Rowers Welcome 8, Say Farewell to 1
Written by Jen Forbes
This fall the GRP Rowers welcome five athletes with extensive national team experience to the team, and three with equally impressive backgrounds who are trying the team on for size, with the opportunity to become full-time senior members after a trial period.
As the team welcomes new teammates, they will miss the camaraderie and support of their teammate Kevin Meador, as he leaves Craftsbury for an exciting career opportunity.
Kevin joined the GRP in the summer of 2019 and returned to Cambridge, MA in September for a job with Draper Labs, a not-for-profit research and development organization that engineers a variety of technological solutions. Even with just over a year here at the center, Kevin’s presence made a positive impact on the team and Craftsbury as a whole. He hopes to take all that he learned as a member of the “exceptional Green Team” with him, on and off the water.
While there is still a revolving uncertainty around how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the Tokyo Olympics, Kevin plans to continue his training on the Charles River for this February’s Olympic Trials, slated to take place in Sarasota, FL.
Kevin was the US Men’s single sculler for the 2018 and 2019 World Championships placing 20th and 21st respectively. His eyes are set on representing the team in 2021.
In the meantime, Kevin is looking forward to trying out roller skiing this fall and winter along the Charles River “in an attempt to fill the space left empty by the absence of abundant snow” he enjoyed while here. “I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity I had to live and train in Craftsbury, and I hope to be able to visit again as soon as possible.”
Kevin was an excellent teammate and member of the Craftsbury community. His quiet ferocity, quirky sense of humor, abundance of kindness, and appreciation for hard work made him an exceptional training partner, and will undoubtedly be qualities that accelerate him towards success in his rowing and professional careers.
Goodbye, for now KevBot and good luck!
The senior team adds Christine Cavallo, Emily Delleman, Grace Joyce, Jacob Plihal, and Jack Reid, and welcomes those in a trial period with the GRP: Webster Thompson, Alex Hedge, and Savannah Brija.
Read more about the newest additions to the GRP
Christine Cavallo
Hometown: Windermere, FL
DOB: 5/5/1995
Height: 5’5
Undergrad: Stanford University, BA International Relations, 2017
Masters: Stanford University, Environmental Resource Security, 2021
Christine began rowing at Orlando Area Rowing Society in central Florida. She won CRASH-B Erg Sprints in 2012 and 2013; set world records for the 2000m and 500m distance in the junior lightweight category; made two Junior National Teams; and won a silver medal in the junior pair (BW2-) in 2012.
In college, she rowed for the Stanford Lightweights, where she was part of three consecutive national championships from 2015-2017; was a 2x All-American; and competed on two U23 National Teams.
After graduation, Christine began pursuing her Master’s Degree at Stanford while training for the US Senior Team. In 2018 she set the 2000m erg world record in the lightweight women’s category and has since trained and raced in Boston, Austin, Princeton, Sarasota, Miami and internationally. She raced on the Senior National Team in 2018 and 2019. Christine’s physical strength combined with her quit wit and desire to help make everyone around her better are just a few reasons why we’re looking forward to having her join us this fall. We’re just getting started :)
Emily Dellman
Hometown: Davenport, IA
DOB: 6/7/1998
Height: 5’9
Undergrad: Stanford University, Human Biology, 2020
Masters: Stanford University, Sustainability Science and Practice, 2021
Emily “Delly” Delleman began sculling in the Fall of 2012 for Y Quad Cities Rowing Association (YQCRA) under volunteer coaches Dr. Peter Sharis and Jamie Whalen. It didn't take long for Delly to start racking up the accolades. Emily’s a 3x gold medal winner in the Women’s Quad at Youth Nationals (the start of what is still an uncontested winning streak for Y Quad Cities); a 2x Junior National Teamer - where in 2016 she took home the first ever gold medal for a US women’s sculling event at the Junior World Championships, and set the American 2000m erg record at CRASH-B Sprints in the 17-18 Junior Women's category; a 3x U23 Team member; a 2020 Virtual Team nominee; and a recipient of a full athletic scholarship to Stanford University.
Emily spent all 4 years competing in the Stanford Women’s Varsity 8 that won 2 gold medals at the Head of The Charles, and enjoyed podium finishes at both the Pac-12 and NCAA Championships. She was named All-American in her Junior and Senior seasons.
