IN THE 1984 OLYMPICS in Los Angeles, ten Penn AC members were part of the U.S. Olympic team including Kevin Still, Bob Espeseth, and Douglas Herland cox, who took the bronze in the Pair with in 7:12 behind Italy 7:05 and Romania 7:11. The men's straight pair, David DeRuff and Vesper's John Strotbech were 6th. In the double, Brad Lewis and Paul Enquist took the gold in 6:36, beating Belgium 6:38, and Yogoslavia 6:30. The womenÆs Eight won the gold, beating the Romanian and the Dutch. The Romanian women won five gold and one silver in their six races. In the menÆs Eight Canada won in 5:41, U.S. second in 5:41 and Australia in 5:43. The U.S. Four With also took the silver, England was first in 6:18, U.S. 6:20 and New Zealand 6:23. Charlotte Greer was 2nd in the women's single behind Valerie Racila of Romania. John Biglow was fourth in the men's single in 7:12. Anne Marden, Lisa Rohde, Joan Lind, Virginia Gilder, and Kelly Rickon were 2nd in the women's quad behind Romaina. The U.S. won a total of 2 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze at Lake Casitas. These sparse gold medal results is the more regrettable since the Soviet teams withdrew in retribution of our withdrawal in the 1980 Olympics. Several of the Olympians were to join the Penn AC team to train for the next Olympics. Penn A.C. also won the San Diego crew classic. Joe Sweeney was awarded the Malta BC Ulman award.
Two Penn AC members became local heroes with their dramatic rescue attempt at the Fairmount Dam. Bill Lamb, the head St. Joe Prep coach, and Mike Fountain, a elite sculler and former Marine, deliberately drove their launch over the falls in a heroic rescue attempt of two Brooks School coaches who launch was swept over the dam in a spring freshet. Ms. Kennworth was saved, but Ms. McBulleyÆs body was never found. Bill and Mike were later honored by City Council.
1985 set the stage for a new level of excellence to come. the youth program at Penn AC excelled with wins the junior Eight at the Independence day regatta. The elite program with John Riley, Ted Swinford, and Dr. Steve Shellans in the Pair was fifth the finals at the Worlds in Hazewinkel Belgium. Penn ACÆs straight pair, Dan Lyons and Chris Clark, replacing Dave Krmpotich who was sick, won by four lengths, beating the 1984 Olympic Champs, Romania. The Shipley school started its rowing program at Penn AC with Jack Galloway and Jim Hanna as coaches.
IN THE 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP the Penn AC Straight Four made a spectacular entry on the World Championship scene with a gold at Nottingham England in the straight four. Ted Swinford, Dan Lyons, John Riley and Bob Espeset came from behind to outpace the East and West Germans and Czech boats to win the first gold in this event since the 1960 Olympic, the first time since 1974 that the U.S. won a World Title, and the first Philadelphia team that won a worlds since 1964. Vince Dougherty was the club manager for this magnificent achievement. In the Nationals, a combo Penn A.C. Vesper eight won the gold. The Penn AC four with and without also took first place. All the Penn AC athletes were rejected by the National Team.
1987 was a massive building year for the next Olympics. Penn AC was designated as a USRA training center. In the nationals, Penn AC won the gold in the Senior Eight, Four With and Straight Four. Both Fours were manned by the same World Champions of the previous year, plus a Silver in the Pair With, John Kissick and Ed Ives, John Fish cox. Penn AC had a Silver in the LW Single John Pinnick, and a bronze in the LW Four With. Penn AC won the Hanlan trophy at the Canadian Henley with wins in the senior Eight and Four With. In the Nationals the Straight Pair won a gold. The Straight Four went on to win a Gold in Italy and a Bronze at the worlds in Copenhagen, despite EspesethÆs seriously injured back. The U.S. world team had 21 Penn AC members. The Penn AC eight won the San Diego crew classic over two Canadian eights and other Olympic and National teams from England and France.
