as San Diego, CA, and Florida.  On May 15, the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and Ivy League will share Mercer Lake for their Conference Championships.  The winners of each of the conference championships will earn a berth at the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships.

As a U.S.A. Olympic Training Site, PNRA will host 3 sets of trials races to select teams for international competition in 2016.  On April 6-7, PNRA hosts the trials to select the USA Paralympic TA2x team that will compete in Gavarate, Italy, in an attempt to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic regatta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 9-12.  June 20-22 will see the trials for the US Olympic Rowing Team pairs (2-) to determine who will represent the United States in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, August 6-14.  The teams for the Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships will be selected in races scheduled for July 18-22.  The Championship will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, August 20-28.

The Mercer Lake race course will also host several smaller dual races between the programs that row out of the Caspersen Rowing Center.  Among these is the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Championship on May 14.

The 2016 calendar is as follows:

April 6-7: US Paralympic TA2X Team Trials

April 9-10: Knecht Cup

April 16-17: Mercer Lake Sprints

May 7-8: USRowing Mid-Atlantic Junior Regionals

May 14: Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) Championships

May 15: Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), and Ivy League conference Championships

June 3-5: Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships

June 10-12: USRowing Youth National Championships

June 20-22: Olympic Trials II (2- trials)

July 18-22: Junior/U23/Senior World Championship Trials

November 5-6: Collegiate Small Boat Championship

November 12-13: Frostbite and Braxton Regattas

Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Events Manager Hilary Gehman at hgehman@rowpnra.org or call 609-799-7100 x106 for more information.

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. PNRA has received generous support from Wells Fargo Investment Advisors Gould Group, JLRacing and Killarney’s Publick House.

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

http://dailyprincetonian.com/sports/2016/02/princeton-mens-rowing-looks-to-make-immediate-impact-in-the-water-clinch-important-titles-in-championship-races/

The PNRA winter newsletter is now available at: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs156/1104387530135/archive/1123670406834.html

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2016

West Windsor, NJ – The Princeton National Rowing Association (“PNRA”) is pleased to welcome Hilary Gehman to our team in the role of Events Manager.  In this position, Ms. Gehman will coordinate PNRA’s regattas, summer camps and corporate rowing events.  Over 15,000 athletes compete in PNRA’s regattas each year.   PNRA’s events contribute over $10 million in economic impact to the Mercer County area each year.  PNRA operates the Caspersen Rowing Center which is located on Mercer Lake, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, New Jersey.  The Mercer Lake venue has been characterized by USRowing as “arguably one of the best regatta courses in the country.”

A two time Olympian, Ms. Gehman is a successful collegiate coach most recently leading the Cornell Women’s program to a silver medal finish at the Ivy League Championship in 2011.  Hilary began her rowing career at Colby College before moving to Portland, OR where she both rowed for the Station L Rowing Club and Coached for Lewis and Clark College.  She made the US National Team in 1999 and competed in the quadruple sculls in both the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.  While a member of the National Team, Hilary served as the Novice Women’s Coach at Georgetown University.  In 2004 she moved to Cornell University first as an assistant coach before taking the helm as Head Women’s Coach in 2007.

“I am thrilled to join PNRA as the Events Manager,” Ms. Gehman stated.  “PNRA has a reputation of running top level events and I look forward to continuing to build on that tradition.”

“We are pleased to welcome Hilary to our organization,” said Kristopher Grudt, Executive Director of PNRA.  “She brings a wealth of knowledge to PNRA that will enable us to continue to run regattas which are among the best in the country.”

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 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. www.rowPNRA.org

For more information contact Kristopher Grudt, 609-799-7100 x100, krisgrudt@rowpnra.org

Sports Illustrated has named the US Women’s 8+ as one of the team to watch at this summer’s 2016 Rio Olympics: http://www.si.com/2016/01/13/rio-olympic-games-us-womens-rowing

by USRowing video by Ed Moran, ed@usrowing.org | Jan 11, 2016

The Princeton National Rowing Association is pleased to announce the release of its 2015 Annual Report.  The report can be found at the following link:

2015 PNRA ANNUAL REPORT

For a hard copy of this report, please contact Kris Grudt at krisgrudt@rowpnra.org or 609-799-7100.

The USA Women’s 8+ was named to the United States Olympic Committee’s top 15 Sports Women of 2015.  Congratulations! It is an honor well deserved and represents the dedication, drive, talent and commitment of not only these nine women but of all of the women at the Training Center in Princeton.  Thank you for letting us be a part of your journey.

Top 15 Team USA Women Of 2015

As part of their Olympic coverage, NBC Sports profiles the US Women’s 8+ coxswain (and MJRC Coach) Katelin Snyder.

Katelin Snyder is the new voice commanding U.S. rowing’s dynasty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Jennifer Guhl

Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce

Marketing & Communications Director

(609) 924-1776, ext. 104

Jennifer@princetonchamber.org

Princeton, NJ – December 7, 2015 – The Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA), jointly with the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau (PRCVB), have announced the results of an economic impact study for the major rowing regattas that took place in 2015.

The study found that $6.1 million in direct sales, $10.16 million in total sales, 3,254 direct jobs, 4,349 total jobs, and $569,402 in local and state taxes can be attributed to the major rowing regattas in Mercer County. . “Mercer Lake and Mercer County Park is recognized as one of the top rowing venues in the country. Because of this, we have some on the most prestigious events in the country that have chosen to bring their events here,” said Kristopher Grudt, Executive Director for PNRA. “The Princeton National Rowing Association is proud to be able to work with the Mercer County Parks to host these events which have a positive economic impact to our region.” These events include the Mercer Lake Sprints, Mid-Atlantic Junior Regionals, Collegiate Small Boat Challenge, and the IRA & SRAA National Championships.

“We are seeing a tangible return on our investment into our award-winning park facilities, as shown by the increased number of events, including these popular regattas,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “National events such as these attract thousands of people to discover Mercer County’s many cultural, historical and recreational offerings, creating significant economic opportunities for our region.”

Kevin Bannon, Executive Director of the Mercer County Park Commission commented the he is, “thrilled but not surprised to learn just how much economic impact the regattas at Mercer County Park are having. PNRA and the Mercer County Park Commission are great partners and Mercer Lake is as good as it gets. I look forward to hosting some prestigious events in the coming years.” The Princeton National Rowing Association is home to the world class Caspersen Rowing Center and has hosted the United States National Team Selection events, including the 1988, 1992, 2004, 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Rowing.

“As the area’s official destination marketing organization, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud that we are the national home for the sport of rowing,” said Peter Crowley, President & CEO of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Independent businesses, non-profit organizations, and downtown and commercial corridors all benefit from the positive economic impact rowing brings each year to Mercer County.”

The Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau – is a destination marketing organization that creates strategic alliances in an effort to drive tourism and increase economic growth and impact for the Princeton Mercer Region and is a program of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization committed to promoting business growth within the Princeton Region and surrounding areas.

With more than 3,000 individual contacts and more than 1,100 Member companies, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce membership is primarily focused in five central New Jersey counties and stretches as far as New York, Philadelphia and Canada. Learn more at princetonchamber.org or visitprinceton.org.

182 Nassau Street

Suite 301

Princeton, N.J. 08542

Phone 609-924-1776

Fax 609-924-5776

www.princetonchamber.org