Stewards Letter Bob Ernst’s 40th Anniversary Race Season ur own Bob Ernst is making history this year as the longest-standing UW coach. He’s made an indelible Omark on Washington Rowing and we’re excited to usher in his 40th race season with him. “It’s hard to find many individuals in life The Husky II sits idle, ready for the start of another great season. Photo courtesy La Vie Photography who have devoted 40+ years to their pro- fession, let alone those who have achieved and potential of the women’s team to get back to the top. consistent success,” said Blake Nordstrom, Dear Supporters, They are training hard for what will be a very competitive Board of Rowing Stewards co-chair. “I season. had the good fortune to have Bob as my We said goodbye recently to a rowing legend who was the Though our competitors have picked up on many of our freshman coach back in the 1970s and I’m epitome of Washington Rowing, Stan Pocock. It is a tre- winning habits, strategies and tactics, what they don’t have pleased to share with all of you he is now mendous honor for the program to be associated with such is the incredible enthusiasm and level of engagement that celebrating 40 years coaching at the Uni- an iconic figure in rowing, and we’d like to pause to reflect Husky Crew supporters bring to each event. Whether it’s a versity of Washington. Every day, Bob is ex- on Stan’s many contributions as a rower, coach, boat builder, race on the Charles, a memorial for a storied boatmaker, or cited about the challenge at hand, working and champion of our program. a VBC banquet, we’re always in awe of the steadfast, undy- with the student athletes. His commitment, Stan Pocock made history, and we can think of no great- ing support for our program. loyalty, and competitiveness have never er tribute to him than to continue that tradition. Both the Our priority this year is to harness that energy even fur- been brighter. We’re all fortunate to be the men’s and women’s teams are poised to do just that this ther, and build upon the success of The Boys in the Boat with recipient of his many contributions.” season. The men’s team has tremendous momentum after some enhanced public relations to let more people know Thank you, Bob, for dedicating your ca- winning titles five of the last six seasons, and they’re on the what is happening with our remarkable program. We’ll be reer to Husky Crew. We are forever grateful. cusp of winning five straight National Championship titles, updating you as always through SWEEP and various social Here’s to your best race season yet! which no program has ever done. We are witnessing one of media. the greatest athletic streaks in our region’s sports history. Here’s to continued success both on and off the water in 2015! In this issue We are also excited about the consistently terrific showing Sincerely, Stewards Letter ..............................3 Women’s Season Outlook............... 4 Men’s Season Outlook.................... 5 Class of 2015 .................................. 6 Feature: Dr. Paul Ramsey ................8 A Sisterly Act .................................. 9 The Boy’s in the Boat Q&A .............10 Windermere Cup Preview ..............11 Feature: Fiona Gammond .............. 12 Remembering Stan Pocock............. 13 Class Notes......................................14 Blake Nordstrom John Kueber Co-chairs 2015 Schedule.................................15 Washington Rowing Board of Stewards 2 THE WASHINGTON ROWING MAGAZINE 3 Women’s Season Outlook Men’s Season Outlook be the most challenging we have ever had in my tenure. I’m On the Verge of hopeful it will prepare us to perform at our optimum at the IRA. We start off by traveling to Providence, RI, to race the second fastest Varsity 8 at last year’s IRA: Brown University Rowing History on April 4. The following week we travel to Redwood Shores to race Stanford, and later that evening race our Northwest By Michael Callahan rivals the Oregon State Beavers. The double up in one day e have the opportunity to do something that will test our oarsmen mentally and physically. hasn’t ever been done before in intercollegiate The Cal Bears come to Seattle on April 25! Mark the date rowing history: win a fifth consecutive title in on the calendar for this one. The Bears have been building Wthe men’s Varsity 8 at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association a deep, strong and talented program over the last few years. National Championship and build off our already record- They were the 2V and 3V champions and Varsity 8 Bronze breaking eighth Ten Eyck Team Point Trophy. We are medalist at the 2014 IRA. They are the only collegiate team extremely excited and motivated by the challenge. to finish in front of our Varsity 8 over 2000 meters since The team is deeper and more experienced than it has been 2011. We want to give them a raucous Husky welcome the last two years. I’m happy to have a large senior class of when they get to Montlake. 