Coaches of Lake Sunapee Rowing Club

Message from
Coach Brenda Balenger

My Role as a Coach

I see my participation in the educational process as a coach to be an unveiling of the goodness of the student through a connection with knowledge and the eventual wisdom of experience. Coaching athletics, and the sport of rowing in particular, is an opportunity to nourish and celebrate the improvement of individuals, as well as fostering skill, technique, and physiological fitness.

The athlete that is encouraged to risk leaving all limitations behind and seek personal excellence, however defined, is a successful student. Coaching is the act of helping to shape humans, not just molding good rowers. An excellent coach strengthens each athlete’s confidence, resiliency and patience, building character foundations that will support the individual throughout life, in and out of the world of sports.

Coaches

Brenda Balenger

Brenda was a Fellow in the inaugural class of the Institute for Rowing Leadership at Community Rowing, Inc., in Boston, MA. While obtaining an Advanced Certificate in Rowing Leadership, coaching masters and juniors at CRI, and rowing on the Charles River, she completed her practicum requirement as Volunteer Novice Coach for the Boston College's Division I Women's Team for the fall and spring seasons, 2011 and 2012. In addition to coaching for LSRC, she is currently working as an Organizational Consultant for the Canal Dock Boathouse in New Haven, CT. In 2010, she was the Novice Coach for the Derryfield School in Manchester, NH, and in 2007, she co-founded the Lake Sunapee Rowing Club, and has been president of the club since 2009. Prior to 2011, Brenda spent 20 years working in the clinical research industry as a coordinator and monitor for pharmaceutical trials.

Don Hayes and Katrina Mojzesz

DDon and Katrina moved from Philadephia to South Royalton, VT, where Don attended Vermont Law School and is currently practicing law. Katrina is a professional self-employed photographer. Both are adaptive rowing coaches who volunteered with Philadelphia Rowing Program for the Disabled for 13 years. They taught adaptive rowing and chaired the Communications Committee and the Fund Raising Committee. Both have been instrumental in creating the LSRC Adaptive Rowing Program in partnership with New England Handicapped Sports Association (NEHSA).

Past Coaches

David Pook

David has been involved in rowing for many years. He was a competitive rower at the University of Pennsylvania and moved into coaching at Indiana University. David has also coached at the Bershire School, St. Paul's School and currently at the Derryfield School. David believes good coaches know how to communicate with their rowers and offer advice in ways that help the rower improve. His goal is to offer you some insight into your rowing stroke and ways you can modify it to be more efficient, effective, and ultimately make rowing more enjoyable.

Nancy Vespoli, Guest Coach

Nancy Vespoli rowed for Dartmouth College and was a member of the 1980 Olympic team. We are very fortunate that Nancy is often in the Lake Sunapee area and is able to occasionally row with us or coach for us.

Martha Beattie, Coaching Consultant

Martha was on the first Dartmouth women's crew team and part of the first women's eight to participate in the Head of the Charles Regatta. She has founded several crew clubs, including "Martha's Moms" in Seattle, WA and the Hanover Boys Crew Team in 2000. Martha is a founding member of Lake Sunapee Rowing Club and will be a consulting coach.

Message from Coach Brenda Balenger