The Independent Rowing News

Photo of the Grand Valley Men's Eight, who earned a third in the Collegiate Eights just minutes after their Women's 8 won the same race, by Duke Vander Ark.

Sunday afternoon left Women’s Collegiate Eights puzzled with the outcome of their event at the 2009 Head of the Charles. Not only were both Williams boats absent from the top berth, but who was Grand Valley State?

As history has shown, Midwestern crews tend to catch the New Englanders off guard. In an event led by Williams, followed by Bates and Trinity (all New England schools), no one expected the crew starting 10^th would take the title—no one even knew who they were. But that could be the New England crews’ mistake.

The Navy Lakers, a Division II team, came off the 2009 spring season with a win in the Women’s Varsity Eight at the 2009 American Collegiate Rowing Association Championship, as well as silver in the Women’s Novice Eight. The ACRA win also came with the overall team points trophy, earned along with their men’s team. Before the 2009 ACRA championships, Grand Valley decided to enter their top boat in the DI event at Dad Vails, after years of medaling in the DII/DIII event—and it paid off. The Navy Lakers won the DI event, and their Second Varsity Eight earned silver in the DII/DIII event. After the win, the Lakers sent stroke seat Sarah Zelenka, a 2009 graduate, on to race with the under-23 national team at Worlds in the four without coxswain—one of very few national team members that did not compete at the DI collegiate level.

With momentum from the spring, the Lakers now have gold medals from the largest rowing event in the world. And no New England rower will question their team again.

“We hopped, skipped and jump back to the west coast (of Michigan),” said head men’s and women’s coach John Bancheri, who has participated in the sport since 1973. Bancheri calls his program “unique.”

“We’re a club team, so everyone has to work hard.” Many Lakers spend the off season getting up early and shoveling local side walks and driveways to raise money for the program. Though the team may rise to the varsity level eventually, this club rowing program currently gets funding from Grand Valley State's student government, similar to Purdue's arrangement. But that hasn’t stopped Bancheri. “What is the word ‘varsity’ anyway? It just means the best the university has to offer—and we have that with the title or not.”

The Grand Valley men’s and women’s crews practice together each day so, “everyone shares in the effort, and everyone shares in the win. The men were so excited to see the women win, since they consider themselves one team.”

The men’s program also moved up in the placing from last year at the Charles, which came unexpectedly. “We had only one guy return from last year,” said Bancheri. “I told them I would be happy with top 10.” After missing a medal in 2008 by just two seconds behind Brock University, the Navy Lakers earned a bronze medal behind Williams and Trinity, who earned gold and silver respectively—not too bad for the crew’s “building year”, as Bancheri referred to it. The Grand Valley State Men’s Varsity Eight also earned some hardware at the 2009 ACRA championships last May, placing third behind Michigan and Cal Davis. In 2008 they also earned a bronze to Michigan and Purdue.

The exciting finish by the men only added to the women’s win in the event before. “I knew our women were going to do well,” said a thrilled coach. Bancheri was seen dancing on the MIT dock as his women’s crew returned from their race. “I can’t take much credit. Elmer Fudd could have coached that boat and they would have gone fast.”

With lineup Sam Morgan, Laura Marshall, Katie Phelan, Kelsey Arnold, Alex Vander Ark, Kendra Socks, Leslie Mayville, Hannah Brinza, and cox, Aly Mendals, all Michigan natives, the crew stole the title for reigning champions Williams by 14 seconds. Mendals, who started coxing just last spring, steered a flawless course—not impressive enough for you? The 2009 Head of the Charles regatta was cox Mendal’s first head race ever. “I had a great boat of girls who work so hard, and I wanted to steer the straightest course possible for them,” she said. “I could feel the positive energy in the boat and it was just plain and simple an amazing race.”

The Grand Valley State crews compete next at Head of the Eagle with more local teams in the Midwest. Keep and eye out for Charles stern pair Sam Morgan and Laura Marshall, who are expected receive invites to Under-23 tryouts in this year. By Liz Bernal