 Ferrer as a junior coxswain winning the petite final at Junior Nationals in 2009 while wearing pink unisuits with his teammates At SRA, we often talk about how many lifelong friendships are forged in our boathouse. Whether it’s juniors navigating their high school years together or masters finding a community outside their home and workplace, we have been grateful to see many wonderful relationships form. We have also been lucky enough to be the catalyst for love stories too— one of which began on our Evening Competitive Masters squad (ECM). Sarah Blake and Dennis Ferrer are easily recognizable members of the SRA community. Ferrer got his start on the junior team in high school. He was apprehensive about joining his freshman year, because he thought the coaches would make him a coxswain. After two months on the team, he realized coxing was where he could truly have an impact. Years later, Blake was introduced to SRA as an adult by her co-worker, Trisha Miller, from the 5am squad. Both teachers, they shared a classroom and Miller had photos from her time at SRA on her wall. She encouraged Blake to give Learn to Row a try in 2017 and she has been hooked ever since! Believe it or not, Ferrer described himself as a shy kid before he joined the rowing team. “I really found myself as a junior rower,” Ferrer said. “Through my experience on the team, I found my confidence which built the foundation of who I am today.” He credits the junior team with creating some of his best high school memories and friends. One of his favorite memories during his time as a junior coxswain was winning the petite final at Junior Nationals in 2009 while wearing pink unisuits with his teammates! Ferrer has stayed with the sport of rowing, primarily at SRA, for nearly 20 years and considers that tenure his greatest rowing related accomplishment. Following his high school graduation, Ferrer attended the University of Washington where he had the opportunity to cox on the men’s rowing team and earn a silver medal at the IRA National Championships. It was after college that he made the transition from coxswain to coach for the ECM Masters (2013 to present day), Junior Boys (2013-2017) and Junior Girls (2018-2020).  Blake and Ferrer getting married with Lee Henderson officiating “There were many challenges adjusting to leading a team instead of a crew, but nothing prepares you for being a coach like coxing does,” Ferrer said about the transition from coxing to coaching. He fondly remembers coaching the junior boys when the Boys Varsity 8+ and Lightweight 8+ won gold at Junior Regionals and making the Grand Final in both boats at Youth Nationals in 2015. After leaving his full time coaching gig, he couldn’t stay away from SRA for long and continued part time coaching with the ECM team where he eventually met Blake. Since she began rowing in 2017, Blake has had a deep appreciation for being a part of a group of adults that are all learning something new together. “Most of our ECM team are rowers that learned to row at SRA, or later in their adult life,” Blake said. “This creates a culture of learning and pursuit of mastery as we are all working toward a common goal of skill development on the water, camaraderie, and building fast boats!” ECM has taken their teambuilding and training seriously by doing an annual Winter Rowing Camp at Lake Samish, and sticking to “Third Thursday” evenings at JJ Mahoney’s Pub where they bond over refreshing drinks. JJ Mahoney’s Pub is where Ferrer and Blake eventually got to know each other better. “We discovered we lived nearby each other in Capitol Hill in Seattle, and started talking during many Third Thursday outings at JJ Mahoney’s in Redmond after ECM practice,” Ferrer explained. One rainy Thursday in March, Sarah asked Dennis.to check out the new burrito spot in their neighborhood, and the rest is history! “It has been so fun to have our relationship grow alongside the SRA community,” Ferrer continued. “A huge highlight for us personally was to have ECM coach, Lee Henderson, officiate our wedding and celebrate with so many people from SRA.”  Ferrer standing with former SRA Executive Director, Steven Freygang (left) Many who live in or move to the Greater Seattle Area hear the term “Seattle Freeze” that describes the difficult time people have making connections with others. SRA stands in stark contrast to this assumption that the gloomy tech mecca we live near is quite difficult to create connections in. Ferrer and Blake, along with the SRA community as a whole, are a testament to the welcoming nature of our organization. Blake thinks often about the open hospitality and welcoming attitude her team members have. “When I was teaching middle school in Redmond, Susan Cameron would open up her house to me in the afternoons so I could nap before practice! I can think of so many examples of the generosity and community-first mindset SRA members have,” Blake added. Ferrer also credits SRA with creating the foundation of his closest relationships. “Most of my friends, as well as my wife, are connected to the Sammamish community. As I transitioned out of coaching full time, I’ve had numerous job opportunities based on connections and relationships I’ve formed through Sammamish. To me, the Sammamish community is a critical part of my life,” he reflected. When asked if they intend to keep rowing a part of their lives for the foreseeable future, Blake joked, “Dennis has “left” nearly a half-dozen times, and never seems to really get away! There are no intentions of leaving SRA in the near future!”  Ferrer (left) and Blake (right) When they are not at the boathouse in a shell or coaching launch, you can find Blake and Ferrer exploring the PNW by bike. “At the velodrome, up and down the Washington coast, or up 5000 feet of elevation, cycling has been a great addition to my life. I love that this is something I’ve been able to share with Dennis and other ECM teammates— thanks to Spencer and Patty for being great biking friends!” Sarah said. Ferrer added that they really enjoy exploring new restaurants in the area and they make an effort to travel near and far as often as possible.