Emily loves the outdoors. While at Stanford she spent every spare moment leading outdoor trips and going on adventures with her friends. She felt that Craftsbury would offer amazing access to nature and was drawn to the values and community. She felt that center seemed like an amazing place to be surrounded by inspiring and like minded individuals while continuing her training. While at Craftsbury, Emily is using her 5th year of eligibility at Stanford to work towards a Masters in Sustainability. She is excited to experience everything Craftsbury has to offer and develop more sustainable practices in her life. Delly is as sweet as she is strong, and we’re so excited to watch her develop her small boat skills and support her as she finishes her master's this year. Welcome to the squad, Delly!
Grace Joyce
Hometown: Northfield, IL
DOB: 3/3/1998
Height: 5’9
Undergrad: Wisconsin University, B.S. Neurobiology, Computer Science minor, 2020
Grace started rowing at New Trier High School in Chicago, IL then continued to pursue rowing at The University of Wisconsin-Madison with the Lightweight Rowing Team. Grace started her sculling career with the GRP U23 Program in 2017, that same summer she went on to claim gold at Canadian Henley in the U23 Lightweight 2- and 2x. In 2018 Grace was named to the US U23 Lightweight 4x, that placed 6th at U23 Worlds in Poznan, Poland. In 2019, Grace switched to the openweight team at UW-Madison during her junior year where she worked her way into the stroke seat of the 2nd varsity Eight. No stranger to hard work, Grace started earning money in 8th grade as a Dunkin’ Donuts employee. She was so young, her parents had to sign a release form. She now runs a custom/hand painted/upcycled shirt business she started this summer as a way to raise money and support the “My Block My Hood My City” and the “Small Business Relief” funds based out of Chicago. We are excited to welcome such a hardworking, talented, and passionate athlete to our team.
Jacob Plihal
Hometown: Seattle, WA
DOB: 6/19/1996
Height: 6’7
Undergrad: Northeastern University, B.S. Architectural Studies, 2018
Jacob began rowing in February of 2013 at Vashon Island Rowing Club, under coach Richard Parr. In just over a year of training, Jacob placed 6th and 3rd in the single and quadruple sculls respectively, at the 2014 USRowing Youth National Championships. In the fall of 2014 Jacob began his undergraduate education at Northeastern University in Boston, MA where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies. While at Northeastern, Jacob raced as a member of the Varsity 8+ at the Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championships all 4 years, earning a silver medal at the 2015 Eastern Sprints. Jacob raced at the 2017 & 2018 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in the Men’s 4x.
After the conclusion of his collegiate rowing career, Jacob spent a final semester in Boston to complete his degree. During this semester, he competed in the 2018 Head of the Charles championship double sculls with a former Northeastern teammate, placing 4th in a field of 20. After graduating, Jacob moved to Philadelphia, PA and joined Vesper Boat Club under coach Peter Mansfeld. During his time training at Vesper, Jacob placed 2nd at the 2019 Center City Slam erg competition and 5th in the 2019 USRowing men’s double sculls speed order with fellow GRP athlete Lucas Bellows.
Following the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent cancellation and postponement of the 2020 rowing season, Jacob returned home to Washington for the spring and summer months where he worked and trained full time. Jacob moved to Craftsbury in late August, and has been enjoying training hard with the team and the Vermont lifestyle. We’re excited that Jacob was able to join the team, and look forward to learning about his quiet, diligent, and creative work ethic in the months to come!
Jack Reid
Hometown: DOB: 10/8/1997
Height: 6’4
Undergrad: Trinity College, B.A .English, 2020
Jack is a 2x U23 GRP Rower and is now a full time GRP athlete. Jack started rowing in the fall of 2013 with Concord Crew in Concord, NH, he has since gone on to row at Trinity College, where he served as captain his junior and senior years and was a four-year varsity boat competitor. In the summer of 2019, after a successful summer of training at the Outdoor Center, Jack made his international racing debut at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in the U23 openweight quad, placing 13th.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jack’s senior spring with Trinity was cancelled, so he decided to become a graduate student to finish out his time, and will be training at Craftsbury.Jack claims to be able to change a tractor tire in less than five minutes. We’ll be sure to follow up with proof. Jack brings a focused energy to his training and work that is admirable. We’re happy to have him back with the squad full time.
