Geneseo Crew wraps up the fall season with optimism for the spring
Photo courtesy of Henry Kemblowski
Pictured here is the Geneseo Crew Club on Oct. 6, following the christening of the “Patty Fennell II” with long-time supporter Patty Malet Fennell ‘65.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Geneseo Rowing team sent a Men's Varsity 4 boat to Pittsford, NY, to compete in the Pull the Plug regatta against Rochester Boat Club and the Genesee Waterways Center team. Juniors Colin Doherty, Brett Bower, Will Ramsay, August Anderegg-Durwood, and James Gardner represented Geneseo. They placed a final time of 21:45— marking a significant improvement for the team compared to last year.
The month prior, on Oct. 12, Geneseo Crew rowed in the Head of the Genesee, in the city of Rochester, NY, against other collegiate teams from across the northeast US. There, junior Ariana Cookinham, graduate student Henry Kemblowski, senior Vicky Brzezinski, senior Christian Tewksbury, and senior Joe Morse rowed in a shell in the Men’s Open 4 event. Club president, student coach, and junior Bubba Abrams said that the club’s increasing participation in local events is “...a sign of positive growth, and that [he] can’t wait to see how [the team] improves in the spring!”
Earlier in the semester, the team hosted an event to honor longtime club supporters, community members, and Geneseo alumna Patty Malet Fennell, a class of ‘65. At the team’s boathouse on Conesus Lake, the team christened a women’s four shell, the “Patty Fennell II,” in honor of Fennell’s nearly three decades of unwavering support to the team and sport of rowing. Over 120 community members, Geneseo students, and alumni attended the event, supporting Fennel and Geneseo Crew.
In her address to the group, crew alum, former coach, and member of the class of ‘00 Annie Gallic Tiede stated that “...[Fennell] is the glue that has held the team together after all these years.” Henry Kemblowski, the team’s Public Relations Director, added that the event was “a great opportunity for new members to reflect and appreciate how strong of a community the team has garnered over the years.”
As Geneseo Crew wraps up its fall season and migrates to indoor rowing for the winter, team leadership is very optimistic about 2025—with several regattas on the horizon and a thirty-fifth anniversary celebration.
In the spring semester, the team plans to compete in the Brighton Burn regatta, an indoor regatta on ergometers, and attend scrimmages against Nazareth University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and St. John Fisher University on the Genesee River in Rochester. The team will conclude the 2024-25 season with its return to Saratoga Springs, NY, for the New York State Collegiate Rowing Championships.
As the team continues to grow in numbers and strength, all are encouraged to come to a practice and meet the team—especially if they have yet to gain experience with rowing. For those interested in joining, supporting, or simply learning more about the sport of rowing, Geneseo Crew welcomes you to come to a practice, connect with current members, and experience the unique camaraderie that rowing fosters.
To stay up to date on upcoming events, follow @geneseorowing on Instagram or contact crew@geneseo.edu. The team looks forward to welcoming new faces and sharing in the exciting journey ahead as they build strength, friendships, and memories on and off the water.