It is hard to find a part of SRA that this rowing couple hasn’t touched. From being a part of the junior program, masters team, and coaching staff, they’ve certainly made their mark on our organization. Blake has also volunteered her time to help coordinate SRA events such as this year’s 30th Anniversary Celebration that brought so many members of our community together to celebrate what SRA has accomplished these past three decades and what we hope to achieve moving forward. Not that it is a competition (though, isn’t it always in the rowing world?), but it would be hard to find another couple who are as much of a well-rounded embodiment of SRA as Ferrer and Blake are. We are certainly grateful that our practices on Lake Sammamish and the ECM teams’ Third Thursdays paved the way for these two to meet and eventually get married. Please join us in giving these two “cheers” and a thank you for the positive light they’ve brought and continue to bring to the Hod Fowler Boathouse!  Addi at her high school graduation with her family Humans are programmed to find the simplest way to do something— the path of least resistance. Some might call this trait laziness, but really it’s just programming in our brain trying to do the least amount of effort for the greatest reward. However, humans are complicated. Many of us often exert a lot of energy doing extremely hard things that are not necessary for survival. Take marathon runners, IronMan competitors, master pianists, or professors with several degrees for example. Training to put your body through unfathomable challenges or practicing for years of your life to be an expert in a subject or a craft is by no means our brain looking to do the least amount of effort. People constantly strive to enrich their lives through the pursuit of hard things— and rowing is certainly no exception. Addi DerGarabedian was first introduced to the sport the summer before her freshman year of high school. She took part in the Learn-To-Row program, but between cheer and soccer, she did not have time to continue to row. Just a short time later, unfortunately a few concussions meant she was no longer able to cheer. One of Addi’s friends, Hailey, rowed at SRA and urged Addi to try becoming a coxswain. Curious about what a coxswain was, Addi had her parents email the coaches to see if she could join mid-season and they welcomed her to cox on the junior girls team. Later, she moved to the junior boys team and has not looked back since.  “Rowing has taught me so much about myself and prepared me for life so well,” Addi said. “I don’t think there is anything else that teaches you as much about accountability, adaptability, time management, teamwork, or connections as rowing.” Addi quickly felt as if the boathouse was a second home— a place to grow, learn, have fun, and push herself. The consistency of practices, shared goals, and supportive teammates made SRA a palace where Addi could truly tune out the rest of the world. “No matter what was going on in my life, whether it was something hectic with school or something with family, I knew that when I was at the boathouse, I got to contribute to something greater than myself. You can tune out anything else going on in your life and focus on greater goals,” she reflected. The coaching staff was a great sort of mentorship for Addi, who listed Executive Director Sarah Low as one of her greatest role models. She also gave special thanks to Coach Liza Dickson, Ethan Currie, and Sierra Williams and said she would always be grateful for their guidance. “All of our coaches can push you as an athlete while also caring about you as a person first,” she said. Addi added that Simon Williams, Director of Equipment and Facilities, was one of the kindest people she ever met and she was grateful for the many things he does behind the scenes to facilitate effective practices.  Addi with SRA's Junior Boys V8+ holding their trophy after winning Regionals Her coaches helped her secure her greatest rowing accomplishment at Northwest Regionals her senior year of high school. At Northwest Regionals, the SRA junior boys won the U19 Men’s Varsity 8+ by open water and placed second in the U19 Varsity 4+ after a tight race. They took that 4+ to Youth Nationals, where they finished eighth, marking SRA’s first A Final appearance in a decade. “It was surreal to be part of that moment in our club’s history, and the fact that I was leaving that legacy as I graduated high school was something I am super proud of,” Addi remarked. Another standout memory for Addi was coxing SRA’s Mid-Morning Women’s 4+ 60+ at the Head of the Charles Regatta during her senior year. “Being surrounded by women who were moms, had full-time jobs, and still were just as dedicated to rowing as I was—that was incredibly inspiring,” Addi said. “They showed me what it means to make time for something you love and take time for yourself, no matter how busy life gets. I still keep in touch with many of them; they made a huge impact on me.” During the summer of 2024, she had the opportunity to cox at Penn AC Gold, a high-performance team based in Philadelphia. Addi coxed the Women’s Varsity 8+ and 4+ and went on to medal in both events at the Independence Day Regatta in Philadelphia and Summer Nationals in Oklahoma City. “It was amazing how quickly we bonded, and that experience was extremely positive for me. Penn AC did a fantastic job developing me as an athlete and I got to be coached by Coach Sarah Low and Coach Sierra Williams, who are now at SRA and have become huge mentors for me,” she said. Racing and training with some of the best junior athletes in the country made Addi unequivocally clear that she wanted to try and compete at the highest level in college.  Addi with her Penn AC boat Addi’s rowing career has continued at Clemson University where she was recruited to the Division I Women’s Rowing team. Clemson ended their 2025 season ranked 22nd in the country, and Addi looks forward to being part of the program’s growth as they have welcomed a new coaching staff. Addi told us, “One of my biggest goals is to eventually cox the U23 team for Team USA after building a successful college career.” Many of Addi’s rowing goals also connect to her career goals. At Clemson University, she is majoring in Sports Communications with a minor in Business Administration. She hopes to one day become a rowing coach and eventually serve as an athletic director. “Rowing has given me so much—it’s something I want to stay connected to for the rest of my life, whether that’s through coaching, mentoring, or competing.” Rowing has completely transformed Addi’s life. “As a coxswain,” Addi said, “I learned to make quick, confident decisions while staying calm, motivate people with different personalities, and balance accountability with empathy. These are all skills that now help me excel in day-to-day life and school. Rowing gave me a strong sense of purpose when I needed one most. It helped me find confidence in my voice and taught me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the boat, but about bringing out the best in others. It also gave me a community that feels like family and some of my best memories and friends— things I’ll always be grateful for.”  Addi (far right) with her Clemson coaches This brings us back to our earlier point about humans doing hard things despite our natural disposition to seek the easiest path forward. Rowing is full of difficult practices, grueling workouts, complex racing strategies, and more. Addi added, “Rowing has taught me that growth happens when things get uncomfortable— and that mindset will guide me through college, my career, and life.”