1987 witnessed the infamous Oxford mutiny, when the Americans, Dan Lyons, Huntington, Cadouz Hudson, Clark Pennyand Fish quit in protest over the elected team coaches Dan Topolski and Mike Spracklen giving preference for a seat in the boat to the English team captain Donald MacDonald over Chris Clark. The classic media quote æwhen you recruit mercenaries, you can expect some piratesÆ indicates their Anglo cultural xenophobia. Oxford went on the win the boat race without the Americans, and their coach Topolski published a book that did not adequately represent the American position. Hopefully Dan Lyons will publish a sequel giving their view. The 1988 camp system was a difficult selection process, with final selection, the men's and women's pair without, not selected until 11 days prior to departure for Korea. Also the issue of substitution of LW events for existing events highlighted the controversy of the USRA's board responsibility to represent their constituencies views or make independent objective decisions.
The Olympic Trials at Mercer Co. N.J. provided an unusual drama not normally associated with rowing. The conflict between the camp Vs clubs reached a climax. Penn AC insistence on open trials was vindicated in the Straight Four trials, when the Penn AC second boat, tagged ôkiller Bö by the media, Rich Kennly, Dave Kumpotich, Tom Bohrer, and Raoul Rodriquez, beat the A boat of Bob Espeseth, John Riley, Dan Lyons, and Ted Swinford in the best two out of three races. In addition the Straight Pair trials had 7 entries from Penn AC The ultimate winners Kurt Bausback and Ed Ives had been cut from the Eight camp. The second place Penn AC pair, John Riley and Ted Swinford became the team spares. Bob Espeseth, Dan Lyon and John Fish cox, captured third. At the Worlds, the US camp 8 won the gold, the first in 30 years since Penn AC won in 1930. The women's 8 took the silver. The Penn AC took the bronze without the injured Bob Espeseth.
IN THE 1988 OLYMPICS in Korea. Penn AC's Dave Krmpotich was selected as the US team torch bearer. Germany dominated the rowing, taking 10 medals, including 8 gold (4 of the 6 women's event). The East German women won all the gold medals except the straight pair, which the Romanian's won. The semi-final events were delayed for five hours for NBC TV scheduling. The Olympic village reported many cases of "Seoul slows" stomach virus which had to effect performances. The U.S. camp 8, coached by Chris Korzeniowski, was third after leading up to the 1500 m, West Germany won in 5:46, Russia 5:48.1, and U.S. 5:48.2 Penn AC had 12 of the 34 menÆs Olympic team. The Penn AC Straight Four, Raoul Rodriguez, Tom Bohrer, Dave Krmpotich, and Richard Kennelly Jr., had blazed to a first in their heat in 6:03, but their 6"07 in the semis was only good for 3rd, and the E. Germans in the other race did 6:00. Penn AC's four took the Silver Medal in a brilliant duel with the East Germans who won in 6:03, U.S. 6:05, West Germany 6:06. In the women's single, Anne Mardin was 2nd in 7:50 behind the East German, Jutta Behsrendt 7:47. In addition to the Olympic effort, the Penn AC squad captured the Barnes trophy in the Nationals with wins in the Sr 8, Int 8, 4 with, Straight Four third in the Straight Pair. Tom Bohrer was 2nd in the Boston crash BÆs. he Straight Four meddled in Luzerne.
If the previous year was an emotional and dramatic peak for Penn AC and the club system, 1989 produced in sheer volume of medals and number of participators, a vindication of the club system. In the Nationals at Indianapolis, Penn AC accounted for over 30 medals, 11 gold, 10 silvers, and 7 bronze, and the Barnes trophy for the third straight year in a row. In the pair with, John Moore, Mike Howley and Wehner won in 7:30, in the straight pair, Tom Borher and Roule Rodriquez won in 6:45. Penn AC won the four with and without and the pre elite 8. In the Canadian Henley, they were nearly as successful with 8 gold, 4 silver, and a bronze, and the Harley trophy, also won for the third time in a row. Overseas, the Penn AC Straight Four beat 30 other national teams in 6:18 at Piediluco, Italy. In the worlds trials, where time standards were put into effect, the Straight Four set a US record of 6:02 in this event. John Riley, coached by Sean Drea, also qualified in the Single. At the worlds in Bled Yugoslavia, Penn AC was represented by one member in the Eight, one in the Four With plus the Straight