history


History of Rochester Rowing Club of Minnesota

Club Overview

  • RRC opens its rowing program in 1990 at Lake Shady in Oronoco. An Adult Learn to Row Program becomes a source of satisfaction and growth for the club giving many the opportunity to enjoy the sport and spawning many of our coaches.  
  • A Junior team forms and races in 2000, subsequently medaling at Regionals, Nationals and English Henley. Graduates go on to row at Princeton, Minnesota, Iowa, St. Cloud State, Winona State, and coached at Arizona State and Texas.  
  • Juniors compete at regattas in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and Indoors in Winter.  RRC hosts the Minnesota State Indoor Rowing Championship (Minnesota Power Pull) each February. 
  • Junior novices compete during their first year and row varsity in year two. School varsity letters are awarded for faithful practice, varsity performance, team spirit and good grades.
  • RRC is financed through dues, fundraisers, a Learn to Row Program, and donations.  Race fees are paid separately.  RRC helps individual Junior rower's costs based on merit and need.
  • Junior rowers attending the University of Minnesota, Rochester may apply for a Dean Family Scholarship or receive Title 9 support from an NCAA program elsewhere. 
  • Rochester Park and Recreation supports our activities at Silver Lake. A Constitution and By-laws defines our Board elected by the membership. The Board selects Officers. 
  • Altogether, the RRC Coaches, Board, Parents, and Members gladly serve the 'People and Sport of Rowing'.

Rochester Rowing Club of Minnesota
Silver Lake, Rochester, MN
Site near the 7th Street Bridge
Just off West Silver Lake Drive



Summer 2009
Hockey Shacks - Shelter - Boats - Ramp - Docks - Coaching Launch

Timeline

  • 1990 - The Rochester Rowing Club is founded by Bill Pavlicek, Doug Burninger, Keith Laughman, Chris Chute, and Jeff van Fossum.  Bill, who learned to row in Phlly with Bill Knecht of Vesper Boat Club and whose home on Silver Lake was the place for the first meetings of the club members became the club's first president. He recruited rowers, bought equipment including two mahogany racing fours from Columbia University in New York - one of which hangs in Friday's restaurant today. 
  • 1991 - RRC rows its first competitive race at Lake Phalen and bests crews from Minneapolis Rowing Club and others. RRC got a lead at the start but then without lane markers lost their way across the course and came in just behind a crew from Green Bay. That boat had club founders Tom Rizzo-Stroke, Phil Greipp-3 seat, Bill Pavlicek-2 seat, Doug Berninger-bow and coxswain Lori Hoppe.
  • 1992 - The Adult Learn to Row Program is expanded by Coach Jeff van Fossum who recruits new rowers as the club begins to grow. Silver Lake is dredged. The club moves temporarily to Lake Zumbro.
  • 1993 - RRC holds its first regatta on Silver Lake, the Head of the Goose.
  • Bill Pavlicek, Club President has built the club but is needed at Mayo in Phoenix, Arizona as a radiation physicist. Phil Greipp is elected president at a club meeting at the 'Smiling Moose' Restaurant.
  • 1994-2001 - Adults row and compete in regional regattas in small numbrs but the club is soon to take a turn.
  • 2000 - The first Minnesota Power Pull also then called the Minnesota Indoor Rowing Championships is organized by Phil Greipp in  January at the first Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center facility at Mayo. Some participants included: Chute, Christopher G., M.D., Dr. P.H.; Berninger, Douglas L.; Giuntoli, Robert; Gwen Taylor; Ho, Jenny; Andrew Dean; Jason Engelhardt; Jim Jones; Joe Lindsay; Wilson, John W., M.D. ; Joyce Perkins; Julie Semon; Karin Batalden; Laughman, Richard K. (Keith); Kelsey Stadtherr; Kirkham, Lucy; Lezard, Tony; Mara Koeller; Barr, Laurie M.; McPhail, Ian R., M.D.; Mullany, Charles J., M.B.,M.S.; Passe, Alexia; Patriarche, Julia W., Ph.D.; Greipp, Philip R., M.D.; Robert N Krentler; Rochelle Tucker; Scott Steinmann; Solan, Nancie; Stephanie Park; Steve Richardt; Strome, Scott; Talwalkar, Jayant A., M.D.; Warrington, Arthur E., Ph.D.; Wettstein, Peter J., Ph.D.; Wolff, Bruce G., M.D. and others.
  • 2001 - A Learn to Row participant Jim Jones suggests a Junior rowing program. Phil Greipp goes to Mayo High School to recruit the first Junior team. Jim Jones leaves the program shortly thereafter and Bob Krentler becomes Head Coach in 2002. 
  • 2004 - The Junior Team has its first international success in the women's four under Coach Bob Krentler: Cadence Nelson - Stroke, Kristen Haroldsdottir - 3 seat, Megan Britson - 2 seat, Lucy Kruesel - bow, and Meg Flannery - coxswain. After winning bronze at the US Rowing Youth Nationals, they go on to win the Groton cup at Henley in the Women's English Henley regatta.
  • 2004 - John Bartucz joins the club in 2002 and coaches Adam Uhl and Kristen Haroldsdottir to a single sculling medal at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships in 2004. Bob Krentler is reassigned by IBM to Austin, Texas. and eventually becomes head coach at the University of Texas. John becomes Head Coach and in 2007 coaches Astrid Wettstein to a bronze medal at Midwest Junior rowing championships. He coaches Astrid and Bridget Dean to a silver medal in the Women's double at Midwests takes them to Nationals where they made a great showing in both the single and the double events.
  • 2008 - John steps down as Head Coach for business pursuits and to care for his daughter Annika while Phil Greipp who coached the Junior Women Lightweight four to a silver medal in 2004 and the Junior Mens pair to a silver medal at Midwest Junior Rowing Championships in 2007 and 2008 becomes Head Coach.

Benchmarks

  • Club Founding -1990
  • 'Boathouse' - 2002
  • Tax exempt status - 2004
  • Dock - 2007
  • Wakeless coaching launch - 2009
  • Equipment and Facilities