For novices, Addi recommends being a “sponge”. She encourages novices to ask questions, stay curious, and soak up everything you can. “Additionally, to quote Coach Liza, “Control the controllables.” Meaning focus on controlling what you CAN control: how you show up every day, your attitude, how hard you push yourself, what type of teammate you are,” she advised. When she is not at practice 20+ hours a week, Addi loves to be outside. You can find her hiking, walking, or hanging out at the lake. Addi also loves to be involved in the Clemson community. She spends her free time serving on Clemson's student body government on Freshman Council and volunteers weekly at Clemson's local elementary school mentoring students there. Addi shared her immense gratitude for all the people who have gotten her to where she is today. “I truly have the most supportive family on the planet and I would be nowhere without them,” Addi said. “Many of my goals would not have been able to be achieved without the support of my family and friends, as well as trusting God's plan” Addi shared with us that she is very happy with her decision to attend Clemson University and is a proud student athlete. “Go Tigers!” She exclaimed proudly. We can’t help but thank Addi for bringing such a positive light to our community. Addi— thank you for choosing to challenge yourself at SRA. Our community would not be the same without you!  High school is portrayed quite frequently through movies, novels, and television show adaptations. Often, our main character is a young adult trying to find where they fit in and who they want to become. In real life, high school mirrors those dramatizations quite closely as youths enter the transition from child to young adult. In the United States especially, it can seem like these kids are thrown directly into a pit of responsibility as their grades and extracurriculars are heavily scrutinized before and during the college admissions process. Trying to figure out who you are, what you want to be, and how you’re going to get there all while your prefrontal cortex is still not fully developed can be incredibly overwhelming. Luckily for SRA Junior Program alumni Justin Buckley, he had Sammamish Rowing Association (SRA) to anchor him during this time. During the summer following 8th grade, Buckley was encouraged to give rowing a try by his friends and family. “I realized how much more dedicated my teammates at rowing were than my teammates in my other sports. I was smitten pretty quickly,” Buckley said. In 9th and 10th grade, Buckley split his time between rowing and soccer, but before long, “rippin’ watts on the erg” was all he could think about. “SRA was the first place I felt like I was truly with my people,” Buckley commented. “My teammates had the same ambitions as me, and the team dynamic reinforced a culture of hard work and commitment to the craft. In a lot of ways, SRA was my high school experience. Rowing was the highlight of my day. It occupied a good chunk of my thoughts during the school day, and it was an area where I could make tangible, consistent improvements that made me feel like I was actually going somewhere with my life. During those periods in high school when nothing else was going right, I could reliably pour my energy into my rowing and get a positive ROI. The more I invested in rowing, the better I got, and the more I wanted to invest further.” Most juniors who row at SRA echo Buckley’s thoughts or have a similar experience. Like anything, rowing takes some getting used to. Rowers find that their coaches and teammates are incredibly supportive of the journey and they gain confidence in the boat and in their life outside the boathouse. Rowing is a constant teacher. One of the greatest lessons it teaches is teamwork. During his junior year in the Varsity 8+, Buckley experienced the power of teamwork firsthand. He and his boat had lost their race to Rose City at Regionals by one second even though they had been beating them at regattas all year. Determined not to be defeated by Rose City again, Buckley and his teammates trained hard during his senior year. “The entire team had a hellacious winter that year where we put in a crazy amount of mileage on the erg and in the freezing cold on the water,” he remembered. “Everyone was pushing. The 4V pushed the 3V, the 3V pushed the 2V, and the 2V pushed the 1V. The result that year was everything we could have dreamed of. Not only did we stick it to Rose City and win gold in the 1V 8+, but every 8+, 1V through 4V, won gold, and Sammamish swept Regionals for the first time in history!”  Buckley, far right, with his teammates from the SRA Junior Boys squad. Despite such a historic Regionals his senior year, Buckley said his greatest rowing accomplishment was breaking 6:00 on a 2k erg in 2024. Buckley is a private rowing coach (@rowrecruit on Instagram) helping high school student-athletes get recruited to row in college. It is important for him to practice what he preaches to his high school clients so he continues to train on the erg. It was his goal to break 6:00 on the 2k since May 2023 and he finally accomplished it in early 2024. “It was the culmination of so much work and even despite a great career at SRA and the Yale Lightweights, breaking six minutes is the happiest rowing memory for me,” he said.
While his days in a shell on the water are in the past for him, he still routinely trains on the erg and plans to continue incorporating it into his workouts for the foreseeable future. “My goals in rowing have shifted from me to my athletes,” Buckley admitted. “I've helped my athletes get recruited to every Ivy League school and earn over four million dollars in scholarship money. Being a part of young ambitious rowers' journeys is the most rewarding thing to me, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to make my passion my job.” We asked Buckley what his best advice for novice rowers is and he had plenty to say. He encourages novices to fall in love with the process, not the scoreboard. “Rowing rewards discipline over talent. You won't see progress day to day, but if you show up early, listen to your coaches, and give your full effort every practice, you'll quietly build the kind of foundation that almost nobody else has the patience for. The athletes I've seen go furthest aren't always the most gifted, they're just the ones who learned to enjoy the grind before it ever paid off,” he emphasized. Buckley added that it was hard to find a way rowing has not transformed his life. “Rowing gave me direction in high school, got me into Yale, is the foundation of my thriving college recruiting business, and has taught me a resilience and dedication that makes me proud of myself,” he reflected. There is a long line of people for him to thank throughout his rowing journey and admitted he did not know of any sport that would have been more beneficial for his high school self. Like Buckley, many of our high school student-athletes are looking to grow into a more confident version of themselves but often lack the structure or mentors to help them navigate this uncertain period of their lives. Fortunately, the coaching staff at SRA have decades of experience in developing well-rounded rowers. Our coaches teach our juniors about sportsmanship, time-management, perseverance, teamwork, accountability, and so much more. Aside from his life as a rowing coach and mentor, Buckley has been playing the piano for almost 20 years and is almost a National Master in chess. In his spare time, he is also learning how to be a DJ! In whatever he does, Buckley puts forth his full effort just like he did during his junior days at SRA. We are thrilled to have him as part of our community and look forward to seeing the incredible impact he makes in the lives of other high school rowers.  