Four, John Rusher, Raoul Rodriquez, Tom Bohrer, and Rich Kennelly. The Straight Four won a silver behind the Germans by a deck length, even though Tom Bohrer was sick during the finals. They repeated the Silver at Lucerne. At the Royal Henley, the Pair With and Without and Straight Four all won first place Gold, presented by H.R.H. Princess Anne. Tom Bohrer was 2nd in the Crash BÆs at Boston. Thomi Keller retired as FISA President. In 1990, 30 Penn AC elite oarsmen were represented in a building process directed towards the 1992 Olympic. In the sports festival the Penn AC Eight, Four and Straight Pair won silver medals. At the head of the Charles, two fours placed in the top Four with event and the elite Eight was first. The club took 8 medals in the Head of the Schuylkill. There was disappointment by the failure of the U.S. to send the Straight Pair, Scott and Numn to Tasmania because they did not make the minimum time standard. The frustration of not sending our developing athletes to the world championships while the USRA office staff were sent defies all logic. The US won five medals, The women's 8, pair and LW double won silver, and open double a bronze. The men's LW double won the gold. The HW men did not medal in any event. At the Goodwill Games in Russia, the US women's double and pair took silver medals,, and the men's quad were 4th, but the US 8 came from 4th to 2nd place finish loosing to the Germans. Three rowers in the 8 Penn AC oarsmen, Pat Manning, Tom Bohrer, and John Riley 12 Penn AC oarsmen were in the Worlds, but did not medal. For the 4th straight time, Penn AC won the Barnes Point Trophy with 10 first places In the Nationals in Camden NJ., rowed in scorching temperatures and high humidity. The Senior Int eight, Straight Four, straight pair, senior single were first, and the Four With was second. Tom Bohrer was first in the Boston Crash BÆs, beating former champion T. Briton and Redgrave, both Olympic gold medal winners. In Piediluca, Italy the Straight Four and Four With were 2nd and 3rd. Penn AC won the open eight in 1988- 89, 90, and 91, and was second in 1986, 87 at the Head of the Charles. They also won the Head of the Schuylkill in 1986, 87, 88, 89, 90, and 91. The US junior 8 were 3rd in the Jr Worlds in France behind the East Germans who won for the 7th straight time. The FISA Masters were held in Miami, with a strong Boathouse contingent represented.
In 1991, at the Nationals, Penn AC won the Barnes Trophy with a contingent of 60 rowers, and won the elite 8. In the Nationals at Indianapolis, the Penn AC 2nd elite eight was third behind the pre-elites,6:26 and Vesper. In the four with, Penn AC was second and third, the straight four and the Pair Without and elite eight were first. Our Olympic bound straight four won, beating Vesper and Canada in 6:07. In the Worlds at Vienna, Penn AC's straight four, McLaughlin, Manning, Michael Porterfield and Tom Bohrer were 2nd to Austrians, setting the stage for a fierce rivalry that climaxed in the 1992 Olympics. The Olympic Pair with John Moore, Aaron Pollock and Steve Shellins cox, was first ahead of the other Penn AC boats, Peterson and Berkner McCollum. In the straight pair, two Penn AC boat were first and third, and in the single, John Reley, rowing for Fairmount Boatclub was second, and Chris McKibbon of Penn AC was third behind Mexico. The Penn AC Junior eight came in second. In the Pan-Am games, the host country Cuba won all the sweep events, the U.S. straight four with Bill Serad, Shane Peterson, Rauol Rodriquez and Will Porterfield took a silver. Martin Crew was a member of the Pan-Am silver eight. The Pair with, Joe Gregamwich, John Radmacher, and Peter Cipollone cox, won the silver. The light weight camp Four with, Kane Lorin, Rob Canavan, Chris Kerber, and Al Steffan Jr. won the gold, and the Penn AC four with Dave Kumpotich, Karl Bjergo, Mike Filpone, and Damen Anastas, John Fish cox, won the silver. The St. Joseph Prep varsity 8 advanced to the semi finals at the English Royal Henley. The National team coaches were named, Igor Grinko from Uktaine, the first National Sculling Coach, and Hartmut Buschbacher from Germany, National Women's Sweep Coach. This during the year that the Berlin Wall came down, and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the reuniting of Germany. From 1966 to 1990, the DDR has won 153 gold, 74 silver, and 42 bronze medals. They had 200 full time coaches.
