Coaches
Rob Canavan
Position: Head Coach, Varsity Men's Head Coach
Email: coach.rob [at] gtcrew.com
College: Temple University
Bio: Coach Rob Canavan started out rowing lifeguard boats on the New Jersey shore. He took up crew as a freshman a Temple University and rowed for three years on the varsity team. He then joined the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia. Rob rowed in the World University Games, U.S. Olympic Festival (gold medalist), Pan American Games (gold medalist), American Nationals (two-time gold medalist), and the U.S. Nationals (two-time gold medalist). Rob has been the Head Coach at Tech since 1995. Since he began at Tech, it has become a growing program and one of the most successful programs in the south. Coach Rob has coached his varsity men on to many National Championship medals, including two silver medals from IRA June of 2003. In addition to coaching, Rob is a school teacher as well as the father of two boys.
Ross Beattie
Position: Varsity Women's Coach
Email: coach.ross [at] gtcrew.com
College: Brock University
Bio: Coach Ross Beattie has been involved with the sport of rowing since 1990, and has been actively coaching since 1996. As an athlete he has enjoyed success on high school, club, university and international teams. His experience with athletes is varied, as he has coached in Learn-to-Row programs (elementary school children), novice and experienced rowers, men and women, heavyweights and lightweights, in both sweep and sculling disciplines. He has coached in a number of different environments, working individually with crews, in conjunction with other coaches, and under the instruction of a head coach. Coach Ross was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, attended Brock University in St. Catharines, and is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Katie. He enjoys eating sunflower seeds, walks in the park, and if you look in the right places on the internet, you can find tasteful pictures of him racing (and winning) a head race completely naked (socks on in the boat, of course).
Jim "Slim" Price
Position: Novice Men's Coach
Email: coach.slim [at] gtcrew.com
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Bio: Coach Slim Price started rowing in 1996 after traveling from Alaska to become a freshman at Georgia Tech. Because of the large number of Jim's on the crew team his novice year, he gained the nickname of Slim. He no longer responds to Jim. In 2002, Slim decided to help out the team and became the assistant coach for the novice men and in 2004, Slim became the Head Coach. Slim is one of the great story-tellers on the team, relaying stories of the great boats of GT Crew. Slim spent his years at Tech as a lightweight, most often the weight-maker. Slim is well-known for his handy work at the boathouse and on the shells. Slim works at Georgia Pacific as something really smart and runs many miles for lunch.
Nick Marino
Position: Novice Women's Coach
Email: coach.nick [at] gtcrew.com
College: Indiana University
Bio: Coach Nick Marino began his rowing career as a coxswain at Boone High School in Orlando, where he coxed the men's JV8 to consecutive state championships in 1993-94, and the Varsity 8 to a state runner-up finish in 1995. He coxed in college for Indiana University's fledgling club team and, upon returning to Florida, joined the coaching staff of Jacksonville Episcopal High School. In 2003, his women's 3rd 8 won the state title and his JV8 finished second. In 2008, his second year with Tech, he led his athletes to one of the most successful Novice Women's seasons in the school's history, with six spring victories including the SIRA championship. Coach Nick lives in Atlanta with his wife and their dog. He is known for shaving his head to make a point at crew practice.
Curt Browder
Position: Assistant Coach
Email: coach.curt [at] gtcrew.com
College: UNC Wilmington
Bio: Coach Curt joined us in the fall of 2006 having just recently relocated from the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia. His experience as an oarsman for the United States in the 1996 and 2001 World Rowing Championships and as a coach for the US National Team has proved to be an irreplaceable asset to the team. Curt has lead/coached nine former and/or current athletes to the World Championships; three men in the 2004 Men’s 2+ and 7 sweep and/or sculling athletes in 2005 (HM 2-, HM 2+, stroke of the LM 2X and bow of the LW2X). Curt was also named the 2005 Schuylkill Navy Coach of the Year. Even with this success, Curt remains approachable and demonstrates great patience on the water. Curt lives up on a hill overlooking the river and rows most mornings before going to work. He has 2 cats and makes us laugh every day.
Elizabeth Henry
Position: Women's Assistant Coach
Email: coach.liz [at] gtcrew.com
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Bio: Coach Liz Henry began her rowing career coxing for Augusta Juniors, where her crews raced undefeated and finished fourth in the Women’s Lightweight Eight at Junior Nationals. While at Georgia Tech, she coxed the varsity men to an ACC Championship in 1999 and a second-place finish at Dad Vails in 2001. Upon graduating, she was an assistant coach for the Novice Women’s team and helped found a girl’s rowing team at The Westminster Schools. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in History at Georgia State University and working for Atlanta City Council.