Laurel Case, 2 seat at the Tail of the Lake Regatta Until the 1980’s, there was little opportunity for adult women to row. In the Northwest, the few adult women who did row were likely graduates of the University of Washington Women’s Crew or Eastern College programs. There was very little local competition and no small rowing centers besides Lake Washington Rowing Club. The tide began to turn when Dick Erickson, the University of Washington’s Head Men’s Coach and Rowing Director, returned from the Henley Royal Regatta and was challenged by two women at the Seattle Yacht Club to teach them to row. In late March of 1982, a small group of determined women from Seattle, Meydenbauer Bay and Rainier Yacht Club showed up at the University of Washington for six weeks of training. These women acquired the name “Dick’s Chicks”, a name this group of women were given by the parking attendant at the UW. Shortly after the creation of Dick’s Chicks, they became the Conibear Rowing Club. Among the members of Dick’s Chicks was Laurel Case, who was asked by a group of women at the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club in 1985 if she wanted to learn to row. Case had recently left her job in public accounting and joined the yacht club with her husband and 9-month-old daughter. She gladly accepted the invite and was coached by Dick Erickson where he prepared her and her teammates for the Opening Day Regatta. If you think being coached by rowing icon Dick Erickson is impressive, Case has also had the honor of being coached by a long list of icons throughout her rowing career including Stan Pocock, Charlie MacIntyre, Frank Cunningham, and SRA’s own Tom Woodman! She fondly remembers rowing for an hour in a coxed pair with Stan Pocock as the coxswain. In her 40 years of rowing, she has also had the privilege of rowing with many local clubs including Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, Conibear Rowing Club, Seattle Yacht Club, Lake Washington Rowing Club, Charley McIntyre Rowing Club, the Pocock Rowing Center, and Sammamish Rowing Association where she has rowed for the past 16 years. She joined SRA in 2009 and has loved rowing on the combined men’s and women’s team under Tom Woodman’s leadership.  Laurel Case, top left, with 5am teammates. One of her favorite rowing memories came from her 5am teammates who honored her by naming a new single the “Laurel”. “I think some of them thought this would entice me to at least try rowing a single… hasn’t happened!” Case joked. In her 40 years engaged in this sport, Laurel has an impressive rowing resume. Thinking back, she said her biggest accomplishments had to be winning a gold medal at the Head of the Charles Regatta in 1991 in the Women’s Master 4+. The Head of the Charles is a globally recognized regatta that dates back to 1965. Hundreds of thousands of athletes have dreamed of racing down the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts to victory, but only a small percentage of those athletes have been able to secure a gold medal. In 1993, Case worked with Stan Pocock to open the Pocock Rowing Center, another one of her favorite memories. This center was completed in 1994 by the founders of the George Pocock Rowing Foundation to honor the legacy of George Pocock by ensuring access to the incredible sport of rowing.  Laurel Case, far right, at HOCR. Having benefitting from decades of coaching by local legends, Case has some simple yet impactful advice for novice rowers. “Sit up, breathe, keep your head in the boat, relax and enjoy,” she said. “I love being on the water early in the morning,” Case mentioned when thinking about how rowing has enhanced her life. “The wildlife, sunrises, plus the great full body workout and wonderful teammates and friends are all the ways my life is better because of rowing.” Sammamish Rowing Association sits at the north end of Lake Sammamish in a protected wetlands area. Rowers are treated to a beautiful natural environment with flourishing biodiversity. From wildlife to native plants, there’s always something for the eye to enjoy during practice. For the past 8 years, Case has been a snowbird and has spent 6 months of the year in Palm Desert and the other 6 months here in Washington state. She always looks forward to her 6 months of rowing with SRA. No matter where she is, Case loves being outdoors and exercising. You can often find her hiking or on daily walks with her two chocolate labradors, at Pure Barre classes, tearing it up on the pickleball court, or riding her bike in Palm Desert. When she isn’t outside or on the move, Case loves to treat her friends and family to her cooking or baked goods. It is not often you meet rowers who have decades of experience in the sport and have experienced as many local milestones as Laurel Case has. From being coached by legends to being involved in the formation of different clubs or rowing centers, Case has a rowing background that is rich and our local rowing scene is better with her having been a part of it. We feel fortunate and grateful to have her as part of the SRA family for 16 years and counting!
 At Sammamish Rowing Association, we often say that rowing is a lifelong sport. As long as you are big enough to help carry a boat, rowing is a sport you can enjoy from middle school well into your senior years. While many of our adult (masters) rowers have begun rowing as adults through our Learn to Row programs, Patrick Eames is one of our masters who found his passion for rowing early on. In Kirkland, Washington, Patrick’s parents signed him up for a summer camp on Lake Washington when he was around 16 years old. The camp was meant to be both a rowing and sailing camp, but the sailboats were out of commission so Patrick found himself thrown in a single. “It was very large with a red deck and I remember thinking it was impossibly unstable,” Patrick said. “I never looked back from there and have been rowing since.” His novice year was spent largely in that single where he recalls flipping many times. “Sometimes, it is a wonder coaches ever kept after me,” he joked. He remembers his first racing experience as a novice was at Junior Regionals where despite not recalling how they finished, he knows it was that moment that had him hooked on racing. Throughout high school, Patrick rowed and attended the typical local regattas— Brentwood, Greenlake and Regionals. He attended the University of Washington, but sculled out of his old boathouse instead of joining the team. This allowed him to be a highly proficient sculler. Following college, Patrick worked on the eastside and it made sense for him to join Sammamish Rowing Association (SRA). He started out as an independent rower, but gravitated towards the team structure joining what was known at the time as Rowing 2 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. He credits the camaraderie as one of the main reasons he has continued to row alongside the opportunity to compete in regattas.  