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2010 Kearny High Crew Captains
Katherine McGonigal - "Katie" Katie was on the Novice 8 as a Freshman, and was in the Jr. 4 as a sophomore and Junior. This year she is on the Senior 4. She placed 3rd at Nationals sophomore year, and 2nd place at Nationals Junior year. She has also been involved in Marching band and Soccer. Katie is also in the Ski club, and is in a Bagpipe Band. She plans on continuing her crew career in College.Katie has been accepted at the University of Rhode Island, and Iona College, and has not made a decision yet. Her fond memories of crew have been WINNING, the care and concern of the crew parents when she was injured last year, and sharing ipods, bus chats with best friends, the river clean-up, deep chats with Mr. Paskicwicz on the launch. She said she LOVES CREW!
 Luis Higueras Became a novice in 2007, this is his 4th year of participating in crew. His boat won first place with the freshman 8 in the Passaic River Sprints. He won 1st place with the Junior 4 in the Passaic River sprints last year. He was in the Junior 8, when they won 2nd place at Mercer last year. Luis has been accepted to Union County Community College, and then he plans to transfer to Rutgers, and study Criminal Justice. His fond memories, are going to Tennessee in the "School Bus" for 15 hours, and all the overnights in the Hotels and also winning races. Luis would like to thank Coach Mazol for teaching him how to row.
 Samantha Hart Samantha has been a coxswain for Kearny Crew. She was on the Novice four freshman year, and they placed 4th in States. Sophomore year they placed 4th in States, 3rd place in Nationals and 6th place at Stotes. Junior year, she was on the Junior 4, they placed 2nd place in states, 2nd place in Nationals, 5th place in Stotes, We will see what Senior year brings. Sam has been involved in Soccer, and Swimming as well. She is a member of National Honor Society, is in Kearny United Soccer, and Lifeguarding. She has been accepted to both Syracuse and Philadelphia University, and Syracuse will be lucky to have her as a Coxswain. Some fond memories are, WINNING RACES, Nationals, and having the best times ever with the Best People. She said she LOVES KEARNY CREW!
 Rich Galindo
2009 Kearny High Crew Captains
Joe Gurkas Joe is a 4 year rower. Freshman 8 won 1st place at the Passaic River Sprints. Junior 4 1st place at the Passaic River Sprints, and Mercer Lake Super Sprints 2nd place, in the Junior 8, and 3 Year Varsity Letter. Joe has also participated in swimming 4 years, Soccer 3 years, and Fall crew. He is also involved in Jiu Jitsu; life guarding, sailing, hiking, and snow boarding. Joseph will be attending County College of Morris where he will study Biology, and plans to become a High School Biology Teacher. Joe remembers huddling together for warmth because it rained every race freshman year. He also remembers riding to Tennessee in a "Cheese Bus" for 16 hours with my soon to be closest friends. “Joe says that crew has been the one sport where he can express his Unique Style".
Catalina Orjuela Freshman year Catalina was a part of the novice 4, and won 2nd place in states. Sophomore year she was a part of the lightweight 4 and placed 3rd in the States. Junior year she was a port of the lightweight 4 and Junior 4. The Junior 4 came in 3rd at Nationals; and 6th in States. Catalina received the novice award her freshman year. She has also participated in Cross Country and track. She was in Student Government 10th and 11th, She is also in Alpha and Omega club, and H.O.S.A. Catalina has been accepted at Rutgers, New Brunswick where she received a scholarship to rowJ "The First time I went on the boat, Coach Flowers said not to row, and I started rowing because I saw stern pair row, and Flowers yelled at meLhaha. Also in my 1st race, my seat came off and my feet came out of my shoes, and Kristen's seat came off too, and everything went wrong, and we came in 3rd. Also "I want a coookie" and "guys lets go ErGG" haha Catalina says she loves the sport!! Crew taught me so much, I am so happy I joined. It's been a lot of hard work, but its been worth it. I love the Coaches! The people at the boat house really have become a second family to me.