In 1992 the Penn AC elite eight finished 2nd at the Head of the Charles. For the past five years Penn AC had been first at the head of the Charles, and first for the past 7 years at the head of the Schuylkill. In the Olympic trials at Mercer County N.J. The Penn AC Straight Four and Pair With both qualified for the Olympic. John Moore, Arron Pollock, and Steve Shellans led for 1400 meters in the finals, finishing a strong 5th in record time in a stacked race that had all eventual medal winners in it.
At the Amsterdam International Regatta, the Penn AC Straight Four, Tom Bohrer, Doug Burden, Jeff McGlaughlin and Pat Manning took the silver behind the æAwesome FoursomeÆ Australians who won in 5:55 in dead calm conditions, both boats broke the existing world record in flat calm water. The same Four had been undefeated for 2 + years until the Penn AC Four defeated them in Amsterdam by 7 seconds prior to the Olympics. At the Olympics in Barcelona, The camp Eight had Mike Teti, Jeff Kiepacki, Rich Kennelly and cox Mike Moore from Philadelphia finished fourth behind the Canadians, Romanians and Germans. John Riley and John Mckibben of Penn AC were in the Quad, Sean Hall and Jack Rusher in the Four With and Mark Berkner was the Olympic team spare. The US womenÆs Eight finished 6th. The Canadians won 5 medals compared to the US Single medal won by the Penn AC Straight Four. Penn AC had a total of 15 athletes and two coaches on the 1992 Olympic squad. Behind this superb Four, there were 4 other boats from Penn AC who kept up the pressure to excel that only competition can provide. The silver Straight Four was awarded the Vesper Cup, as was Ted Nash the previous year. Ted Bielefeld, Mike Still, Jon Bernstein, Ken Detweiler ,Jim Neul , Raoul Rodriques, Ken Piree, Jason Honck, Sean Hall, Jonathan Brown, Don Smith, Cheid Jingbluh, Jack Rusher, Laird Reed , Jim Pew Scot Erwin, Tim Evans, John Fish, Alden Zechar, and Pete Cippolone were the Olympic representatives from Penn AC.
IN THE 1992 OLYMPICS Barcelona Spain. Penn AC had 15 rowers and 2 coaches on the team. The Penn AC's men's four, Pat Manning, Tom Bohrer, Jeff Mclaughlin, and Doug Burden won the silver. Burden and McLaughlin were in the bronze eight, and Bohrer in the silver straight four at Seoul in '88. The men's pair, John Moore, Aaron Pollack and Steve Shellans, cox, first in the Petit finals, in the men's four, Sean Hall and Jack Rusher, John Riely and John McKibbon were in the quad were second in the Petit finals, in the eight Jeff Kiepacki, Richard Kennelly, Mike Moore, cox, finished fourth, Mark Berkner was a spare. Ted Nash and Matt Diffenbach were the Penn AC Coaches. This was Coach Nash's 7th time as an Olympic participant, having produced 16 medals since 1966. At the Nationals at Indianapolis, the combo Penn AC-Undine Elite eight was third behind the Canadian and the camp boat. The four with Bill Serad, Detweiler, Crew, Price. Jeff Gurrola, cox, was second behind NYAC and the straight pair, Ken Piree and Bill Serad won in 7:02. This year was also the first time Penn AC eight competed in the Grand Challenge race at the Royal Henley, and came in third. Will Porter, Dan Lyons, Shane Peterson, Mike Peterson, Jim Pew, Don Smith, Ted Swinford, Scott Erwin, and Peter Cipollone cox, defeated the Eastern Sprint and IRA Champions from Dartmouth to advance to the semi-finals, where they lost to the German World Champion LW eight. The Penn AC straight four won the gold in Amsterdam, defeating the defending champion Australians, who went on to win the Olympics. At the Head of the Charles, first place Brown University was disqualified for an ineligible rower. Vesper was declared the winner and Penn AC was second.
