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Volume 33 | August 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.
From the Executive Director
The most satisfying aspect of working with our organization is the impact that we have on the lives of the participants in our programs. 

At the boathouse, we get to see firsthand the development that takes place in a young athlete. This goes well beyond just learning to take rowing strokes. Not only are they building fitness, but they are building confidence in themselves and their abilities, learning to set goals and breakthrough those goals. These are skills, abilities, and self-confidence that they will carry with them throughout their lives. As we send this edition of the Caspersen Rowing Center Happenings, not only do we get to wish those athletes are preparing to leave home to go to college good luck, but we also get to celebrate the achievements of several of our athletes, one who has become a World Champion, another who is a member of Team USA at the Tokyo Paralympics and a third who has developed the skills and confidence to paddle across the lake.
 
On behalf of our coaches and staff, I want to say thank you to our rowing community and supporters. Thank you for your support and for letting us all share in your journey. 
 
We invite you to continue with us as we marvel in the achievements of our rowers.
 
Kris Grudt
World Rowing Junior Championship
Thank you Ed and Row2k for the photo!
The World Rowing Junior Championship took place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria August 11th to 15th. For the first time in the US brought home three gold medals winning the men's eight, women's eight, and women's four. In the men's eight was PNRA's own Julian Thomas who was in three seat (back row, far right)! Congratulations to all the Junior World Rowers!


Julian will be continuing his rowing career at Dartmouth College this fall.

Swim to Row
Since mid-spring, our Outreach and Inclusion Manager Arlynn Baer has been running Swim to Row twice a week. Through this innovative program, participants initially at the Hamilton YMCA where they take swim lessons. They then transition to one day of swim lessons and the second day they row at Caspersen Boathouse. In the final stage both days each week are at the boathouse.

Yesterday was the last day for some of our Swim to Row athletes and we are so proud of all the progress they have made. We are so pleased we were able to run this program safely and with so much support.

Here are some comments from the families of athletes in the program:

At a time when public school attendance has been the 50 to 70% , the efforts of Swim to Row has yielded attendance at 80 to 100%. One student told his grandmother: I get up thinking about swimming and can’t wait until Tuesday and Thursday’s after school is over.

One of the boys, when he went to Princeton Blairstown, got in the canoe and rowed on the Lake. He told his grandmother: I dreamed about getting on that Lake, and I do now know how to swim!  

2020 Tokyo Paralympics
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics begins next week. Taking to the starting line at the Sea Forest Waterway on Friday, August 27 (Tokyo time) will be Mercer Alumn John Tanguay as a member of the PR3 Mixed 4+. We wish John and all of TeamUSA the best of luck!

NBC Sports will be covering the Paralympics - check NBC's site for details.
Fall Registration Update
It is strongly recommended that all participants in the Mercer Juniors and Masters Rowing Programs be fully vaccinated prior to the beginning of the fall season (September 7, 2021). All participants will be asked to provide proof of their vaccination status. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be asked to provide weekly COVID testing results in order to participate in the programs. Additionally, the ability of non-vaccinated participants to compete in regattas may be restricted. Non-vaccinated individuals may be asked to wear face masks during some workouts in order to minimize potential transmission to others. If you have concerns or questions about this requirement, please contact Hilary Gehman or Kris Grudt.

The current regulations which require that face masks be worn on land will continue. Athletes will be allowed to remove their masks when they are rowing in a boat on the water or while they are engaged in a workout on land that requires the removal of a mask.
The Mercer Juniors will continue to stagger the starts and finishes of all practices to minimize the congregating of athletes. Athletes will be asked to arrive at the beginning of their practice time and leave when they are finished with their practices.
Our registration fees have increased from last year. There was a planned increase in fees scheduled to begin last year, but due to COVID and our reduced programming, we did not implement this increased fee structure. The fees for the fall will be $850 for Varsity and $800 for Novice. Both programs have an additional $100 facility fee. We do have a sibling discount available - you will need to contact Hilary Gehman to receive a sibling coupon code to use when registering.

The Varsity registration link is for Tryouts (free). Anyone who has completed two seasons (winter and spring, or spring and summer) of Novice is eligible to register for Varsity Tryouts. The tryout period will be approximately one week and at the end of that period, the coaches will determine which program (Varsity or JV/Novice) each athlete should register for. The registration and payment link for Varsity will be available at the conclusion of the tryout period. I will be sending out a more detailed email with guidelines for varsity later this week.

If you go to Lawrenceville, Peddie, or Hun, you are not able to row for Mercer as each of those schools has a rowing team you can join!
SWING
Last fall the Mercer Varsity Boys were tasked with creating part of the soundscape for a movie that was in production. The movie, titled SWING starring Michael Shannon, has just been picked up for U.S. distribution by Vertical Entertainment. A late fall premiere is planned.
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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