MARY BETH BLANDING (mb@camprandallrc.org) is the CRRC head coach, and also a teacher (Sun Prairie High School, English, 1998 to the present). Coach Blanding brings to rowing an enthusiasm and an understanding that she is able to translate to her rowers. MB Blanding is a UW alumna and former coach of the Columbia University women’s crew.

Rowing Experience:

• Eighteen Years of Rowing Experience
• Two Collegiate National Titles, 1985 & 1986
• Five Elite National Rowing Titles, 1989 & 1990
• Gold Medals: San Diego Crew Classic,1986; the Canadian Henley,1989; the Eastern Sprints,1985 & 1986; the Head of the Charles,1989; and the Head of the Schuylkill,1986
• Eight Head of the Charles Medals,1985 to present
• National Team Training Center in Boston, MA, 1988 & 1990
• Participation in the National Team Development Camp, 1989
• Participation in the National Team Selection Camp (Narrowly missed a seat on the National Team), 1990

Coaching Experience:

• Seven Years Division I Collegiate Coaching Experience
  • Head Coach at Columbia University, 1991-1996
  • Assistant Coach at the University of Wisconsin, 1988, 1990-91
• Five Years Junior Coaching Experience
  • Windsor HS, Brookline, MA 1989
  • Buckingham Browne & Nicols HS, Boston, MA 1990
  • Mendota Rowing Club, Madison, WI, 2000-2004

Rowing Associations:

• Board Member of the University of Wisconsin Rowing Association, 1999 to present
• Board Member of the Picnic Point Rowing Club, 2002 to present
• Board Member of the Camp Randall Rowing Club, 2003 to present
• Board Member of Midwest Junior Rowing Association, 2006 to present

CPR Certification 2012

BEN KAKER (ben@camprandallrc.org) coaches the CRRC varsity boys and teaches 2nd/3rd grade at Crestwood School, Madison, WI.

Rowing Experience:

• Wisconsin Novice Rowing: 1997-1998
• Wisconsin Novice 2nd Place Open 4+ IRA Championships (1998)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity Rowing: 1998-2002
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 1st place 3rd Varsity 8+ Eastern Sprints (2000)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 1st place Varsity 4+ IRA Championship (2000)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 1st place 3rd Varsity 8+ Eastern Sprints (2001)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 2nd place Varsity 4+ IRA Championship (2001)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 7th place Champ 8+ Head of the Charles (2001)
• Wisconsin Men’s Varsity 3rd place 2nd Varsity 8+ Eastern Sprints (2002)

Education:

• Masters in Education from National Louis University (2006)
• Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin (2002)
• Graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School, Sheboygan Falls, WI, (1997)

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

Interests: Big Brothers/Big Sisters (mentor 2003-present), basketball, volleyball, fishing and being outdoors

MELINDA ROSE MILES  (melinda@camprandallrc.org) is an assistant varsity boys’ coach.

Rowing Experience:

• 2 time Dad Vail Gold Medalist – 2006 Novice 8, 2007 Varsity 8
• 1 time Dad Vail Bronze Medalist – 2008 Varsity 8
• 1 time SIRA Gold Medalist – 2008 Varsity 8
• 1 time SIRA Bronze Medalist – 2009 Varsity 8
• Invitation to Windermere Cup, Seattle, Washington – 2007 Varsity 8
• First Place, Elkhart Indoor Erg Sprints
• Member of 2008 ACRA All-American Team
• 2009 Most Valuable Oarswoman

Coaching Experience:

• 2011 – Present CRRC

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

LESLIE DRESSLER (leslie@camprandallrc.org) is the novice boys coach. She has a master’s degree from the UW-Madison. She teaches Spanish and ESL to adults and kids.

Coaching Experience:

• 2011 – Present CRRC
• 2009-2010 – New Trier High School
• 2009 – St. Ignatius High School
• 2009 – Lincoln Park Boat Club
• 1996-1997 – Mendota Rowing Club Adult and Junior Learn to Row

Collegiate Rowing Experience – University of Washington – Seattle:

• 2000-2001 2V+, NCAA Team Title Winner
• 1999-2000 2V+, NCAA Team Title 2nd Place
• 1999-2001 Varsity Boat Club Officer (Captains council)
• 1999-2000 Washington Student Academic Advisory Council Member
• 1998 (Summer) Wisconsin USRowing Development Camp
• 1997-1998 Freshman Team Captain
• 1997-1998 Undefeated Novice Women’s 8+

High School Rowing Experience – Mendota Rowing Club:

• 1996-1997 Junior WV4+, 7th place USRowing Youth Nationals
• 1997 Team Captain
• 1996-7 MRC Junior Board Member

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

Miles Clark is assistant novice’ boys coach.

Rowing Experience:

Kent School

University of Wisconsin – Madison

Coaching Experience:

Mendota Rowing Club

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIRE MCNICHOLAS (claire@camprandallrc.org) is assistant girls’ varsity coach.

Rowing Experience:

CRRC 2004-2006: Novice 8+ 2004-2005, Varsity 8+ 2005-2006.Coach’s Choice Award 2005, Golden Hammer Award 2005, Captain Spring 2006.

Boston University 2006-2010: Novice 8+ 2006-2007, Varsity 4+ 2007-2008,  2V8+ 2008-2010.

Team Leader/Captain 2009-2010. Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar Athlete Award 2009, 2010. Senior Scholar  Athlete Award, 2010.

