Volume 36 | October 2021
Caspersen Rowing Center Happenings
Providing a venue where athletes of all ages, talents and backgrounds have the opportunity to develop their rowing ability to their highest potential.
Novice ATL with Swan Creek
The Novice team enjoyed an additional Saturday practice on October 9th. Even with a slightly windy day and cooler weather, everyone enjoyed being out on the lake to practice our "Around the Lake," (ATL) course from the finish line to the finish line. The coxes had a great practice of the two turns in the starting area. 

We were joined by boats from both the Mercer Varsity Boys and Girls team as well as boats from our friends at Swan Creek Rowing. 

It was a great introduction to Fall racing and the athletes started with a self-directed warm-up and had to get to the start line on time without coaches' assistance - all great experiences to prepare us for the upcoming races at the end of October and early November. 

After the practice, we all enjoyed time together as a team eating the snacks our Novice Parents provided - Thank You, Parents, for your ongoing support! 

A big Thank You to Kris Grudt, our Director who timed the ATL's and helped facilitate the practice session. Times for the ATL's can be found here. 

Another big Thank You to Mr. Kelly, a parent of a Mercer Alum and current Novice Assistant Coach, Katherine Kelly who braved the cold and took photos of all our boats out racing. 


Head of the Charles
This weekend is The Head of the Charles Regatta! We are excited to send athletes to this event and wish them the best of luck! The races will take place on Sunday, October 24th

8:24 AM - Women's Youth 4 (Mercer bow #14)
9:44 AM - Women's Youth 8 (Mercer bow #10)
11:28 AM - Men's Youth 4 (Mercer bow #28)
12:43 PM - Men's Youth 8 (Mercer bow #14)

Stem to Stern with USRowing

Stem to Stern has taken off since we started 5 weeks ago. The students have been super engaged with all the activities. They love getting out on the water and being a part of the team. They have also been participating in STEM activities and swim lessons, which they love. This program started in Milwaukee and we have become one of its established sites!

USRowing and STEM to Stern have joined forces to expand the reach and accessibility of rowing across the United States, making it the largest rowing program focused on diversity, inclusion, and competition in the country.

Congrats to PJ Kaputa!
Congratulations to PJ Kaputa on becoming a USRowing Referee.  After years of driving launches, PJ decided to take the next step and recently took and the examination to become a Referee. We look forward to seeing PJ being driven down the racecourse with flags in hand.

Row's Colored History
A Presentation
At 7 p.m., Friday, October 29th, the Princeton Public Library, Princeton University Art Museum, and Labyrinth Book Store in Princeton are sponsoring a book talk by Rowing Historian Bill Lanouette.

The author will discuss the famous Eakins’ paintings of The Biglin Brothers rowing on the Schuylkill in 1872, how they were caught up in the betting and cheating scandals that killed professional rowing, and the consequent rise of rowing as a purely amateur sport in the U.S., including the establishment of the U.S. Rowing Association, now headquartered in Princeton.
 
Lanouette will be giving a different version of this talk on the evening of October 28 on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia before the Schuylkill Regatta begins. The next day he comes to Princeton and will give this broader talk. He will be giving still another version at the Yale Bookstore.
Fall Fundraiser!
Please mark your calendars and for Saturday, November 20 from 12 pm to 3 pm for our Annual Fall Fundraiser! We will be IN PERSON this year at Conte's Pizza in Princeton. More details and ticket sales to come soon!

One of the main features of the fall fundraiser is the auction. We are planning to go live with the auction the first week of November. This is where we need your help. If you have any goods or services you'd like to donate, please contact Hilary or Kris. In past years we have had some amazing items donated by parents from handmade quilts to gift cards to professional consultations! Please reach out if you've got ideas or items for the auction!
Does your employer have a matching gift program?
Check out the Matching Gift finder feature on our website. Click here to find if your employer has a program.
We're all in this together!!
Your support today will make a difference.

Thank you.

Mercer Team gear is still available - face masks, hats, scarves, umbrellas, shirts . . .
Show your Mercer Spirit!
Contact Jules Howarth jhowarth@rowpnra.org
PNRA is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit corporation. We are grateful to all who support our mission and could not do it without you! We gladly accept gifts of appreciated stock and corporate matching gifts. Have questions? Contact Kris at krisgrudt@rowPNRA.org
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