Adam Konopka Adam is a 4 year varsity rower. He rowed on the Freshman 8 first year and the Junior 8. Sophomore year he rowed on the Junior 4 and the Junior 8. Junior year he rowed on the Jr. 8. Adam was also on the swim team one year. Adam has been accepted to NJCU. Adam remembers learning how to row for the first time in the freezing cold. He also remembers the longest trip to Tennessee. He also remembers Coach Mazol, and getting onto varsity freshman year, getting a 6:44 on my 2K and breaking.................? All the crew people I met along the way.
Kristen LeBlanc Is a Four Year Varsity Stroke. She was stroke for the Junior 4 her Junior year, which placed 3rd, in Nationals (USA and Canada). She has also participated in Track. Kristen is a member of the Ski Club, and is a Full Time Active Member of the Art Community. Kristen has been accepted to Moore University of Art and Design. Kristen says, her best memory of crew would definitely be the trip to Nationals on the "Cheese Bus". A Bus meant for 50 third graders with 50 high school students. I would wake up with Cheetos in my hair. The go-kart races at the arcade near our hotel, in Tennessee, was definitely a Highlight. Crew is a great team sport, when your in a race and you give up, you are not only giving up on yourself, you are giving up on 4 or 8 other people, it's a great sport to keep you motivated.
Steven Carvalho Is a 4 year varsity cox, 1 year novice rower. He has been on the Novice 8, Novice 4, Lightweight 4, Senior 4, and the Junior 4B. The Novice won the State Championships. Steve is a 4 year varsity letter winner. He also won the novice of the year in 2005. The other sport Steve has participated in is Soccer. He is currently waiting for replies from a few Colleges. 0ne of his favorite memories was winning the State Championship on the Novice 8, when the boat cut off Chaminade to win, and break their bow ball. Also riding the "Cheese Bus" to Tennessee, Novice of the year, Team Captain, Lymans elbow, and Mazol.
2008 Kearny High Crew Captains
Aline Franco Aline is a four year member of KHS Crew. Rowing in the Novice 4 seat #3 her freshmen year, her boat finished third place in the NJ State Championships, she received her first crew Varsity Letter that year. Her sophomore year did very well at the Stotesbury Cup Championship and Nationals in the Senior 4 boat seat #3. Aline was proud to finish 5th place (out of 65 boats) at Stotesbury her junior year in the Junior 4 seat #3.
She is also a member of the Nereid Boat Club, 2007 rowing in the Junior 4.
Aline's other accomplishments include receiving the "Outstanding Offensive Player" award in 2005, and in 2006, "MVP" for the KHS Soccer Team. On the Swim Team since freshmen year, she received the "Most Improved Swimmer" award and senior year received the "MVP" award, she also holds the title of Captain for the KHS Swim Team 2008 . She is a member of the Italian Honor Society and has been involved in Read Across America and the Light the Night Walk.
With all these achievements, it's no wonder that Aline has received a scholarship to row at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and will be attending there in the fall of 2008.
Some of Aline's fondest memories of crew include: the bus rides...staying over at the hotels at Nationals, Stotes and States...duct taping Chifaa...water gun fights with Mr. Flowers...inspirational talks with Mr. Paskiewicz and coming in 5th place at Stotes her junior year.
Bill Lyman Billy Lyman is a 4 year member of Kearny Crew. It is a sport that has interested him ever since he found out about it. When he started rowing his freshmen year, he knew it was something that he would do for the rest of high school. When he started rowing, he was in seat #5 in the Freshmen 8+ that placed 5th in the state finals, and at the end of the year, received the Novice of the Year Award. For the next two years, he rowed in the Junior 4+, seat #2, which also made the state finals both years. He also rowed in the Jr. 8+ that won at the Passaic River Sprints. Apart from crew, Billy was also on the Kearny Swim Team for three years. He started swimming to get back into shape for crew and just happened to be good at it. He started swimming the 500 yard freestyle and broke 7 minutes his first year on the team. His second year he was part of the school record breaking 400 yard freestyle relay team with a time of 3:57. Billy's senior year of swimming was his time to shine. After getting so close to the 500 yard free record his junior year, Billy broke the ten year school record not once, but three times. The new record is 6:10. Some awards that Billy received for swimming are the Coaches Award in 2006 and 2008, and Best All Around Swimmer for 2007. Billy also rowed for PRRA for three years. Junior year he rowed in the Junior4+ for PRRA for the Head Race Season. He also rowed for the Nereid Boat Club. Some of Billy's crew memories include: going to Stotes and Nationals his freshmen year....playing Cowboys and Indians at the hotel....qualifying for Nationals Sophomore and Junior years....and play football in the hotel parking lot.
