Montclair Crew Team Wins Gold, Lots of Gold

With 10 crews winning gold medals at one or more of the four regattas, the Montclair High School 2013 crew season was in a word: outstanding.

Team members and their coaches were recognized most recently by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders with a commendation presented by District 5 Freeholder Brendan Gill of Montclair.

The team was coached by Head Coach Jeremy Michalitsianos, Coach Lorna Rundle and Assistant Coaches Reuben Man, Steve McNeilly and Julian Canha. 

Coach Michalitsianos thanked Freeholder Gill and the Freeholder Board for honoring the team, and everyone at Montclair High School for their support. 

“It was an absolutely amazing season. Each year I think we can’t do it again, but we always seem to find a way,” Michalitsianos said.

Senior Hayden Kline, speaking on behalf of his teammates, said he saw the team grow from a few rowers to close to 100 members over the last four years.

“This season was one of the best we’ve ever had and it was thanks to everyone who pitched-in and decided to help us, so I thank you,” Kline said.

The following 10 crews won gold medals at one or more of the four regattas:

• Boys Junior Varsity 8 Crew won Gold Medals at the Garden State Championships, Philadelphia Championships and Stotesbury Cup, and was comprised of: Abe Kolko, Matias Hahn, Nathan Pollack, Janek Bielski, James Wisniewski, Eli Pimpao, Jonathan Silverman, Joe Michalitsianos and Noah Schifrin (Coxswain);
• Boys Varsity 4 Crew won Gold Medals at the Garden State Championships and Stotesbury Cup, and was comprised of: Hayden Kline, Jacob Stepansky, Nathaniel Goodman, Justin Murphy and Amelia Dunnell (Coxswain);
• Girls Junior Varsity 8 Crew won a Gold Medal at the Stotesbury Cup and was comprised of: Megan Ayala, Nina Alvarado-Silverman, Jenna Walpole, Zoe Foglizzo, Courtney Stith, Shay Loos, Chantal Naegeli, Danique van Winden and Hannah Megally (Coxswain);
•  Girls Varsity Lightweight 4 Crew won a Gold Medal at the Philadelphia Championships and was comprised of: Emily Schnittman, Arielle Mann, Charlotte Cailliarec, Andrea Schneider and Hallie Meisler (Coxswain);
• Girls Varsity Quad Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships and was comprised of: Madeleine Aase-Remedios, Theresa Meyer, Hannah Steffe and Daria Thames;
• Girls Freshman 8 Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships and was comprised of: Kelly Freedman, Nicole Vascimini, Caroline Kelly, Elizabeth Levendovsky, Catherine Heisler, Allison Connors, Rachel Rosenberg, Caton Day and Sophia Corriere/Hallie Meisler (Coxswains);
• Girls Freshman Quad Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships and was comprised of: Glynnis Harvey, Elle Gardner, Neave Burton and Anastasiya May; 
• Girls Freshman 4 Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships and was comprised of: Rebecca Taub, Rachael Brown, Kaya Benitez, Tyler Nedzi and Elisabeth Schifrin (Coxswain);
•  Boys Varsity Lightweight Double Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships and was comprised of: Dylan Lewis and Teddy Cahill; and the
• Boys Junior Varsity Quad Crew won a Gold Medal at the Garden State Championships, and was comprised of: Adam Pollack, Owen Daly-Smith, James Pew and Ethan St. John.