2008 Competitor at Henley Women’s Regatta,  Henley-On-Thames, England. 4 year competitor at Head of the Charles Regatta,  Princeton Chase, Charles River Challenge & Eastern Sprints.

Education: B.S. in Journalism, Boston University.

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

Kelsey Wallner  (kelsey@camprandallrc.org) co-coaches the novice girls’ team.

Rowing experience:

• Camp Randall Rowing Club, 2006-2010
• -2007 Varsity 4+ Head of the Charles Competitor
• -2009 won 5th place in Varsity 4+ at Head of the Charles
• -2007 Most Inspirational Novice Award
• -2008 Varsity Coach’s Choice Award
• -2009-10 Team Co-Captain
• University of Wisconsin Rowing, 2010-2011
  -1st Novice 8+, 3rd Place at 2011 Lake Natoma Invite
  -2nd Novice 8+, 2nd Place at 2011 Big Ten Championships

Education:
-Currently a UW-Madison student studying Political Science, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Spanish
-West High School Class of 2010

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

Amanda Montgomery (amanda@camprandallrc.org)  co-coaches the novice girls’ team.

Rowing Experience:

• High School: Rowed 2 years at Quad Cities Rowing Association
• Youth Nationals:   2nd place- Womens 4x, 2007 ,   4th place- Womens 4x, 2008
• Club Nationals:     2nd place- Womens 4x, 2007 ,  2nd place- Womens 2x, 2008,  1st place- Womens 4x, 2008
• Collegiate: University of Wisconsin Lightweights
• Novice MVP Award, 2009    Sarah Gornick Award, 2010   Class Captain 2009-2010
• Knecht Cup :  1st  in Novice 8+ Semifinal and Petite Final, 2009;     3rd in Varsity 8+ Semifinal;  5th in Varsity Grand Final’ 2009
•  Stanford Invitational Champion:  1st in V8+ vs. Princeton, Stanford, and Santa Clara, 2010
• Muri Cup:   1st in V4+ vs. MIT, Radcliffe, 2010
• Eastern Sprints:  Two-time Champion in 2V8+ (2009, 2010)
• Head of the Charles:   1st in Lightweight Open 8+, 2011
• University of Wisconsin Development Camp 2010
• Canadian Henley:  5th in LW2x, 2nd in LW2-, 4th in LW1x Semifinal, competed in LW1x Dash
• U23 National Team Trials: 2nd Place in LW4x
• Club Nationals: 1st in LW2-, 1st in LW4-, 2nd in LW2x
• Elite Nationals:   1st in LW4x

Education:  Studying Geology at University of Wisconsin – Madison

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012

Bronwyn Knaebe (bronwyn@camprandallrc.org) is a We Can Row and Girls’ Varsity coach.                                      

Rowing Experience:

• Mendota Juniors – 2 years
• Wisconsin Rowing – 2 years
• Novice 8 Big Ten Champions
• Novice 8 Central REgion Champions
• Varsity 4+ NCAA – Silver Medal
• 2010 2V8+ Big Ten Champions
• 2010 UW Bin Ten Championship Team
• 2010 2V8+ Central REgion Champions
• 2010 2V8+ NCAA – 7th place
• 2010 Academic All Big Ten

Education: Currently UW – Madison student -Dietetics Major. Swimming instructor at Hill Farm Swim Club – 5 yrs experience. Life Guarding and CPR certifited.

High School – Madison West High High school swimming: 4 year letter winner and 4 year state qualifier.   All-American Swimmer Award – 2years.

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

Kristen Cole (kristen@camprandallrc.org)  is a Middle School Program Coach.

Rowing Experience:

• Mendota Rowing Club – Junior Team  1987-1989
• Undefeated Junior Women 4+ 1988-1989
• Qualified for U.S. Junior National Team Development Camp in 1988 & 1989
• Wisconsin Women’s Novice Rowing: 1990
• Wisconsin Women’s Varsity Rowing: 1991

CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care- renewed annually.

PSIA Level 1 (Professional Ski Instructor of America) in 1993

• Taught Skiing at Devil’s Head Ski Resort from 1992-1997
•  Ski Patrol at Devil’s Head Ski Resort in 2007-2011
• Ski Patrol at Tyrol Basin in 2012
• Currently working on becoming an Outdoor Emergency Care Instructor

Kristen worked at UW Health for 15 years as a Respiratory Care Practitioner on the Trauma Team. Currently, she is working with her husband Tony in their family owned and operated business: Custom Metals, Inc.  Kristen is the proud mother of three daughters. Her two oldest are currently on the CRRC team. She is excited about their participation in a sport that is so near and dear to her heart.  She is also thrilled to be involved again, this time, as a Camp Randall Coach.

 

 

Jorge Salgado is a Middle School Program Coach.

Rowing Experience:

• Mendota Rowing Club  2008-2009
• Camp Randall Rowing Club 2009-2011
•  12^th  Place Head of The Charles, Juniors Men’s +4 2010
• 10^th Place Junior Nationals Championship  Men’s Lightweight 8 2011
• Team Captain Camp Randall Rowing Club 2010-2011
• 2011 Varsity Coaches Award

Education:

• Madison West High School 2008-2011
• Edgewood College 2011- Present
• Majoring in Business Management and Marketing

US Rowing Level II Coaching Certification 2012

CPR and First Aid Certification 2012