Alex Porter
Position: Varsity Men's Assistant Coach
Email: coach.alex [at] gtcrew.com
College: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bio: Alex started rowing his freshman year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and immediately fell in love with the sport. He became an active member of the RPI Crew's social life and administraion, but found himself taking on a new role his junior year after he became a certified coach and took over coaching for the novice squad. By the following fall he and a fellow teammate produced the fastest novice team RPI Crew had seen in years. Alex received a B.S. in Economics from RPI in May 2009 and plans to pursue an MBA in the future. His hobbies include woodworking, ultimate frisbee, and skiing. He hates winter training and loathes the prospect of long hours on the erg. He likes all music that rocks, especially anything Jimmy Page or Green Day, and enjoys cooking and has a strong belief that all men should know how to barbecue.
Jennifer McNair
Position: Novice Men's Assistant Coach
Email: coach.jenny [at] gtcrew.com
College: University of Georgia
Bio: Jenny rowed lightweight at the University of Georgia for four years, highlighted by a 2nd place finish at SIRA's, 4th place at the Dad Vail, and an undefeated senior year. In Atlanta she coached the varsity and novice women at AJRA and St. Andrew for a combined 4 years. Jenny has helped lead crews to a SE Regional Championship, three top 10 finishes at the Head of the Hooch, and several youth invites. While studying at the University of Pennsylvania, she coached the novice women at Harriton High School to a Philadelphia City Championship. Jenny also coached several learn-to-row camps along the way, including inner city youth camps with the Yale Community Rowing Program in New Haven, CT, camps with the American School for the Deaf, and camps with Special Olympic athletes. Most recently, Jenny was a coach at the Southeast Development Camp where her lightweight 4+ earned a silver at Club Nationals. Jenny is a 3rd grade teacher in Roswell, GA and likes to hang out with her husband and her dog Henry.
Jim Daughdrill
Position: Novice Women's Assistant Coach
Email: coach.jim[at]gtcrew.com
College: University of Pennsylvania
Bio: Coach Jim began his rowing career as a freshman at McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. He went on to row at the University of Pennsylvania, where he sat 2 seat in the freshmen boat that captured the 2006 Eastern Sprints title and finished third in the IRA National Championship. His most memorable accomplishment as an oarsman was completing the Ted Nash Challenge - rowing 66 miles in under 12 hours - with 3 of his Penn classmates. When he's not coaching, Jim enjoys watching the Atlanta Braves, demolishing all-you-can-eat buffets, and listening to 90s country music.
Rowers
Varsity Men
| Name | Years on crew | Major | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Campbell | 1 | Polymer Textile Fiber Engineering | Oak Ridge, TN |
| Savannah Cookson | 2 | Biomedical Engineering | Alpharetta, GA |
| Andrew Dluhy | 3 | Electrical Engineering | Athens, GA |
| Corey Drozdowski | 2 | Aerospace Engineering | Collierville, TN |
| Brittney English | 2 | Computer Engineering | Lynn Haven, FL |
| Jackson Esoda | 2 | Civil Engineering | Marietta, GA |
| Brian Fischer | 3 | Mechanical Engineering | Cincinnati, OH |
| Sean Gibel | 2 | Management | Cumming, GA |
| Kevin Hade | 4 | Environmental Engineering, Pre-Law | Marietta, GA |
| Clay Hall | 1 | Material Science Engineering | Ooltewah, TN |
| Nick Hudak | 3 | Aerospace Engineering | Orlando, FL |
| David Judah | 3 | Mechanical Engineering | Fairmount, GA |
| Donny Katz | 5 | Civil Engineering | Freehold, NJ |
| Benjamin Loeffler | 4 | Mechanical Engineering | Fayetteville, GA |
| Drew Mason | 3 | Aerospace Engineering | Atlanta, GA |
| Ian McCreadie | 2 | Aerospace Engineering | Chester Springs, PA |
| Anthony Minarik | 4 | Nuclear and Radiological Engineering | Gainesville, VA |
| Seth Parker | 1 | Polymer Textile Fiber Engineering | Oak Ridge, TN |
| Hayden Paschal | 2 | Architecture | Norcross, GA |