14 students. It is led by 2014 contrib- uting Varsity 8 members Henry Meek, Marcus Bowyer, Matt Milner and Lisa Caldwell. The USA Men’s U-23 Bronze medal stroke Alex Perkins helps define the rhythm of the group. Alexander Malowany has done a solid job as the Commodore of the Varsity Boat Club. Edward Nainby-Luxmoore is having his best season at UW and leads the Progress - Inch by Inch & Seat by Seat! team with character. This class is also well represented by Pacific Northwest- By Bob Ernst erners Eric Ledbetter, Michael Evans, Nicholas Cypro, and fellow west coast- e are all in a hurry to win the Pac-12s and the so I am very excited to see what we can accomplish. This Photo courtesy La Vie Photography ers Zach Hershberger, Parker Ksidakis, NCAAs!! Last year’s women’s team made signif- group has a wonderful attitude, has been working very hard Sean Raffetto, all of whom help guide this team in the right The next week we will have an equally, if not harder, icant progress in our quest to get back to the top and really wants to win BIG. direction. Windermere Cup to race at Opening Day. The two-time Wand this year’s team is training very hard. As Dick Erickson always used to say “Washington Rowing reigning World Champion New Zealand U-23 8+ is coming We also have a solid junior class with four Varsity 8 veter- Last year, our Huskies finished second at the Pac-12 is all about Opportunity!” ans: powerhouses Finn Schroeder and Jacob Dawson, stroke to the Cut to square off. New Zealand has been developing Championships - helping to take down a California team We open our season on Saturday, April 4, at Dexter Res- Grega Domanjko, and savvy coxswain Stuart Sim. Local this group to go to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and they that had won nine straight titles, and the Varsity finished in ervoir near Eugene, Oregon. We will take on Stanford twice talent Phil Walczak has returned to the team after taking a are using the Windermere Cup to test their speed before the top four at NCAA’s (.8 seconds between 2nd and 5th). that day in addition to racing several other great crews. year off to focus on lab sciences, and returning USA U-23 going to Europe and the World Cup circuit. The IRA 10th We fell short by not getting all three crews in the NCAA Stanford is the reigning 2014 PAC-12 Champions - having Team member and Tacoma local Jacob Morton are both place finisher, the Columbia Lions will be coming as the do- finals because the J’s just didn’t have enough speed on the won the Varsity & JV 8s and the Varsity 4. They have a good vying for seats. Snohomish County’s Sam Helms is on a mestic crew and bringing a 2V and 3V to further strengthen right day. The NCAA Championships are all about three fast team and we are excited to face them early in the season. mission and taking the best strokes of his career. the regatta’s competition for our students. crews and that is what we are concentrating on and training The California Bears come to Seattle to race on April 25 The sophomore class is very big and features several After our first weekend off, we will then head to the for this fall and winter. and we hope to see lots of Dawg fans out on the Montlake local talents. The Gruntie Class of 2018 is also talented and Pac-12 Championships to race for a conference title and Right now I feel like an artist with a clean canvas. Lots Cut cheering! features USA U-23 and Junior National Team single scull- get more familiar with our friends the Bears, Cardinals and of the “Big Players” have moved on: Patricia Obee, Ruth The Huskies are preparing for this level of competition er Ben Davison of the Seattle Rowing Center. This is Matt Beavers. We finish off with the challenge of making history Whyman and Kirstyn Goodger are all training for their with determination and vigor. This season will be EXCIT- Rung’s first class as the 1st assistant coach and his primary on May 29, 30 and 31 at the National Championships at country’s Olympic Teams and we are ready to fill those ING – you will want to be a part of it! duty is to develop the freshmen and recruit the class of 2019! Mercer Lake, NJ.