Patrick helps Coach Liza and Coach Ethan rig a boat at Masters Regionals “While I have spent a lot of time in a single, rowing at its core (to me) is a team sport. I enjoy the team aspect of rowing— working with teammates toward the common goal,” Patrick commented. Racing with his teammates has created some of his best memories at the club. From winning the 2- with Marc McGinnis, the 2x with Jess Pare at regionals, the San Diego Crew Classic in the Men’s 8+, and placing 5th in the Men’s 8+ at the Head of the Charles Regatta— the memories and lessons learned are endless. “If I had to pick one memory it would be medaling at the Head of the Charles Regatta in the Men’s 40+ 4+,” he added. The team had been racing in the Men’s Club 4+ for a few years and despite not winning, they kept qualifying to come back. Eventually they aged up into the Men’s 40+ 4+ category and drew bow number 24 of 24— starting in the back of the pack. “Once racing, our coxswain, Jess Pare, was able to steer a superb course. Every boat moved out of our way. One boat yielded, allowing us to pass, and then moved right back into our waking for the ideal line. We later found out we had taken 3rd place. We were ecstatic with this result having never medaled at the Head of the Charles Regatta.” With years of experience racing in highly competitive local and national regattas, you would think Patrick would be completely comfortable and relaxed at every competition. That is not the case! “It is alright to be nervous before a race,” Patrick said when asked about his best advice for novice rowers. “I have been racing for more than 25 years. I am still sick to my stomach with nerves before a race. It is completely normal. Once you are racing, nervousness goes away.” He also added that novices should “enjoy the process”— that process being working towards getting better and faster with your teammates.  Patrick, bow seat, at a past Opening Day Regatta Competition and the camaraderie of being on a team are the best parts of rowing in Patrick’s mind, but he added that the sport itself is a great option for those looking to exercise with less risk of injury. You can row as intensely or recreationally as desired. In fact, SRA’s masters teams offer those varying rowing experiences. Many of our adult rowers race, but others are just as happy to enjoy time with friends, get in some exercise in a beautiful natural setting, and cheer on their teammates who do choose to compete. In his 25+ years of rowing, Patrick said that one thing SRA has done that has stood out to him the most has been the improvement of equipment. From boats to launches, SRA has made a huge effort to provide the best equipment possible for its rowers. Looking back on his earlier days at SRA, Patrick said, “I recall being at a race and running across a broken seat. It had almost literally split in half. We didn’t have a spare seat available and in an effort to get the boat racing a coach and I found a spare skeg and taped it to the seat to provide enough rigidity to allow it to be raced. Our rowing equipment has dramatically transformed since this time.” Before SRA hired Coach Matt Lundberg, who manages our launches and other equipment, Patrick had assumed the responsibility of repairing the launch fleet. Once Matt was hired, that responsibility was transferred to him, but Patrick continues to help when the launches need work. Rowing clubs are hard on launches, and at SRA, most launches are used at least twice a day between masters and junior practices. There was one summer where Patrick recalled he and Matt would fix one launch only for another to go out of service the next day. “Launches require constant maintenance from changing steering cables that snap, to replacing batteries, to putting on new propellers because one just fell off, or replacing a whole flywheel. These are just a few of the things that happen behind the scenes.” One might think Patrick is a mechanical engineer, but he has been a software engineer for The Boeing Company for over 25 years. He supports Boeing Commercial Aircraft building software to design, build, and support airplanes.  Patrick shakes hand with one of his 5am rowing teammates When he isn’t rowing, racing, or fixing launches, Patrick enjoys road biking. He will ride in any conditions, and while he does not do cycling races, he does enjoy cycling events. He has done the Seattle to Portland ride multiple times (a 200+ mile journey!) and enjoys riding with one of his daughters who shares his biking interest. In fact, Eames has twice ridden his bike back home from Northwest Masters Regionals in Eugene, Oregon!
Patrick has three children with his wife, Ellen. Michelle (19), Nicole (17), and Erik (15) do not row, but they keep themselves plenty busy with a plethora of other activities and interests. Ellen rowed for a short time awhile ago, but Patrick remains the primary rower of the family. We are immensely grateful to have him as part of our community and for all the many hours he has volunteered to help fix our launches or other items needing an extra hand. He is an outstanding teammate and our SRA family always looks forward to seeing him— either at our 5:00am practices, regattas, or various community events. “SRA is a fantastic rowing program,” Patrick reflected. “Our size, our sharing of equipment across teams, our desire to include people but also go out and race. SRA is a wonderful place to row.” We look forward to many more wonderful years of rowing with Patrick Eames!  Waltar rowing as a junior on the SRA Junior Girls team Gretchen Frederick, the former Executive Director of Sammamish Rowing Association, spotted a young Kenzie Waltar with her sister, Shelley, at church one morning. She approached Waltar, who was then a high school basketball player, and said, “Hey, you're tall! You should try rowing!” Whether it was divine intervention or a stroke of luck, this fateful interaction led Waltar down to the Hod Fowler Boathouse for a Row for a Day session. Ever since then, she was hooked. Rowing was a completely different experience for Waltar. She credits the tough training for making her the person she is today. With cold weather, gloomy skies, and sometimes rough water, you would think a high schooler would easily choose an indoor sport over rowing, but Waltar truly enjoyed the whole new level of challenge. On top of that, Waltar admired the junior and senior girls who she said were kind, smart, strong, and incredible leaders and teammates. A great example of the challenges Waltar faced came on a day where she had to stay on land due to there not being enough seats in the boats for a water practice. That meant she was joining the boys team for their land training. Waltar said, “they were erging, so I erged with them. It was a partner erg, and I was partnered up with Sam Goertz (who later became a teammate of mine at the University of Washington and a fellow 5am coach at SRA!) and he pushed me to be at a 2:00 split or below. At that point in my career, a 2:00 flat was unheard of, but when he pushed me, I did it! I think it was that day that first taught me that I am capable of more!” Following her time on the Junior Girls Team at SRA, Waltar joined the women’s team at the University of Washington. “It was my time at UW that taught me to love hard work, how to trust my teammates, and how to push beyond my limits,” she said. “As we say often on the team, we learned how to ‘embrace the grind.’” She put that phrase to the test when during her Sophomore year, she was cut from the team due to the decision to decrease the roster size by the current coach at the time. She was crushed. “It was at that moment I felt like my whole identity was ripped away from me,” Waltar admitted. “If I wasn't "Kenzie the rower," who was I?”  Waltar, stroke seat, rowing at the University of Washington Waltar said that the period following her cut from the UW women’s team was a dark time in her life. She added, “I started training at Seattle Rowing Center (SRC) because I wanted to make it back on the team. Practices were early, dark, and brutal, but I just didn't think my time on the team was over. I wanted to fight for it. When my motivation was low and I didn't think I could do another early practice or hard workout, I relied on my faith. That gave me strength. And it reminded me that no matter if I make it back on the team or not, I am more than just ‘Kenzie the rower’." After months of training, Waltar’s erg scores finally met the standards for her to return back to the team. “I came back not only stronger and grittier,” she said, “but more grateful and humble. I knew the work it took to get on such an incredible team, and I knew it was a gift to be there. I didn't race in any top boats that year, but it didn't matter. Being cut from the team was both the worst thing to ever happen to me and also the best thing.”  