Sam Gennace Sam is a 4 year coxswain for Kearny Crew. His freshman year he coxed the Freshman 8+ that finished 5th at State Championships and the Junior 4 that finished 5th at Nationals. The next two years he coxed the Junior 4+ that made it to State Finals and competed in Nationals. Sam is a 4 year varsity letter winner and was also awarded the John Sweeney and Stephen Hale awards.
He also coxed a Junior 4 for PRRA for the head race season and is a member of the Nereid Boat Club. His Flyweight 4+ came in 4th at the Royal Canadian Henley in 2006.
Sam is also a 3 year letter winner for the KHS Swim Team. He was part of the 200 relay that set a school record of 1:40.3 and received the most valuable swimmer award for 2007-8 season. He is a member of the National Honor Society, school Treasurer for 4 years and attended American Legion's Boys State his Junior year.
Sam will continue coxing at Temple University in the fall.
Some of Sam's fondest memories include: crashing the Al Somma very first day of practice...Cowboys and Indians...Watermelon Head...Sponge Bob...4th place at Stotes...and Fuchs falling on the dock.
Carolyn Paznek
2007 Kearny High Crew Captains
Jacqueline Downey Rowing was a sport that was always appealing to me. Prior to high school I wondered what it would be like to be a competitive rower. I was fortunate enough to be a student at Kearny High School being that it offered such a unique sport. My curiosity for crew led me to join the team my freshman year. Along with other novice rowers, I thought the boathouse seemed like a foreign place, I had never experienced a sport quite like crew. Everything that I saw and learned was brand new.
It was a tough start as a novice rower. Previously to train to become stronger athletes, my teammates and I needed to first learn to row. Erging was a major factor in our experience. We were able to relate what we learned on the erg to actually rowing a boat. It was rocky at first but a great learning experience nonetheless. It was amazing to see our progress as a team. At the end of my freshman year I was honored with the "Novice Award". The achievement made me aware of my potential as a rower.
I was a varsity rower as a sophomore. Varsity seemed like another world compared to my novice year. We trained more, using ergs often as well as running. After a lot of hard work and willpower that year I was lucky enough to be part of the "Lightweight Four" boat. From the start of the season my boat performed extremely well. We continued to keep this up until the end of the season. My boat was very dedicated and it was proven when we won the New Jersey Scholastic Championship.
As a junior I continued to row in the lightweight four category. Commitment was required to earn my spot back on the impressive boat. That year the boat included new rowers but the same determination was present. Through our hard work, my boat and I were honored to win the New Jersey Scholastic Championship yet again.
As a senior and captain of the crew team I hope to have a successful season, not only or myself but for the entire team. I am extremely thankful to have a sport like crew in my life. Crew has made me a more mature individual. Along with rowing, I am also an active member of the Student Government, secretary of the National Honor Society, a four year member of the swim team and a lifeguard. With many responsibilities I have along with being an honor student, crew has taught me how to manage my time, I have become a more responsible and knowledgeable individual in everyday life. Crew is an experience I will never forget. Jackie will be attending Marymount Manhattan College in the fall and will major in Sociology/Psychology Some of Jackie's fondest memories are- "Winning States twice" "All the overnights" "the "I" boat" and "When I was pushed into the Passaic River my novice year".
Stephen "Squeaker" Levchak A four year member of KHS Crew, Squeaker started out rowing starboard seat number five in the freshmen eight boat and received the "Novice of the Year Award" that same year. Since that time he has rowed in various seats and boats. He is considered one of our most valuable members of our team and has always showed leadership qualities.