In 1993, although Penn AC was dropped by USRA as a National Training Center and lost all funding, they still produced the hoped for medal quest with 16 Penn AC members and 2 coaches on the National team, and a 25 person contingent of senior B that competed in Mexico, Florida and at the Pieduluco Italy international Regatta, where Don Smith and Fred Honebein, drove to the Gold in the straight pair in a time of 6:50, over favored Slovenian, Yugoslavia and France. They had previously won the National Team speed orders at Mercer Co. NJ over the entire pool of US elite candidates. At the American rowing Championships at Topeka Kansas, the Penn AC menÆs Int was 3rd, the menÆs Sr straight pair were 2nd and 3rd and first in the menÆs SR eight, Sr four, Int eight, and Sr four. In the 1993 Nationals at Indianapolis, the straight pair, Smith and Honebein, the straight four with Jeff Klepacki, Sean Hall, Jason Scott, and Scott Munn both won the gold. The championship camp eight also had four Penn AC members, Don Smith, John Riley, Fred Honebein and Tom Murray. Penn ACÆs Ingrid Klich and Andrea Thies were in the womenÆs winning double and single.
In the World Championships at Lucerne, the US won five medals, one being a gold in the LW menÆs four. The Penn ACÆs straight four, with only one member from the '92 Barcelona Olympic Silver boat, won its heat and the semi-finals in 5;58 upsetting Croatia (winners at Lucerne) and twice beat Poland who were third at the previous Olympics. The final was a hard raced event with our team a deck up on France and closing on Poland and Canada. France won, Poland second, and the U.S. team was 3rd. UndineÆs double was third and the camp womenÆs quad was second. Penn AC had 18 members on the US World team, including the ClubÆs straight four which captured the bronze medal. Jeff Klepacki, recovering from a disk operation, Sean Hall, Tom Bohrer and Jim Neil had a total of 71 workouts before the Worlds. Their was the 7th World or Olympic medal in eight years, a record unequaled by any other Club, University, or Camp team. Tom Bohrer and Pat Manning in the straight pair did not make the finals. The Penn AC womenÆs double was 3rd in the Petite finals. At the Head of the Charles, the Penn AC eight was first, the open eight was second behind Vesper which had four Olympians in the boat. Mammy Galloway was second in the womenÆs club single, and Ingrid Klich was sixth in the womenÆs championship single. Ingrid won the Catalina 24 hr open ocean race. The Penn AC men also took first and second in the Championship Challenge Regatta in Ohio.
In the 1994 American rowing Championship at Topeka Kan, the Penn AC women's double won the gold. The men's camp eight won the gold at the worlds in Indianapolis in 5:24, with Don Smith and Chip McKibben from Penn AC The women's LW straight four also won the gold, and the menÆs four were second, with Peter Cippollone cox. At the head of the Charles Ingrid klich was fifth in the single. Penn AC won 8 first place medals in the Kings Head Regatta, and six in the Navy Day Regatta. Boathouse Row lost a former Penn AC oarsman, coach and bonhomie, Gus Ignas, who had won 17 gold medals in e US Nationals and many other national and internationals races. Dr. John Bergen died, a former Commodore and NAAO President, and long time Penn AC member. At the 1995 Nationals at Lake Lanieer in Gainesville Ga. The women's Penn AC-Chattanooga combo, with Ingrid Klich, Andrea Thies, Julia Chilicki, and Cecile Tucker quad was second behind Canada, and the Penn AC's 8 was 5th. In the æ95 Worlds at Tampwew Finland, the US had four gold medals.; the women's 8, heavy and light straight four, and LW straight pair. Ingrid Klich, who made a miraculous recovery from major surgery and Cecile Tucker from Penn A.C. were in the women's quad. The menÆs 8 was third, which included Penn ACÆs Sean hall, Jeff Klepacki and Fred Honebein. At the Pan Am games in Argentina, the US led with 18 medals, 10 gold medals. and 8 silver. The menÆs 8 won the Jon Brown, Don Smith, Fred Honebein and Sean Hall from Penn AC The US. won the LW four without, Men's 8, LW men's 4 without, women's pair, LW men's double Men's four, LW double, straight four, LW 8, and straight pair. At the American Rowing Champ in Syracuse, Penn AC won the Sr 8, and Sr 8 dash.