Waltar holding an NCAA trophy Shortly after, a coaching change was made and Yaz Farooq became the head coach of the University of Washington Women’s Rowing Team. Farooq transformed the team for the better and Waltar experienced some of the best moments of her rowing career. “The environment she [Farooq] created was intense, but empowering and awesome,” Waltar said, reminiscing on her junior and senior year. “That year (2017) our team went on to sweep both PAC-12s and NCAAs which still brings tears to my eyes. Then in my senior year, I had the opportunity to bow the 2x at the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) and honestly this was the highlight of my career. Yes, we won--by a tight margin! After graduation, I got to race another bucket-list regatta— Henley Royal Regatta! This was a race I had never even dreamt of, but it was a very cool experience. The atmosphere over there was absolutely wild.”  Waltar providing some coaching wisdom to her crew While winning gold in the 2x at HOCR was Waltar’s favorite competitive accomplishment, she felt that the experience of rowing itself has been a greater overall achievement in her life. “I am really proud of how I am able to use my experience in this sport to bring others joy and to teach them to love hard work. Rowing has changed my life and I get to be a part of that for so many people,” she said. Following her collegiate career, Kenzie became a coach at SRA for the 5am team, an assistant coach at Seattle Pacific University (SPU), and still does the occasional private lesson at SRA. She was recently promoted to the Head Coach position at SPU. “I'm loving my job,” she added. “I've always felt a calling to mentor the next generation and this is such a special way to do that. I have been blessed by my predecessor, Caitlin McClain, who is not only a coaching legend, but a mentor and true friend of mine. The culture she has built on this team is something that I am excited to step into as Head Coach.” While Waltar has admitted to feeling both excited and overwhelmed to be in a head coaching position before the age of 30, she feels confident in receiving support from the community around her. Waltar has not been a stranger to self doubt. During her early days of coaching, she often felt unsure of her abilities as she struggled to translate what she felt as an athlete in the boat to the rowers she was coaching. Additionally, coaching masters, many of whom were her parents' age, felt weird and led to further feeling like an imposter. With time, faith, and support, she has honed her coaching skills and proven her abilities time and time again. Speaking of coaching masters, Waltar had the opportunity to coach her parents! Suzy and Steve Waltar began rowing after Kenzie and her sister joined the junior team. They thought it looked cool (we agree!) and since then they have become one of the many beloved rowing families at the boathouse. They even have their name on some SRA boats and took the Waltar Legacy 4+ out for a fun family row. “I've gotten to row with my sister, coach my parents, and race the parent/child 2x at HOCR with my dad. Rowing definitely keeps us close!”  Waltar and her Atlas Free climbing crew celebrating a recent summit It seems impossible to be more impressed with Kenzie Waltar, but her story doesn’t end here. When she isn’t coaching, Waltar is climbing and hiking to fight sex trafficking. It began in 2021 with an invite to hike the Enchantments and fundraise for Atlas Free. “I didn't know much about the injustice of sex trafficking or the organization, but I knew I liked hiking and I figured it was a good enough cause,” Waltar said about Atlas Free. “Since then, I've fallen in love with the community of adventure philanthropists who do hard things to fight for freedom! In total, I've through-hiked the Enchantments four times, summited Adams, Baker, and, most recently, Rainier, and I have raised over $15,000 to fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation. I firmly believe we are all made to be free and if this is how I can make a difference, I will continue to fight!” We could keep telling her story, but chances are, Kenzie would love to tell you herself over a cup of coffee, during a hike, or after a good practice on the lake. Her dedication to the sport and seemingly endless positive energy make her an incredible rower, coach, and friend to have. We feel blessed to have her as part of our community at Sammamish Rowing Association and look forward to everything she will accomplish. As we finished the interview, she said, “This club taught me how to row, how to coach, and I am so grateful for this community!” Kenzie— we are so grateful for you!
 Anne rowing a single around her 80th birthday Anne Wangeman was raised on the water with the hum of boats and the spray of water skiers a constant presence in her life. Being raised on Mercer Island, she always loved to be on the water, and seeing the University of Washington crews out on Lake Washington was a special occasion. She remembered fondly a time when the UW crew passed right by their home— an incredibly special sight so far from their boathouse. For a short time her family lived in Madison, Wisconsin and she distinctly remembered her mother talking about the Wisconsin crew practicing on Lake Mendota. A spark of interest began to grow. Later on, an article in the Seattle Times about the growth of the women's masters rowing movement added intrigue. Additionally, a good friend rowed for Seattle Yacht Club and mentioned it was the hardest thing she had ever done. Anne was interested, but the early practice times certainly were not her cup of tea. She eventually heard about a rowing club on the east side called Sammamish Rowing Association that was hosting an open house so she decided to drop by. That was the beginning of her passion for rowing! Anne started her rowing journey in 2003 right before her 60th birthday and has now been rowing for over 20 years. When she visited the open house at SRA’s old boathouse, she wasn’t yet convinced rowing was for her. “I wasn’t sure I could do it starting at my age and with little consistent exercise during all my working years, but Gretchen Frederick, the Director at that time, told me I could, so I believed her,” Anne said. She found a good fit with the Evening Masters team and fell in love after just a few sessions. She had great coaches and a great group of rowers— all who were trying to perfect their stroke and timing together. “Rowing at night during the winter months when the water was calm and the lights and stars were out was perfection,” Anne said. Anne retired after a 40+ year career with Boeing and continued to row in the evening. Once some of the other rowers retired, they decided to row independently in the morning. She looks forward to seeing those friends weekly. When asked what made her stay with the sport, Anne had plenty to say. “Being on the water is peaceful, beautiful and calming (unless it is gale-force winds). Rowing is rhythmic and I like repetition. I count almost every stroke- it’s a great meditation. One of the articles I read 20 years ago quoted a woman rower who said that even after several years rowing a single, she was still trying to string 3 perfect strokes together. I remember that every row and it’s my challenge too. Sometimes I get several more, sometimes not,” she said. Anne also loves the local wildlife. Lake Sammamish is home to herons, bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, red-wing blackbirds, beavers, otters, and other waterfowl. We have even had deer, bobcats, coyotes, and the rare black bear around the boathouse! As the seasons pass by, she likes to watch the transformation around the lake through the change in color from spring to summer to fall and winter.  