Head Coaches Remarks - 2008 Awards Banquet / Awards Winners

5/27/2008


Welcome to our 5th annual awards banquet. My thanks go to everyone who has made this event a possibility. In particular Julia Klammer and Marcia Horenemus-Pate for organization and decoration. I’d also like to thank my wife Cathy for her support. Especially as we are starting our own crew team at this point in time!

Thanks go to everyone for taking the time to honor our boosters, our officers, coaches and most importantly our athletes. These student athletes have worked harder than any other team previously in the history of the juniors program.

On that note, I want to take the time to thank our captains Elena Fisher, Paige Fedon, Andrew Pate and Chris Light. Following the tradition started last year, I have invited the captains to say a few words to us all.

We’ve worked hard for one of the best seasons to date. Highlights for me include an undefeated girl’s varsity 8+ in the fall. 5 titles at the SWEAT ergometer competition, 27 out of 39 athletes medaling at the Central Districts, Ropes Course in the fall, most successful RowAThon in the history of the program, Heart of Texas best ever results and the list goes on and on…

Personally speaking, rowing the head of the Charles ten years after graduating at Boston University was a personal highlight for me. But, that takes a far distant second to the fact that my wife and I are looking forward to our first child in October. So, I’m guessing that I won’t be able to row the Charles this year!

I was fortunate to listen to Coach Larry Gluckman at a conference that I attended late last year. He described his role as Head coach of Trinity College in Connecticut as a “Manager of Opportunity”.

I thought about this hard and was appreciative of his perspective, especially when I think about the opportunities that I’ve had rowing in high school. Rowing on the national team, building a program ranked out of the top 10 to the top 3, rowing on hydroelectric dams in Switzerland against 200 other scullers over an 8km course (all rowers start at the same time) to rowing at Henley Royal regatta and even making it to semi final day my senior year. I’ve even had the opportunity to take spring break trips to Germany and Belgium.

In general, rowing has been a huge part of my life and who I am. It’s a blessing to be in a place where these possibilities will be possible to these athletes here sitting in this room.

One of the special things about my high school program was that if an athlete represented Great Britain and won a medal at the World Championships then they received the honor of having a small boat named after them. Therefore, starting this year we will name one of the small boats after the first athlete in the program who earns the honor of representing the US National team on any level (i.e. Junior, Under-23 and Senior Team). The boat will have an interim name until such time that an athlete represents the US national team.

I love the sport of rowing because as Coach Peters says, you get out what you put in. There are no timeouts and athletes must discipline themselves whether a coach is watching or not. On race day athletes are pushed away from the dock and must fend for themselves and make good decisions.

Over the past six years we have gone from a crew of 10 to a roster of over 40 athletes. We’ve gone from owning no boats to a fleet of 3 eights, 4 fours, 1 quad and 4 pair/doubles.

We are now training athletes to row at top Division I programs such as Yale, Gonzaga and the University of Tulsa. We now have athletes that are competing at the top levels and achieving great success. For example. Anne Campbell was a member of the University of Tulsa’s novice four that was undefeated this season and won the Gold medal at the Dad Vail competition. Also, Kelsey Kline rowing for OCU placed second in the novice fours at the American Collegiate national championship in the novice fours.

In addition, I would like to thank Ned Beattie, Sam Stone and Mike Kneafsey and Tulsa Rowing Club for their support of our program. These gentlemen continually support our program and recognize the benefit to the community. I’m appreciative of their contributions in terms of time, money and advice.

This year we had our second season of Holland Hall crew. Thanks to the support of the school and parents the team grew from 6 athletes to 12 athletes.

At this point in the proceedings, I would like to take the time to acknowledge the “exhibition” Holland Hall team. For the second time in Oklahoma High School history these young men and women are being awarded varsity letters by their school for participating in the TRC Jrs program. Please step forward when I announce your name. Special thanks to Headmaster Doctor Mark Desjardins and Athletic Director Steve Heldebrand for their support of these young men and women.

Anna Royce, Jeffrey Moseley, Colin Billings, Alex Halterman, Andrea Joyce, Emily Dudney, Caroline Kempe, Molly Schale, Rachel Ellinor, Emily Carstens, Melissa Burgert, Courtenay Cass.

It’s a sign of the progress when we end up graduating nine or so seniors each year. I’ll say this again…ouch! I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all of following for their time, commitment, effort and sacrifice over the last year and in some cases up to four years.

Please step forward to receive your gift as I read your name.

Catharine Brierre – BTW (University of Tulsa)
Paige Fedon – Cascia Hall (Yale)
Elena Fisher – TSAS – (OCU)
Chris Light – BTW (Gonzaga)
Kevin Marshall – Jenks – (OU)
Andrew Pate – Jenks (Boston University)
Liz Snyder – Jenks (OSU)
Bronwyn Tawney – Jenks (OU)
Dakota Wilkin – Jenks – (University of Arkansas)

As far as the rest of the team is concerned, we have awards for your participation in the program this year. Please step forward when I call your name.