THE 1995 WORLDS in Tampere Finland, for the first time the U.S. won 5 gold, a silver, and a bronze. The sweep women won medals in every event. The women's 8 won in 5:50, and the men's four won in 6:37, with Penn AC's Peter Cipollone as cox. The women's LW straight pair won in 7:55 over England and Denmark, the women's straight four won the gold in 7:03 over Australia and England. The first time since 1984. The LW women's straight four won in 7:08 over England and Germany, and heavy pair won the gold. and the women's straight pair was 2nd behind Australia, and the women's quad was 5th, and the women's LW double 7h, the Heavy double was 11th. The men's 8 took a bronze in 5:57 behind Germany and Holland., the quad was 6th, the straight four was 7th, the single and straight pair were 9th, Penn AC's Foss Flemer was 5th in the LW single, after protesting the repechage when a reed was found stuck on his fin. Ross was also the LW single representative in the Pan Am Games, and teamed up with Lt. Andy McMarlin U.S.N. to take second in the Worlds. Lt. Dale Hurley U.S.N., Don Smith, and Fred Honebein were first in the striaght pair. The men's LW 8 was 5th, and the men's straight four was 7th, the LW double 8th, the LW quad and straight pair was 9th, the men's LW straight pair was 10th the men's double 20th. Ted Nash was the LW men's coach.
Tom Borher was second in the Boston Erg races with a time of 7.25. In the Head of the Charles, The Penn AC masters 8, with Dave Krupotich, Danny Lyons, Jim Pew, Jon Shields, Drew Schrieber, John Moore, Chris Clark, Pete Howle, Chris Ives, Ted Swinford, Kurt Borsheeden, and Wen Huang Cox, was second, but were first in the Head of the Schuylkill with a course record of 12;29. Ingrid klich and Andrea Thries won the double, Tom Bohrer won the single. Penn AC finally completed the new building with the completion of the women' locker and shower facilities. In the 1996 Olympic Trials in Gainsville Ga. Forty four rowers earned places on the Olympic team. The men's straight pair and the men's and women's four with were dropped from the Olympics this year, to make room for the three new lightweight events, the men's LW four and double, and the women's LW double. The men's and women's open double had to place in the top two slots in Switzerland because these boats did not place in the Worlds the previous year. Tom Bohrer and Pat Manning after winning their heat by 5 sec. over Walker and Lewis, suffered a heartbreaking setback when, in a severe rough water and headwind, were swamped by a referee launch. Four of the boats in this race did not finish. In a comedy of errors, the Vesper double protested due to sickness caused by food poisoning, and Andy McMarlin of Penn AC and Ty Bennion of Bachelors B.C. paddled in deliberately last to save themselves for the final. They went on to qualify but did not make the requalifier race at Lucerne, Switzerland. The Penn AC Olympic womenÆs open double, Jennifer Device and Michelle Knox, after qualifying in the speed orders at Eakins S.C., placed first in the trials with a time of 6:52 at Gainsville Ga. and made the Olympic team by winning at Luzerne Switzerland. John Riley was involved in a serious car accident and could not compete in the single trials that he had trained so long and hard for. The Penn AC assault vehicle suffered multiple tragedies, and the Olympic boats from the whole mid Alantic area only made it with the infusion of a great deal of cash and the assistance of various State troopers and nocturnal mechanics. Joe Sweeney was the trial referee and starter for the Yale-Harvard-Cambridge-Oxford exhibition races. Finally, both the men and women's eight races were unchallenged, making the concept of trials by competition serendipitous for the camps.
THE 1996 OLYMPICS Alanta, Ga. The U.S. team won three silvers; the men's quad, and the women's HW and LW double, and one bronze, the LW men's straight four. Penn AC's women double, Jenny Devine and Michelle Knox Zaloom, were 9th as were the LW men's double, Steve Peterson and Tom Auth. Fairmount R.A's. Tereas Bell and Lindsay Burns were 2nd in 7:14 behind Romaina 7:12. In the men's quad, Jason Gailes, Eric Mueller, Brian Jamieson, and Tim Young, took the silver, in a time of 5:59 over Australia's 6:01. Germany won in 5:56. Karen Kraft and Missy Schwen were 2nd in the women's pair in 7:01.7 behind Australia 7:01.3. Adam Holland and Mike Peterson were 7th in the men's pair. Ruth Davidson was 6th, and Cyrus Beasley was 10th in the singles. The women's quad, Julia Chilicki, Andrea Thies, Cathy Symon, and Cecile Tucker were 8th. The men's four, Tom Murray, Jeff Klepacki, Sean Hall, and Jason Scott were 11th. The men's LW four, Bill Carlucci, Marcus Schneider, Dave Collins, and Jeff Pfaendner, were 3rd behind Denmanrk in 6:09, and Canada 6:10. The men's eight, Jon Brown, Jamie Koven, Ted Murphy, Porter Collins, Bob Kaehler, Doug Burden, Steve Segalofff cox were 5th. The women's eight, Jennifer Dore, Amy Fuller, Monica Tranel-Michini, Betsy McCagg, Catriona Fallon, Laurel Korholz, Mary McCagg, Anne Kakela, and Yaz Faroog cox, were 4th. At the 1996 Nationals, Penn AC had the best showing since '85, with 6 gold 3 silver and one bronze. The 4x, Andy McMarlin, Peter Nichard, Rob and Chris Desino won in 5:59. In the 4-, Mat Madigan, M. Wherley, Cludden and P. Michard won. Zegarra, Turner, Field, and Durksen won in both the 4- and 4+, and Jenny Devine and Michelle Knox won. Dave Lefebver, Curt Browder and Gherst won in the 2+. Chris and Rob Desino won in the 2x. The eight had all the above men, won the gold. Andy McMarlin won a bronze in the LW 1x. At the Championship Challenge Penn AC's straight pairs were the top three , and the LW pair were first and third.
