 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! Sammamish Rowing Association (SRA) has been developing a rich community for 30 years. We have individuals at our boathouse now who have been with us through those transformative decades or who are brand new to us as of this fall season. We have been fortunate to have made an impact on so many individuals coming into our boathouse, one of which is Ruslan Bagaveev.  Bagaveev got involved in rowing when he had a free fall schedule while attending Interlake High School in 2011. He was deeply curious about the sport of rowing and had always wanted to try something new so joining the high school junior team seemed like the perfect way to spend his free time. When asked about his experience on the junior team, Bagaveev said, “It was amazing. I felt that the coaching staff had my back. I felt included in all of the fun activities and got to attend the Brentwood regatta in British Columbia. We didn't have much money at that period in time, yet the folks at SRA shouldered the burden and made sure I remained a part of the team.” SRA has had a deep commitment to providing rowing experiences for all regardless of financial ability. Every year we raise tens of thousands of dollars for our scholarship fund and in 2025 we have already awarded over $50,000 in scholarships. By supporting our membership when they need assistance, we can continue to provide incredible rowing experiences, make the sport more accessible, and establish a welcoming place for all within our community. For one year, Bagaveev rowed on the Junior Boys Team, considered a few offers to row in college, but decided to settle into his studies instead. During his year on the team, Bagaveev formed great memories. He distinctly remembered catching a crab (the act of a rower’s blade getting trapped in the water by momentum of the shell and then striking the rower or pushing them out of the boat) in September on a brutally cold and wet day. Coach Simon was quick to assist him back in the boat, make sure he was okay, and then gave him some pointers on how to improve his chances of staying in the boat in the future. “Rowing taught me patience and to be in tune with the team,” Bagaveev said. “Flow and rhythm of the sport applies to more than just the shell. It is applicable to the ebbs and flows of life. I found myself thinking more about life in terms of rowing after being exposed to it. It was formative to my behavior then and now as an adult. I would absolutely recommend this sport to my kids and young adults in general.” Bagaveev still ergs to this day and it has become a staple in his gym workouts.  Bagaveev earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management in 2017 from the University of Washington. Like his desire to try new things in high school, Bagaveev’s professional journey involved sampling different experiences. “I tried working at an electrical construction company as a project engineer,” Bagaveev commented. “I really liked it at the time. I worked for Prime and Cochran. I worked for several GC companies like Corti, Skanska, and WALSH. Eventually I got recruited by Amazon to build out their last mile delivery stations. Then COVID hit and I was stuck at home like everyone else in endless meetings. Although I enjoyed the technical design of the charging standards for the Rivian EV vans, I did not like the corporate world. I decided to leave and focused on trying several smaller companies with a more narrow focus in the residential building industry. Eventually, I founded Dryout which focuses on the residential and light commercial sector serving customers who experience a flood or a burst pipe. We mitigate and rebuild affected properties and work with insurance companies to find coverage for the affected clients.” Corporate life lacked the personal connection Bagaveev craved, but now as the founder of Dryout, he has been able to merge his professional life with his desire to help people in need. That need for personal connection is often what drives people to join rowing! Eventually these two worlds collided when SRA discovered a leak from one of the drains in the mechanical room of the Hod Fowler Boathouse. Bagaveev carefully assessed the situation and proposed a plan to Simon Williams, SRA’s Director of Equipment and Facilities. He removed the affected drywall, cleaned, sanitized and dried the structure while also rebuilding the affected area.  “It was incredible coming back,” Bagaveev said. “It was my first time seeing the new and improved boathouse from the inside. I could feel the energy in the building. I couldn't help myself and offered to do the work for free in order to give back to the organization. SRA and most importantly Coach Simon had an immense impact on my life.” These are incredibly kind words from a wonderful young man who we feel lucky to have as part of the SRA family.
In just one year at SRA, Bagaveev formed a deep appreciation for our sport and it will always hold a special place in his heart. He fondly remembers running with his teammates to Marymoor after practice and picking up McDonalds or Taco Bell after particularly cold hard rows in the winter. That camaraderie has left a lasting impression on Bagaveev who returned to aid SRA in much needed restoration work this year. We are immensely grateful for the services he provided us through his company, Dryout, and we hope to see more of him in the future. Bagaveev mentioned that he credits SRA with where he is today. SRA is strengthened by individuals like Bagaveev who come seeking new experiences, friendships, and are willing to put in some work to discover the benefits of our beloved sport. Thank you, Ruslan! |
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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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