Squeaker is a member the National Honor Society and also a four year member of the KHS Marching Unit. He also holds the title of "Drum Line Captain" and he participates in all the KHS school plays. In his free time, Squeaker is part of a drum and bugle core called "The Bridge Men" of Bayonne.
Involved in boy scouting since the age of ten, Squeaker has just received his Eagle Scout Award!
Upon high school graduation, he would like to continue in music, perhaps teaching, however, his lifetime dream is to become a firefighter.
Squeakers most funniest crew memory- "Seeing Coach Fuchs in the launch and then flipping over into the Passaic River!" but, the best thing about crew - "Seeing my mom and dad there, watching me row."
Dorothy Depczynski Dorothy is a four year rower at KHS Crew starting her freshman year as Stroke/Seat 6 on the Novice 8 (A)Her sophomore year, again rowing Stroke in the Junior 8. In 2006, Junior year, Dorothy rowed Stroke of the Lightweight 4, which proudly holds the title of New Jersey State Champions. This year she will sit in the same seat of the Lightweight 4 boat.
Dorothy was a member of the JV and Varsity Volleyball team in 2005 and 2006, and Varsity Swim team in 2004. This year, she was the lead female role in the Senior Class Play. Her favorite moments on crew are "Standing on a boat in the middle of the glorious Passaic River" "Realizing how many things I can do in 6 minutes" "Winning States in 2006" "When the crew parents wrapped me and the other girls on my boat like baked potatoes!" and "Sudden downpours occurring as soon as the words "Attention...Row" were uttered by the announcer....every single race".
Dorothy has been accepted and is planning to go to Rutgers New Brunswick this fall and hopes to continue her rowing career.
Saulo Terry In my 4 years of high school I have had many experiences and it all started my freshmen year. I had no idea what crew was or what it was about but I went for it and joined the team. After my first year everything about it just inspired me and I enjoyed every minute of it. So I stuck with it and had many successes with it throughout my years. Now it's my last year and going from not knowing anything to being the captain of my varsity team I see it as one of the biggest goals and accomplishments I have ever made. Every race is memorable and being my last year of crew I am enjoying everyday of it and making the best of it.
Crew is an amazing sport and everyone that is involved in it that I know always has something good to talk about with and love it. My most memorable times were experiencing the big races such as States, Nationals, and Stotes. Just being around so many people that are involved in the same great unique sport as me and watching races come down and most of all cheering for my team and seeing our and my own boats win.
2006 Kearny High Crew Captains
Brian joined KHS Crew in 2003, his freshman year, and was seat #7 in the Freshmen 8. In 2004, he was proud to row in the Lightweight 4, Seat #3, placing 5th in the Stotesbury Regatta, 2nd in the NJ State Championships and 3rd place at the Nationals in Florida. In 2005, his Junior year, again rowing in seat #3 in the lightweight 4, Brian had an outstanding year again, placing 3rd at Nationals here in New Jersey, 2nd place at the Stotesbury Regatta and 1st in the NJ State Championship! A member of the Nereid Boat Club since 2004, Brian , in his #3 seat with the 145 lb. 4+, attended the US Rowing Nationals, and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, where he place 2nd in his category. In the summer of 2005, rowing again in the 145 lb. 4+, seat #3, for the Nereid Boat Club, finished 1st place at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta! A member of the National Honor Society and the KHS Swim Team, Brian also shares the title of "team captain" for the 2006 swimming season. Brian has been accepted to attend Drexel University and Mercyhurst College in September, he is still waiting to here from Ithaca College, his first choice. Brian's fondest memories of KHS Crew are, "Going to the Nationals in Florida".... "Crashing into trees with Javi!"...."Mel"....and winning States.
