MARY BETH BLANDING 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

Junior Coaches

BEN KAKER coaches the CRRC varsity boys and teaches 1st 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)

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

SYDNEY WALLNER is the varsity girls assistant coach. Sydney started rowing as a novice in 2003 at Mendota Rowing Club. A year later she was a founding member of the Camp Randall Rowing Club. She was a varsity coxwain for four years of high school, coxsing mostly the Varsity girls 4+ and Varsity girls 8+. Coach Wallner’s high school rowing experience was “absolutely wonderful … I made life long friends and also gained extremely useful leadership skills.” While attending Madison Area Technical College, she did some assistant coaching for CRRC, and is now the CRRC Novice girls coach. She is now an undergraduate at UW – Madison studying Geology and Geophysics.

Rowing Experience:

• Camp Randall Rowing Club (2004-2007)
• 1st place Women’s Varsity 8+ St. Louis Sprints (2005)
• 3rd place Junior Women’s Varsity 8+ Head of the Iowa (2005)
• 1st place Junior Women’s Varsity 8+ Head of the Iowa (2005)
• 1st place Women’s Varsity 8+ St. Louis Sprints (2006)
• 3rd place Women’s Varsity 4+ Midwest Junior Rowing Championships (2006)
• 1st place Junior Women’s Varsity 8+ Head of the Iowa (2006)
• 3rd place Women’s Varsity 4+ Midwest Championships (2007)
• Voted “Most Inspirational Varsity” on Camp Randall (2007)
• Junior Women’s Varsity 4+ Head of the Charles competitor (2007)
• Camp Randall Club Varsity 4+ Head of the Charles competitor (2008)

Education:

• Currently an Undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in Geology and Geophysics
• 2009 All-Wisconsin Academic Team member
• 2009 Exemplary Learner award in Arts and Sciences
• Graduated from West High School, Madison, WI (2007)

Interests: Hiking and camping, rock hunting and music

HANNAH DORNBUSCH is the novice girls coach.
Rowing Experience: Rowed four years at Wellesley College under coaches Becca Carlton (novice) and Tessa Spillane and Regan Bernhard (varsity). Hannah has coaching experience from coaching class crew at Wellesley.
Education: Graduated from Wellesley College and will be in Madison for at least a year taking classes.

GABBY WACLAWIK is an assistant coach.
Rowing Experience: UW-Madison, 4 years on the Varsity lightweight squad
Education: UW-Madison

MELINDA ROSE MILES is an assistant 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

LESLIE DRESSLER is the novice boys coach. She has a master’s degree from the UW-Madison.

Coaching Experience:

• 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