How did you begin rowing?
I began rowing in college. It was a great opportunity for me to transition from the sports I had previously done into something that was new and exciting. Rowing hooked me because it seemed so black and white -- if I was willing to work harder, I would get faster, but I could do that within the framework of a team.
What have you been doing recently before coming to RBC?
Before coming to RBC, I have been coaching at West Cambridge Rowing and Boston Latin School. West Cambridge is a program I founded up river next to Northeastern three years ago. For a long time, I had been interested in what a small team junior rowing program would look like and what they could accomplish. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience, with many of our athletes going on to be successful in the sport in college and learning so much about themselves along the way. At Boston Latin, I've been honored to work with some amazing coaches. Together, we've taken the program to the top of the Massachusettts Public School Rowing Association. This year, we finished as State Champions and took two boats to Youth Nationals (Boys' Lightweight 4+, Girls' 8+)
What are some of your proudest moments as a coach? or, just what is your single proudest moment as a coach? (Don't need to list multiple but if you want to that's cool too!)
Watching athletes achieve on the water is the smallest part of what makes coaching exciting for me. I've watched the sport become a tool for athletes to learn more about who they are as individuals. Rowing has a certain way of training people for the rest of their lives. I think this sport teaches you something about how to be resilient, how to work hard, and how to treat others. As a coach, I've gotten to watch and play a small role in helping individuals grow, and those have been the most rewarding and proudest moments for me.
What are your goals for the HPG program in the coming summer season and remainder of the year?
On the water, we're looking towards our main race of the summer being Trials III in Mercer from July 7th-10th. We're sending several lightweight singles (Jillian Zieff, Amel Younis, Ben Williams), several lightweight pairs (Makayla Karr-Warner/Liz Martin (WLtwt2-), Alex Twist/James Nelson (MLtwt2-), Max Marchiony/Collin Hay (MU23Ltwt2-), and a men's lightweight quad (Ashton Knight, Joe Hanna, Mats Terwiesch, Mike Battaglia). The remainder of the group will race Canadian Henley/Pan Ams and continue to prepare for Fall racing. I'm excited to watch that group compete -- they've come a long way in a very short time.
Off the water, our main goal is to continue to make Riverside a home for athletes training towards the very highest levels of our sport. We want to build a community that supports each other and doesn't just train as a bunch of separate individual small boats. We know that this will ultimately lead to athletes who are able to train at this level for longer and continue to build towards making fast boats for the United States.
Why are you excited to coach the HPG group?
This group is hard working, dedicated, and motivated. However, the most exciting part of working with them is honestly the level of accountability and culture throughout the group. Everyone on the team is very supportive of their teammates and works towards holding them to the highest standards possible. It is a great group of people to be a part of, and I can't wait to see what we can do in the coming months and years.
Outside of the athletes, having Riverside as our home is incredible. While Riverside's support of the HPG is incredible, I've been immediately impressed by the level of individual member support for the HPG. Around the boathouse, it is impossible for me to go more than a day or two without a word of support towards our continued improvement or success. Those small gestures go a long way, and they're very appreciated. We're honored to represent Riverside at the highest level. The outstanding support around the boathouse is one of the best parts of coaching the HPG group.
What have you been doing recently before coming to RBC?
Before coming to RBC, I have been coaching at West Cambridge Rowing and Boston Latin School. West Cambridge is a program I founded up river next to Northeastern three years ago. For a long time, I had been interested in what a small team junior rowing program would look like and what they could accomplish. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience, with many of our athletes going on to be successful in the sport in college and learning so much about themselves along the way. At Boston Latin, I've been honored to work with some amazing coaches. Together, we've taken the program to the top of the Massachusettts Public School Rowing Association. This year, we finished as State Champions and took two boats to Youth Nationals (Boys' Lightweight 4+, Girls' 8+)
What are some of your proudest moments as a coach? or, just what is your single proudest moment as a coach? (Don't need to list multiple but if you want to that's cool too!)
Watching athletes achieve on the water is the smallest part of what makes coaching exciting for me. I've watched the sport become a tool for athletes to learn more about who they are as individuals. Rowing has a certain way of training people for the rest of their lives. I think this sport teaches you something about how to be resilient, how to work hard, and how to treat others. As a coach, I've gotten to watch and play a small role in helping individuals grow, and those have been the most rewarding and proudest moments for me.
What are your goals for the HPG program in the coming summer season and remainder of the year?
On the water, we're looking towards our main race of the summer being Trials III in Mercer from July 7th-10th. We're sending several lightweight singles (Jillian Zieff, Amel Younis, Ben Williams), several lightweight pairs (Makayla Karr-Warner/Liz Martin (WLtwt2-), Alex Twist/James Nelson (MLtwt2-), Max Marchiony/Collin Hay (MU23Ltwt2-), and a men's lightweight quad (Ashton Knight, Joe Hanna, Mats Terwiesch, Mike Battaglia). The remainder of the group will race Canadian Henley/Pan Ams and continue to prepare for Fall racing. I'm excited to watch that group compete -- they've come a long way in a very short time.
Off the water, our main goal is to continue to make Riverside a home for athletes training towards the very highest levels of our sport. We want to build a community that supports each other and doesn't just train as a bunch of separate individual small boats. We know that this will ultimately lead to athletes who are able to train at this level for longer and continue to build towards making fast boats for the United States.
Why are you excited to coach the HPG group?
This group is hard working, dedicated, and motivated. However, the most exciting part of working with them is honestly the level of accountability and culture throughout the group. Everyone on the team is very supportive of their teammates and works towards holding them to the highest standards possible. It is a great group of people to be a part of, and I can't wait to see what we can do in the coming months and years.
Outside of the athletes, having Riverside as our home is incredible. While Riverside's support of the HPG is incredible, I've been immediately impressed by the level of individual member support for the HPG. Around the boathouse, it is impossible for me to go more than a day or two without a word of support towards our continued improvement or success. Those small gestures go a long way, and they're very appreciated. We're honored to represent Riverside at the highest level. The outstanding support around the boathouse is one of the best parts of coaching the HPG group.
Mark Grinberg, 2014 US Rowing Junior Coach of the Year