| Kevin Ryan | 2 | Material Science Engineering | Roswell, GA |
| Andrew Sickafoose | 2 | Aerospace Engineering | Evans, GA |
| Matt Watters | 2 | Computer Engineering | Atlanta, GA |
Novice Men
| Name | Years on crew | Major | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Borzon | 1 | Mechanical Engineering | Milwaukee |
| Tim Carter | 1 | Civil Engineering | |
| Christian Concepcion | 1 | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Olongapo City, Philippines |
| Ben Craig | 1 | Mechanical Engineering | Ladenburg, PA |
| Chris Depweg | 1 | Computer Engineering | Fayetteville, GA |
| Matthew Giannelli | 1 | Computer Science | Martinez, GA |
| Aaron Hoodin | 1 | Undeclared | Fayetteville, GA |
| Charles Jolman | 1 | Chemical Engineering | Leesburg, GA |
| Thomas Kazenstein | 1 | Computer Science | Hawkinsville, GA |
| Kyle Kukschtel | 1 | Computational Media | |
| Vincent Louis | 1 | Nuclear and Radiological Engineering | Lexington, KY |
| Matthew Miller | 1 | Biomolecular Engineering | Marietta, GA |
| Matthew Potter | 1 | Mechanical Engineering | Alpharetta, GA |
| Nicholas Russell | 1 | Aerospace Engineering | Alpharetta, GA |
| Nathen Steele | 1 | Computer Science | Oak Harbor, WA |
| Forrest Tuttle | 1 | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Atlanta, GA |
| Brandon Webster | 1 | Civil Engineering | |
| Ben Xia | 1 | Biomedical Engineering | Tucker, GA |
Varsity Women
| Name | Years on crew | Major | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaitlin Avra | 2 | Architecture | Cumming, GA |
| Kris Batol | 2 | Biomedical Engineering | Marietta, GA |
| Caitlin Chapin | 3 | Mechanical Engineering | Charlotte, NC |
| Meghan Gast | 2 | Architecture | Cary, NC |
| Marina Leynse | 2 | Aerospace Engineering | St Pete, FL |
| Amie Martell | 4 | Civil Engineering | Sarasota, FL |
| Alyssa McKay | 1 | Architecture | Mclean, VA |
| Anna McLendon | 3 | Mechanical Engineering | Snellville, GA |
| Katie Melvin | 3 | Management | Florence, AL |
| Margot Montouchet | 2 | Architecture | Snellville, GA |
| Lee Neuman | 2 | Biomedical Engineering | Marietta, GA |
| Maya Oren | 3 | Aerospace Engineering | Gainesville, FL |
| Sarah Sassler | 3 | Management | Acworth, GA |
| Carolyn "Carlee" Schmidt | 3 | Material Science Engineering | Califon, NJ |
| Meg Schroeder | 3 | Nuclear and Radiological Engineering | Roswell, GA |
| Samantha Smelley | 3 | Nuclear and Radiological Engineering | Midlothian, VA |
| Emily Spurlock | 3 | Management | Marietta, GA |
| Amanda Swanson | 2 | Mechanical Engineering | St Marys, GA |
Novice Women
| Name | Years on crew | Major | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madeline Becker | 1 | International Affairs and Modern Languages | Stone Mountain, GA |
| Clara Gilbert | 1 | Architecture | Milledgeville, GA |
| Mitra Hosseini | 1 | Undecided Engineering | Miami, FL |
| Taylor Johns | 1 | Biology | Lawrenceville, GA |
| Sapphire Lui | 1 | International Affairs and Modern Languages | Marietta, GA |
| Anna McDermott | 1 | Biomedical Engineering | Marietta, GA |
| Betsey McLaughlin | 1 | Chemical Engineering | Atlanta, GA |
| Ashley Owneby | 1 | Industrial Engineering | Suwanee, GA |
| Lauren Shaughnessy | 1 | Architecture | Tallahassee, FL |
| Megan Smith | 1 | International Affairs and Modern Languages | Peachtree City, GA |
Officers
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| President | Maya Oren | president [at] gtcrew.com |
| Men's Vice President | Corey Drozdowski | mensvp [at] gtcrew.com |
| Women's Vice President | Amanda Swanson | womensvp [at] gtcrew.com |
| Treasurer | Benjamin Loeffler | treasurer [at] gtcrew.com |
| Public Relations | Megan Schroeder | publicrelations [at] gtcrew.com |
| Secretary | Hayden Paschal | secretary [at] gtcrew.com |
| Assistant Treasurer | Lucas Campbell | assistanttreasurer [at] gtcrew.com |
| Fundraising | Sarah Sassler | fundraising [at] gtcrew.com |
| Social Promoter | Marina Leynse | socialpromoter [at] gtcrew.com |
| Boathouse Manager | David Judah | boathousemanager [at] gtcrew.com |
| Webpage Manager | Kevin Hade | webmaster [at] gtcrew.com |
| Faculty Advisor | Rosalind Meyers | rosalind.meyers [at] aux.gatech.edu |