IN THE 1966 WORLDS in Strathclyde Glasgow Scotland, was the first time that the World Championships were held during the Olympic year for boats not included in the Olympics. The U.S. won two gold's in the women's four and LW pair, and two bronze, in the LW women's single and four. The women in the straight four, who had been discouraged from trying out for the Olympic Camp because they were too small and inexperienced, decided to come to row at Penn AC with Ted Nash.
The Penn AC's 'FAB FOUR', Rosana Zegaarra, Amy Turner, Sara Field, and Emily Dirksen, in their first international competition, pulled off a stunning upset by winning the gold in 6:49, and overcoming a monstrous 3 sec Romanian lead at the start and coming from behind at the last 250 meters at a 44 to defeat the stern four from the Romanian's winning Alanta Olympic eight and previous 2 time world champions. Before their heat, Emily's adjustable oar handle came apart, and Ted Nash 'walked on water' to get a replacement oar and insure the race was held up for them. Sarah Garner won the bronze behind a Romanian sculler from their winning Olympic lightweight double, leading up to the 1500 meter mark in a strong head wind. The menÆs pair, Dave Lefebvre, Curt Browder, and Rich Gherst cox, coached by Ted Swinford and Joe Sweeney, placed a respectable eighth overall against a much heavier field. The U.S. women's LW straight pair, Chria Smith and Ellen Minznar, also won the gold in 7:56 over England. The U.S. women's LW four got a bronze.
At the American rowing championships in Syracuse, Penn AC's Peter Michaud won the Sr single in 7:11, and was 2nd in the dash. Penn AC also won the men's Int double in 7:57. Mammy Galloway was 2nd in the Sr single dash and Sr single, and Penn AC won the men's Sr 4 in 6:39, the men's Sr Pair in 6:59, and was 6th in the Int four.
At the Navy day Regatta Penn AC had six wins; the World Championship Women's four with, Mamie Galloway and Mat Madigan in the singles, the men's club 8, the high school LW and open eight. At the Head of the Schuylkill Penn AC won the women's four in 15:13, the H.S. LW 8 in 14:12, the H.S. 8 in 14:22, H.S. four in 15:13 men's club 8 in 13:04, Sara Garner in the women's single and Mat Madigan in the men's single won, as well as the masters 8 in a blistering time of 14:32. The Head of the Charles was washed out in a heavy storm. At the Head of the Potomac, the men's four with, Chris Diedre, mike Herley, Matt Prechtal and Stu Chase Cox beat Navy's two boats comprising their varsity 8 for '96. Andy McMarlin in the single, and Erick Nelson in the Int single won. Mat Matigan and Pete Michael were second in the double, and the 8 was fourth. At the Head of the "Hooch " in Alanta, Penn AC was 1st in the men's double with Browder & Duffy, and Chris Duffy was 2nd in the men's single, and 1st in the men's 8. In the Head of Occquan Va. Mat Madigan was 1st and Pete Michaud was 2nd in the single.
While we look with pride to the glorious achievements of past champions, we should rededicate our club to providing future generations the opportunity to compete and excel, to be their personal best.
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