Javi is a four year coxswain for KHS Crew, beginning with the freshman 8 and the novice 4, he won a challenge for a seat in the varsity 4 , and was state finalist in the novice 4 in 2003. His sophomore year he coxed the Junior 4 and placed second in the State Championship and fifth at Nationals. Junior year was even more exciting when he coxed the Lightweight 4, placed second at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia, third at Nationals and won the State Championships in 2005. He was invited to the Junior Men's National Team selection camp in the summer of 2005 and has been invited back again this coming summer. In addition, Javi is a member of the Nereid Boat Club and was US Rowing National Champion in the Intermediate Lightweight four and the Canadian Henley Champion in the 140 lb. four+ in 2005. He is also a member the South Jersey Rowing Club where this past summer, he was the Philadelphia Youth Regatta Champion in the Girls Junior 8 category. He was a member of the 2005 KHS swim team and the 2006 KHS Wrestling team, but, Javi will always tell you "It's crew all year for me!" and "There's nothing better than the coxswains seat , 8's rule!!!" Javi's fondest memories of KHS Crew are too numerous to list, so here it is in a nut shell - "Making my mother proud of me..... Winning States and placing in Stotes and Nationals.....Selection camp.....All the friends I've made.....Crashing boats".....and "the Nutley girls!"
Anna is a four year rower for KHS starting in 1993 in the freshman 8 seat 7. Her sophomore year she was in the bow seat of the competitive Lightweight 4 which placed first at NJ State Championship, second place by .6 seconds at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and first place at the Scholastic National Championships in Orlando, Florida. Junior year again in the Light weight four, first place at States. Her senior year, the Lightweight four came in first at States the third year in a row! She is currently tied as the most accomplished rower coming out of Kearny High Girl's Crew team. Anna also rowed for the Nereid Boat club in 2005 in the bow seat of Girl's junior pair coming in third at Philadelphia Youth Regatta, and stroke seat of Girl's Flyweight Four coming in third at the Canadian Henley. Winters of 2004 and 2005 competed in CRASH B's erg races Anna's other accomplishments include: member of KHS marching Band Unit playing Mellophone, French horn, Oboe, Clarinet, National Honor Society, Japanese National Honor Society, Reach (responsible Educated Adolescents Can Help), Academic Excellence, Peer Mediation, School Musicals and Senior Play. She spent the summer of 2004 as an exchange student in Fufui, Japan. Some of Anna's fondest memories of crew are: Jacuzzis in Florida....photo booths in Universal Studios...."I" Boat....Varsity 8 with 2 coxswains....winning States...again...and again!
Vanessa Emerich Vanessa has been a Kearny coxswain for the last four years. The first boat she ever coxed was the Freshman eight, given to her Novice year. Her sophomore year, she was put into varsity coxing the Junior four. This very competitive boat took fourth at the Nationals in Orlando, Florida. She returned Junior year to coxswain the same four girls, but as a Senior four which finished fourth in the state. This year she is coxing the Girl's Lightweight four which took first at states! Vanessa is also the Captain of Kearny High Color guard, and is as dedicated to it in the fall, as she is to crew in the spring...and winter. She will be attending Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire next year. Vanessa plans on majoring in Social Work and will be joining the crew team and continuing her coxing career. Some of Vanessa's best memories of crew are: "Having the stars aligned", "Duck calls", The G. CUCC", "FLORIDA 2004!", "Fungus tens & Big P. tens", "High fives", "Winning the V8 race in Kearny", "The sound drill", Screaming "One, THEY'RE SCARED! Two, THEY'RE SCARED! Three..." and Proving...."WHOODA MAMMA NOW" at the Passaic Sprints and States.
Harder than it sounds: Being a Kardinal Kaptain
Being a Crew Captain is a very important job with many responsibilities. Captains answer to the coaches and serve as the coaches assistants. They delegate authority to other team members, but are not "above" the other members of the team. Captains put the team and it's needs ahead of their own personal desires, both on and off the water. They remain impartial and non-judgmental. Captains lead by example. They strive to improve technique every day and are first to arrive and the last to leave. Captains are positive and encourage ALL rowers in all boats both on water and land workouts. It is also their job to help the athletes to learn to push themselves to their highest potential. Captains show compassion and understanding as well as structure and "no excuses." A Captains behavior reflects that of the adult that they are. They enforce proper behavior and make sure that the coaches instructions are followed and carried out with proper speed. They make sure that workouts are done, that "goofing off" and "horseplay" is discouraged. Things they also discourage are hazing, excessive foul language, theft and vandalism.
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Brian
Erickson 
Javier Fandino
Anna Estevao
