New Canaan Crew Celebrates Spring Season and Seniors!

It has been a remarkable year, culminating in seven boats qualifying to compete at US Rowing’s Youth Nationals in Lake Natoma, CA.

New Canaan crew was organized in 1997. The program is run under the guidance of Maritime Rowing Club in Norwalk and has expanded to over 110 rowers from New Canaan High School, Darien High School, King School in Stamford, Joel Barlow School in Redding and several other schools in the area and as far away as New Haven. Rowers from the program compete regionally, nationally and internationally on the U.S. Junior National Team and have been medal winners on at all levels. The team has garnered 12 national championships as well as countless regional and state championships.

Notable awards included the following –

The Cole-Campbell-Walsh Award, named after the boathouse’s three Olympians, was awarded to Allyson Johnson for her accomplishments in a single and the men’s top varsity quad, William Legenzowski, Salim Onbargi, Nathan Phelps, and Liam Galloway.

The Vengerovsky Award, named after head coaches Yan and Olga Vengerovsky, was awarded to the Women’s Varsity Lightweight four, Rachel Smith, Mackenzie Cote, Gwenan Walker, and Lexy Smicka, coxed by Mary Cate Carlo and the Men’s Varsity Lightweight four with Reese Gregory, Tyler Brennan, Ryan Borsy, and Ryan Sill, and coxed by Carly Legenzowski.

The Most Improved Award, presented to the rowers voted by their team mates and coaches.as having most improved their overall rowing skills and has demonstrated a positive attitude towards teammates and coaches, was awarded to Ava MacNeal and Jasper Tucker.

The Junior Varsity Award, presented annually to the JV team members who, in the opinion of their coaches, demonstrates an unbridled enthusiasm for rowing, a high degree of motivation to learn and embraces the spirit of New Canaan Crew, was awarded to Blake Whitakker.

The Novice Award, presented annually to the novice team members who, in the opinion of their coaches, demonstrate an unbridled enthusiasm for rowing, a high degree of motivation to learn and embrace the spirit of New Canaan Crew, was awarded to Lily Plum and Dylan Thom.

And the Pettee Cup, which was originated and donated by Andy and Mike Pettee in 1999, presented to members of the team who, in the opinion of their coaches, have demonstrated an outstanding spirit and enthusiasm for rowing, an unrestrained willingness to learn and the highest level of motivation, was awarded to Rachel Smith and Reese Gregory.

Pictured below are most of our graduating seniors, 15 of whom were recruited to row in college:

Alex Abbruzzese: Kent School (PG year)

Meg Adams: Bucknell University

Jack Batchelor: Tufts University

Ryan Borsy: Temple University

Tyler Brennan: Trinity College

Mary Cate Carlo: Undecided

Mackenzie Cote: University of Wisconsin

Liam Galloway: Yale University

Reese Gregory: Gap Year

Will Grotto: Cornell University

William Legenzowski: Brown University

Salim Onbaguri: Boston University

Andrew Orner: University of Pennsylvania

Natalie Partlow: Boston University

Nate Phelps: Princeton University

Ethan Reichgut: University of Pennsylvania

Chandler Schrockgule: University of Washington

Skylar Severance: Montana State University

Ryan Sill: Syracuse University

Lexy Smicka: Bates College

Rachel Smith: University of Wisconsin

James Trentos: Gap Year (Then Going to UBC)

Jasper Tucker: Bates College

Alex Williams: Tufts University