Arshay Cooper with PNRA/Mercer's STEM to Stern

Arshay Cooper (third from left), Author of the book turned movie A Most Beautiful Thing, gave an inspiring talk at the Princeton Varsity Club's speaker series on Wednesday, November 8. In attendance were members of PNRA/Mercer's STEM to Stern program (shown in photo) along with Mercer Junior and Masters athletes and coaches. Learn more about Arshay Cooper as well as the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund.

"Don't step over the mess"

Mercer Juniors Fall Fundraiser

and Auction

The auction is live and available for bids. Check out the items HERE (more items are being added so be sure to check back). Final bidding will take place at the Fall Fundraiser on November 19.

2023 Mercer Juniors Fall Fundraiser and Auction

Sunday, November 19, 2023

12:00-2:30pm

Conte's Pizza

339 Witherspoon Street

Princeton, NJ 08542

Purchase your ticket HERE!

If you have items or services that you would like to contribute or would like to assist with organizing the auction, please contact either Hilary or Kris.

STEM to Stern Fundraising

PNRA and Princeton University's STEM to Stern program works with middle school aged students from the Trenton area. Students take a Princeton University bus to the Caspersen Rowing Center where they have rowing instruction on the ergs, barge and rowing boats and then learn about STEM from Princeton Rowing team volunteers.

Last year the STEM to Stern program cost $30,000. The largest component of this cost is transportation which Princton University and the Princeton University Rowing Association (PURA) are covering. You can help to keep this amazing program going by making a donation. Through Giving Tuesday (Tuesday, November 28), you can donate to the PURA STEM to Stern fund: PURA STEM to Stern Program Donations

Additionally, this year the Open weight Women’s team will be running the Princeton Half Marathon on November 12 in support of the national STEM to Stern organization! Here is the Rower’s for Change donation page: Princeton Rowing ‘Rower’s for Change’ Donation Page

Boat Christening

Honoring of Pete Reed '07

The Varsity Boys christened their new Hudson 8+ in honor of former Mercer rower Pete Reed. After graduating from Bordentown High School, Pete joined the Marine Corp. serving two tours in Afghanistan. After leaving the Marine Corps, Pete co-founded Global Response Medicine which provides medical care to people in conflict areas, many times in areas right behind the front-lines lines where others would not go.

Pete was killed in early 2023 while working as a humanitarian aid worker in Ukraine.

The boat dedication took place after the Mercer Fall Classic races on Sunday, November 5. It was a beautiful day and a perfect setting for this ceremony. Friends of the Reed family were in attendance and shared stories about Pete from when he was on the Mercer team as well as his dedication to serving others. Thank you to those who attended.

Mercer Fall Classic Recap

In 2018 PNRA founded the Mercer Fall Classic with an idea to combine a head race with a sprint race taking full advantage of Mercer Lake. Crews race a 4.5 kilometer head race in the morning which starts and ends at the 2,000 meter finish line. The head race results are used to seed 2,000 meter sprint races in the afternoon. The winner of the event is based on the combined results of the head race and the sprint race.

The Mercer Fall Classic format has quickly gained interest among the junior programs with teams coming from as far away as Virginia to participate. As one visiting coach stated "This is my favorite race of the year."

The 2023 edition of the Mercer Fall Classic featured 11 teams and 90 entries racing on a beautiful autumn day.



Men's Varsity 8+

1st place Mercer 1V Combined time 20:41.89

3rd Place Mercer 2V Combined time 21:22.62

5th place Mercer 3V

9th place Mercer 4V

10th place Mercer 5V

16th place Mercer 6V

Men's Varsity 4+

1st place Mercer 1V Combined time 23:09.34

2nd place Mercer 2V Combined time 23:34.92

3rd place Hun Combined time 23:53.64

4th place Mercer 3V

6th place Hun 2V

7th place Mercer 4V

8th place Mercer 5V

9th place Mercer 6V

11th place Mercer 7V

13th place Hun 3V

Women's Varsity 8+

3rd place Mercer 1V Combined time 23:53.07

4th place Mercer 2V

13th place Mercer 3V

21st place Mercer 4V

Women's Varsity 4+

3rd place Mercer 1V Combined time 27:58.55

5th place Mercer 2V

6th place Mercer 3V

9th place Mercer 4V

Men's Novice 8+

1st place Mercer 1N Combined time 24:06.22

4th place Mercer 2N

7th place Mercer 3N

Women's Novice8+)

3rd place Mercer 1N Combined time 28:29.13

5th place Mercer 2N

Alumni Row - November 25

Coach Jamie is organizing an alumni row for Mercer alumni/ae back in town for Thanksgiving break. Tentative plan is for Saturday, November 25, weather dependent. Please fill out this form if interested in attending.

Veterans Day

MJRC Alumna Abby Gross

On Veterans Day we hope everyone will take a moment to think of all of those who have served our country so that we can enjoy the opportunities that we have. We want to especially thank those in our rowing community who sacrificed of themselves and in some cases their lives.

If you know someone who served in our armed forces, please reach out to them and say "Thank you" for their service.



Veteran's Day was originally called Armistice Day to mark the 11th hour, of the 11 day, of the 11th month of 1918 when the armies of World War I lay down their arms and stopped fighting. In 2023, we can again work toward the same goal of all peoples laying down their weapons and working toward peace.

Lost and Found

It is amazing how fast the water bottles and lost clothing items accumulate at the boathouse. Please check the growing pile of lost and found before the items are donated at the end of the fall season.

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.

Click here to donate now.

Thank you.



Mercer Team gear is still available - hats, scarves, umbrellas, shirts . . .

Show your Mercer Spirit!

Contact Hilary Gehman