Boosters Thanks

This year our president has been Claudia Brierre. Claudia has been fantastic in her passion to drive the program to the next level. She has an eye for detail and has been available to help with whatever has been needed. Claudia was also instrumental in helping us purchase the Pocock small boats to the program. Thanks go to her for her time effort and vision.

I must thank Jennifer Light for her contribution as Vice-President. Jennifer was instrumental in helping us all have the most successful Row-A-Thon in the history of the program. She has raised the bar and I thank her for her planning and contribution in this regard.

I want to thank all of our boosters who helped chaperone this season. It is nice to be able to go to your room and get refreshed for the day of coaching. Thank you for allowing me to do my job and enabling us to go on the road. Your support is much appreciated.

I also appreciate the help with the dock duty. I realize that it is an extra chore given that we are now practicing in two locations, albeit a necessary one. Thanks for your support for this continuing effort.

Much appreciation goes to Stephanie Royce for being our treasurer and being so good about it. Stephanie has also taken on the role of uniform coordinator and her help in that regard has been appreciated immensely. I also want to acknowledge Mary and Roy Ames who helped us get our first batch of unis for the fall season. Thanks and gratitude go to all of them.

Liz Berntson has stepped up and taken on the role of our secretary this year. It has been wonderful to have such great documentation of our boosters meetings. Particularly as it is difficult for everyone to make all of the boosters meetings.

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Dan and Jane Charrier, who have been excellent contributors to our success on the road. I got the feeling that there was no stone left unturned and that’s an excellent place to be if you are a head coach traveling with 3 assistant coaches and 40 or so athletes. Thanks to you for your help.

I would be amiss if I didn’t thank my coaching staff. Coach Peters, Holter and Simmons are an excellent support staff and have done great things this year. From early morning workouts, boat maintenance and coaching of the novices it has been a pleasure to work with you this year. There is no way that this program would run as it does without your help. Thank you all for your contributions this year.

I have come to the end of thanking all of the adults who have impacted the program in such meaningful and significant way.

I would also like to acknowledge our athlete leadership council this year. The leadership council has met with the coaching staff this year on many different occasions. The council should ideally be composed of athletes who represent the many different types of athletes that we have on the team – both experienced and new. This year’s council was Elena Fisher, Gentry Klawitter, Chris Light, Andrew Pate, Paige Fedon, Catharine Brierre, Sam Berntson, Aaron Charrier, Kevin Marshall and Anna Royce.

It’s been a good second year and I look to make some improvements to the running of the council next year as we have learned from experiences this year. My sincere thanks to those athletes who participated this year.

Now, I turn to our athletes once more as we award those who have made significant accomplishments both in a humorous way and in a more serious manner.

"U-Boat Commander" Award (Sam Berntson and Riley Behm)

Awarded to the athlete who flips the most during the course of the season. Athletes may only win this award if they capsize unintentionally during the course of practice. (Awarded by coaching staff)

"Tuff as Nails" Award (Eric Klammer)

Awarded to the athlete who has proved himself or herself to be mentally tough and resilient above all else. (Awarded by coaching staff)

Most Improved Male Rower (Riley Behm)

Awarded to the male athlete, who by his contribution, commitment and performance has improved his rowing over the course of the season. (Awarded by coaching staff)

Most Improved Female Rower (Sylvie Flint and Abby Jones)

Awarded to the female athlete, who by her contribution, commitment and performance has improved her rowing over the course of the season. (Awarded by coaching staff)

Most Hardworking Award (Anna Royce)

Awarded to the athlete either male or female who has proved in the estimation of the coaching staff to have sustained a high degree of work ethic both on and off the water. (Awarded by coaching staff)

“Golden Coxswain” Award (Chris Light)

Awarded to the coxswain, who has demonstrated leadership, organization and commitment to the program. (Voted and Awarded by athletes)

Queen Oar Award (Elena Fisher)

Awarded to the female rower or coxswain who has demonstrated her commitment and leadership over the course of the season and therefore has contributed to the success of the program. Athletes must have competed in both fall and spring seasons to be eligible for this award at the end of the year. (Voted and awarded by athletes)

King Oar Award (Andrew Pate)

Awarded to the male rower or coxswain who has demonstrated his commitment and leadership over the course of the season and therefore has contributed to the success of the program. Athletes must have competed in both fall and spring seasons to be eligible for this award at the end of the year. (Voted and awarded by athletes)

Congratulations to all of these student-athletes.

We will be announcing the captains and leadership council in the near future.

My thanks go to everyone for a wonderful season. It has been a pleasure to serve you all.

Thank You.

Coach Bergenroth.