Betsey and Anne in a double Her community is strong here too. She credits the friends she has made rowing as being encouraging, supportive, kind, loving, and lifelong. What is extra special is that her sister, Betsey, rows at SRA too. Betsey joined SRA in 2005 following a similar path as her sister in her rowing journey. The sisters find support in each other through their rowing and feel grateful to share this experience with one another. When Anne reflected on her favorite SRA rowing memories, she said, “the best thing is being able to share an activity with my sister, one that we both love. And seeing the same and new friends every week doing something we all love.” In the winter you can find the sisters rowing a double together, and in the summer they enjoy each other’s company in singles. Anne said some of her greatest rowing accomplishments is that she still sticks to it three times a week and her sister still talks to her! Love of the sport, her close friends, and being a part of an organization that helps shape youth into responsible, caring, considerate, hard working individuals and leaders keeps Anne returning to the Hod Fowler Boathouse week after week. She has found a special home here at a boathouse nestled in the wetlands on the north end of Lake Sammamish. In this boathouse, along this slough, and on the lake she has formed lifelong bonds and discovered her personal potential. She has learned the values of patience, repetition, friendships, and discipline. When she isn’t rowing, you can find her knitting, learning to play the ukulele, engaging in her book club, volunteering for the non-profit Community Loaves by baking bread and breakfast cookies, and spending plenty of time outdoors and with loved ones. At just over 80 years old, Anne has no plans of slowing down. “I plan to row until I can’t,” she stated.  Anne and Betsey have been a consistent and wonderful presence at the boathouse for many years. They were active volunteers with the annual gala for years and were familiar faces at the check-in table. Coach Simon Williams has coached them in private lessons and enjoys their commitment to the sport. Rowers like Anne and Betsey are what make our community truly so special. Their passion for rowing, their appreciation of our natural environment, and their cultivation of friendships reminds us that this sport is much more than a single workout or race. Rowing is so much more than that.
 Stevens winning the first gold medal in the brand new Jeff Young 8+ at Green Lake in 1997 In April of 1996, Tamara Stevens was browsing the newspaper when she spotted an article about Sammamish Rowing Association. She and a friend thought the sessions being offered looked fun so they signed up for the class starting in May at Idylwood Park. While her friend only lasted one session, Stevens has stayed with it ever since. “I started at 9am, tried one evening session, moved to 5am for 10 years while my kids were small, and now I’m back at mid-morning which I think is the best time to row,” Stevens said. “I rowed in singles during the pandemic in 2020. I didn’t think I would like it since I had never really learned to scull, but I loved the new lightweight Hudson single enough to get a few of my lightweight racing friends together and name the Light Speed.” Stevens is a third generation Washingtonian. She grew up in Lake Hills in Bellevue and her father was a park ranger on the Olympic Peninsula. She attended Sammamish High School (in Bellevue), went to college at Western Washington University in Bellingham, and raised her children in Redmond before moving to Seattle in 2023 after her kids went off to university. Stevens had never considered herself an athlete. She never made the cut on high school sports teams, but once she found rowing she finally felt at home. “I loved the community, the fitness, and being outside. I liked the technical aspect of the sport and being able to follow and not have to make decisions (I’m a lifelong starboard.) Once I started getting the chances to row competitive boats like Opening Day and the Head of the Charles Regatta– a competitive streak took over. I like pushing myself to row in races with the best rowers from around the world,” she said.  Stevens with her family in Chicago in 2023 Since Stevens moved to Seattle, she still comes back to row for the mid-morning team at Sammamish. “There are many Seattle crews I could choose instead,” Stevens commented. “I have a lot of history and many long-time friendships at SRA and the commute isn’t any worse than Eastside traffic. I am inspired by our older mid-morning rowers and hope to follow in their footsteps to keep active later in life. It’s really exciting to me to see people get addicted to the sport. Anyone can row as long as you want. There is no age limit. Our 70- and 80-year-old rowers inspire me every day. I feel like in our class, everyone is welcome and has a place and a chance to row how they want to, whether it’s recreational, for fitness, or for competition. It’s not an elite clique you have to earn a place in.” The friendships made at SRA are strong and lifelong. Stevens has made many incredible friends in her years at Sammamish Rowing Association and credits them for getting her through both the good times and the bad. In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, Stevens was feeling down about her 50th birthday happening during lockdowns and social distancing. She expressed her sadness to her rowing friends over a zoom call only to realize they were all on her lawn when she noticed her car in the video background! While sitting on her lawn, they celebrated her birthday with cupcakes and presents. Stevens added, “I love that community feeling that I’ve had at SRA and that’s what keeps me coming back.”  Stevens racing at the Head of the Charles Regatta in 2017 in the Women's 50+ 8+ that placed 6th! Stevens has been to HOCR six times. The friends Stevens has made during her years rowing at SRA have also been amazing teammates— providing her with the opportunity to row in some of the nation’s most prestigious regattas. Stevens remembered her first experience at the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston. As one of the best known regattas in the world, the excitement in the city was palpable. “My dad took me to lunch after the race and I was still in my uniform and sweats at a white tablecloth restaurant and they didn't blink an eye. They asked if I had raced, where I came from, and how we did. That was really validating for all the hard work I had put in to get there,” Stevens shared. Experiencing that regatta and rowing among athletes from all over the world made it one of her favorite rowing memories. Stevens had returned to the HOCR many times including 2016 when she stroked SRA’s 50+ 8+ to 7th place— a huge accomplishment for a world renowned regatta. “Everyone in the boat had learned to row at SRA, there were no high school or collegiate rowers in our crew. Plus everyone except me had been rowing 5 years or less. We were so excited to pass former Olympians in our race. That was an amazing accomplishment for SRA,” Stevens said proudly.  Stevens summiting Mount Fuji with her son, Pascal, in 2023 For novice rowers, Stevens has some excellent advice. “Row with experienced rowers any time you can and learn from them,” she said. “Join the off day workouts to meet people and be pushed to improve. Try out for competitive boats to get experience and have fun!”