Web Thompson
Hometown: New York, NY
DOB: 4/4/1997
Height: 6’5
Undergrad: University of Virginia, B.S. Computer Science & Philosophy, 2020
Webster started rowing at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH under coaches Lawrence Smith and Chip Campbell. While at St. Paul’s, Webby played hockey In the winter term and rowed during the spring. He and his team took 3rd Place in the 2V8 at NEIRAs, and raced in the Prince Albert 4+ at the Henley Royal Regatta his senior year. After realizing the opportunities in rowing from his experience across the pond, he decided to pursue rowing on the collegiate level with the University of Virginia Men’s Rowing Association to see where rowing could take him.
Under the coaching of Erich Shuler, Alan Kush, and Frank G. Biller M.Sc M.B.A., Webster (to borrow his words) “was able to become a semi-capable rower”, with good results through his collegiate career at the Head of the Charles, Head of the Schuylkill, SIRA Championships, and The Occoquan Challenge. He (again to borrow Webby’s words) “was lucky enough” to spend the summer of 2018 with the OKC High-Performance Center alongside a great group of athletes coached by Reilly Dampeer, where he won the Intermediate 4x at Club Nationals.
Webby moved to Craftsbury this fall and hopes to make the most of his life up north, with a focus on becoming a better sculler, a more well rounded athlete, and (again, his words) “maybe even a modern Thoreau”. Webby has been a great addition to the team dynamic, bringing a fun and intense energy to our training sessions. We’re excited to watch him grow as an athlete.
Alexander Hedge
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
DOB: 5/11/1997Height: 6’6
Undergrad: Columbia University, B.A. Sustainable Development, 2019
Alexander “Hedge” began rowing his junior year of high school after trying an erg between swim practices. An immediate connection with the sport led him to join his local team, Mountain Lakes Rowing Club. His rowing career brought him to New York City where he trained under Emerson Curry and Scott Alwin as a part of the Columbia Heavyweight rowing team. At Columbia, Hedge rowed in the varsity eight for three straight years and captained the team his junior and senior years.
Since graduation, Hedge has worked for a design and construction firm in NYC. He has specialized in residential construction and is passionate about sustainable building practices. Additionally, he spends his free time volunteering for affordable housing organizations. This volunteering has included work with Habitat for Humanity in Queens NY, A Brush with Kindness, and Bike and Build, which leads service oriented cycling trips for young adults. Ultimately, he credits his parents and Grandfather for his drive for excellence in the sport of rowing.
We’re excited to watch Hedge develop as an athlete and are looking forward to getting to know him better in the coming months! Apparently, he has won multiple speed eating competitions, we plan to test this claim.
Savannah Brija
Hometown: Lemont, IL
DOB: 10/26/1996
Height: 5’10
Undergrad: Ithaca College, Clinical Health Studies, 2018
DPT: Ithaca College, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, 2020
Our latest addition to the GRP Squad is Savannah Brija. Sav learned to scull Fall 2016 after trying out for Ithaca College’s sculling team. She was on the sculling team from 2016-2018 and holds the 1x and 2x course record for the Cayuga Sculling Sprints.
In the summer of 2019, she joined OKC’s High Performance Team where she raced at USRowing Nationals and Canadian Henley and then returned to Ithaca to finish her last year of PT school.
In her last year, Sav worked as a volunteer coach for Cornell University’s Women’s Crew Team, while continuing to train on her own. She’s received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Ithaca, and is eager to train full time with the GRP.
When she’s not rowing, you can find Sav studying PT, doing a yoga flow, or talking about her favorite foods: Double Dunker ice cream and Wegman’s almond butter. But how will Wegman’s almond butter stack up against Luke Rein’s Reinberger nut butter… only time will tell. We’re all looking forward to training with and learning from Sav over the next few months!
We are thrilled to welcome these dedicated athletes to our training bubble as we begin the next phase of our training this fall.
If you see these athletes around campus be sure to say hi…. from a distance, of course.
Go Green!!