Volume 51 | August 2022

Caspersen Rowing Center Happenings
Visit our Website at www.rowpnra.org
Providing a venue where athletes of all ages, talents and backgrounds have the opportunity to develop their rowing ability to their highest potential.
Royal Canadian Henley Regatta

The 138th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta was held in St. Catharines, Ontario from August 2-7. Mercer attended this prestigious regatta with 56 athletes representing all the Caspersen rowing programs. Congratulations to all the Peddie, Lawrenceville, Hun, and Mercer rowers who competed!


Click here for a List of Race Results from the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta website.


Extra congratulations to the Men's U17 4+ and 8+ who won Henley GOLD and the Women's U19 8+ who placed 2nd!




Athletes reflect on the Canadian Henley Experience

Jackie Qin, the cox for Women's U19 8+: 


We went into the race not knowing at all how we would place, having only practiced in our final lineup twice and with a lot of unfamiliar competition. Because of that, we knew that we had to trust our fitness, really lay everything out on the water, and see how hard we could push ourselves. We started off the line towards the back of the pack, but with a very strong middle 1k . . .

Click here to read more from Jackie!

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 Swathi Bodduluri on the Henley experience:


Canadian Henley was a shaping experience for me as a rower. As someone who is still pretty new to rowing the opportunity to compete at such a high level and interact with rowers from all over was truly amazing.

Click here to read more from Swathi!



Hun rower Rory Shore on his Henley experience:


Mercer summer was a challenging yet competitive experience. We started off the summer in the blazing heat. As the summer progressed we worked our way into a variety of boats including 8+s, 4+/4- and 2-‘s.

Click here to read more from Rory! 

STEM to Stern Donations for Rube Goldberg machine project 

Our STEM to Stern Program will be building a Rube Goldberg machine during their STEM programming this fall!


If you have any marbles or extra supplies that would be helpful please reach out to our Outreach Manager: Arlynn Baer


Examples; 

Marbles sets 

blocks 

cardboard 

plastic tubing 

Fall Programming Registration
Fall Registration links are now up for both the varsity and novice teams!

Click HERE to register.

Meet Sarah Kaputa

Mercer Varsity Girls tri-Captain

Sarah has been rowing for 3 years with Mercer and was elected as one of the new captains for the women's varsity team! Congratulations Sarah!


Below are some of the answers Sarah provided to questions about her rowing experience!



Favorite thing about the sport: The people, most definitely. I don’t think I could go through all of the mental and physical hardships and put in my 110% without such amazing athletes and coaches by my side. We push each other to be the best we can be, and I really love and appreciate it. I don’t believe any other sport is like that.


Biggest Achievements in Rowing: Second place at Canley in the U19 8+ was a pretty awesome achievement!


What does rowing mean to you: Is it cliché to say everything? There’s nothing I love more than being out on the water or going my hardest on an erg piece. No matter what kind of day I had before I came to practice, I can wash it away and do what I’m best at, with the people who mean the most to me. 


Click Here to Read More!


 

The National Team is Here!

The Caspersen Rowing Center is the home of USRowing's National teams. With the 2024 Paris Olympics and Worlds just around the corner, the National Team activities at the Caspersen Rowing Center and in the Princeton area are in full swing!


The final set of National Team Selection Trials for the W1x and M2x took place on Mercer Lake, August 8 & 9.


With the team now fully selected (see USRowing's  announcement of the 2022 Senior Team roster here), almost the entire Team is training here in Mercer County preparing for the World Rowing Senior World Championship in Racice, Czech Republic.  Racing will begin on September 18.


So, when you see the tall, very fit person with calluses on their hands in the store stocking up on a lot of food, they just may be a part of TeamUSA.


Welcome to all the athletes! Welcome to our community! Thank you for making us part of your journey!

We look forward to sharing the water!

Host A National Team Rower

Interested in hosting a National Team athlete and being a part of an athlete's Olympic journey? The Caspersen Rowing Center is the USRowing National Training Site and athletes who come here to train are often looking for low or no rent housing options as they pursue their Olympic dreams. Click HERE to learn more about this great opportunity. Please reach out to Hilary if you are interested.

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 Hilary Gehman

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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