In 2002, Stevens left her Digital Imaging job at Wizards of the Coast to raise her two boys. Since she grew up camping and hiking, her kids now enjoy sharing those hobbies with her too. She and her son, Pascal, summited Mount Fuji together in 2023— an endeavor her rowing friends helped her train for. Stevens loves traveling around the world and takes photos of her adventures which she then scrapbooks. Her scrapbooking hobby turned into an Etsy business, Paper Hedgehog, where she has been selling journals and scrapbooks for 12 years. From her very first session at SRA back in May 1996, Stevens has found a home where she can truly thrive. With friends who push her to be her best or show up for her when she needs their support, it is not surprising that Stevens has kept coming back to the Hod Fowler boathouse for nearly 30 years. Who knew that reading the newspaper could alter your life in such amazing ways? Many rowers are familiar with the struggle of finding balance between all the things they want to do and need to do in life. For our junior rowers, balancing practice with school, homework, family time, hanging out with friends, tutoring, and other activities teaches them how to manage their time really quickly. Additionally, our adult rowers need to manage even more with work, childcare, vacations, chores, appointments, friends, family, and other hobbies as well. Sammamish Rowing Association has a strong desire to expand the sport to young adults. Statistically, most of our master rowers who have children either have children currently in high school or who have moved out as young adults. This has left very little representation for young parents on our masters teams, but one 5am rower is absolutely crushing it as a young mom.
She credits discipline and preparation as keys to balancing her early morning rows, taking care of her kids, and working her full time job. “The key is being disciplined about being prepped and ready for the next day and getting to bed early. Plus, when you have kids, they go to bed early and I’m not too far behind them! I couldn’t do it without the support of my husband, Jeff, and our family that is close by,” she added. The boathouse was basically a shack when Postlewait began rowing in 2006. Portable bathrooms were outside and rowers changed behind sheets strung up on the ceiling. Weight training was completed with concrete filled paint cans. Nevertheless, incredible coaching by her coach at the time, Courtney Moeller, and the amazing friendships she made and memories shared at the Hod Fowler Boathouse solidified rowing as a passion for Postlewait. After a gap in her rowing career, she met up with an old friend, Dennis Ferrer, and got the scoop on masters rowing. In 2019, she joined the 5am team and the rest is history!
 Since the inception of The Head of the Charles Regatta in 1965, the event has attracted hundreds of thousands of rowers to Boston and the Charles River. SRA has had the opportunity to attend this regatta for years and to compete against top crews. This year, all our competing crews qualified for entires in 2023. HOCR was back up to full capacity with top crews from across the country as well as numerous international crews. Rowers were lucky to have some of the best weather ever for this year’s races. SRA's top finish was a silver medal for the 5AM’s women’s 40+ 4+. They overcame multiple challenges to bring home SRA’s first medal since 2019. Coach Kenzie Waltar of the 5am team competed with her dad, Steve Waltar, in the Directors Challenge Parent/Child 2x category. Waltar said, "It was an honor to race the Head of the Charles with my dad. The two of us have been training together for a couple of months and to have it pay off with some fun on the Charles was such a gift! We passed a few boats, we were cheered on by many UW and SRA friends, and we competed with heart. I'm so glad we got to do something so special! SRA, thank you for making this possible. It's something we'll never forget!" In addition to current SRA rowers, we were fortunate enough to see several alumni from our junior program competing this past weekend. Brooke Caragher (U Penn), Grace Sappington (Cornell), Lucy Climer-Kennedy (Northeastern), and Jacob Zelenko (San Diego), all recent SRA Junior Program alumni, were spotted competing this year and we could not be more proud to see them continuing their rowing careers on such a renowned stage. All of our crews did an outstanding job and deserve recognition as well. Below, board member Dale Quigg has compiled our team results along with video links. Please join us in celebrating our incredible rowers, coaches, and coxswains for their amazing performances at The Head of the Charles Regatta! 2022 Head of the Charles Overview for Sammamish Rowing Association Friday, October 21, 2022 W GMV 1X Women's Grand Master/Veteran Singles [50+, 60+] Ann Creighton Results Top 25% Finish Video: Cambridge Saturday, October 22, 2022 M SM 8+ Men's Senior Master Eights [50+] C: Jessica Pare 8: Sohier Hall 7: Tyler Simpson 6: William Senenko 5: Brett Barton 4: Mike Fitzner 3: Kirby Meyer 2: Marc McGinnis 1: Patrick Eames Results: Top 50% Finish Video: Reunion Village Cambridge W SM 8+ Women's Senior Master Eights [50+] C: Lisa Caldwell 8: Ann Taylor 7: Karen Tollefson 6: Maxine Lee 5: Susannah Pryal 4: Jeana Vasey 3: Arminda Phillips 2: Sue Bailey 1: Paula Sandige Results: Top 50% Finish Video: Reunion Village Cambridge M GM 4+ Men's Grand Master Fours [60+] C: Jamie Moseley 4: Kevin Hansen 3: Scott Winter 2: Charles Turner 1: Scott Merritt Results Video: Reunion Village n/a Cambridge W SM 4+ Women's Senior Master Fours [50+] C: Madison Goertz 4: Tanya Wahl 3: Trisha Miller 2: Jennifer Martin 1: Nancy Johnston Results: Top 25% Finish Video: Reunion Village Cambridge W MSTR 4+ Women's Master Fours [40+] C: Genevieve Carrillo 4: Jennifer Teschke 3: Christen Kartaltepe 2: Rebecca Rowe 1: Yulia Poltorak Results: Silver Medal Video: Reunion Village Cambridge n/a W MSTR 4+ Women's Master Fours [40+] C: Amy Shotwell 4: Celine Suzzarini 3: Beverley Ashton 2: Summer Taylor 1: Susan Cameron Results: Top 50% Finish Video: Reunion Village Cambridge n/a Sunday, October 23, 2022 DC PC 2X Directors' Challenge Parent/Child Doubles 2: Stephen Waltar 1: Kenzie Waltar Results Video: Riverside Reunion Village Cambridge
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Sammamish Rowing Association
5022 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE Redmond, WA 98052 [email protected] 425-653-2583 |
Mailing Address:
Sammamish Rowing Association P.O. Box 3309 Redmond, WA 98073 |
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