Zach Spitzer – Head U19 Coach/Director
Zach began his rowing career at Niskayuna High School where he learned to scull and sweep. He then went on to row at Syracuse University for his freshman year. Following that, he began working for the athletic department at Syracuse University, earning his Masters in Secondary Education.
After graduating, Zach went on to coach at Niskayuna High, PNRA/Mercer, Row New Jersey and Saugatuck Rowing Club. In his time at each club, Zach has coached boats to the finals at Canadian Henley, Club Nationals, Youth Nationals and Top 15 finishes at Head of the Charles.
His goal is to make a boathouse of competitive athletes that not only have a passion for rowing, but a passion for life. He will develop a culture where athletes push each other, hold each other accountable and build lasting friendships through hard work, determination and fun.
Katherine French – Assistant U19 Coach
athletedev@nereidbc.org
Katie began her rowing career at Colgate University, helping the 1V8 to the fastest finish at the Head of the Charles since 2005 and to the Patriot League grand final for the first time in program history.
In 2023, she represented Uni-Team USA at the World University Games in Chengdu, China. In preparation for the games, she rowed in the Open Women’s 4+, earning a gold medal at US Rowing Summer National Championships. In Chengdu, she bowed the USA Women’s 4-, where they finished 5th.
After her time at Colgate, Katie used her remaining eligibility to obtain a graduate certificate and row at Rutgers University, where she earned a gold medal at Big 10 Championships.
Katie is eager to share her love of the sport with the Nereid athletes. Her goal is to encourage an environment where athletes develop a work ethic that allows them to grow in all aspects of their life.
Arianna Welton – Assistant U19 Coach
Arianna Welton began her rowing career at Nereid Boat Club, where she earned multiple medals at Mid-Atlantic Championships and competed at Youth Nationals.
She continued her career at Fairfield University, where she made history with the 1V8. In her senior year, she helped secure Fairfield’s first-place finish at the MAAC Championships—the first since 2013—and contributed to the program’s first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships. She also consistently led Fairfield’s top-finishing boat at the Head of the Charles for four consecutive years, medaling in nearly every collegiate race throughout her career.
Now returning to Nereid Boat Club as a proud alumni, Arianna brings her competitive experience and passion for the sport to her role as U19 Assistant Coach. She focuses on refining technical skills, building endurance and race speed. She emphasizes resilience, confidence, and teamwork—helping athletes excel not only on the erg and in competition, but also in their growth and development as rowers.
Kate Rudolph – Assistant U17 Coach
Kate began her rowing career at Nereid Boat Club in 2021, where she found success and earned three medals at the USRowing National Championships in the U17 4x, U19 2- and U19 4+. Her success and dedication to the sport led her to accepting an offer to row at The Ohio State University.
Since then, Kate has shifted her focus to coaching and has returned to Nereid to help develop the next generation of rowers. Drawing on her experience, she brings energy, perspective, and passion to her coaching.
Outside of rowing, Kate is pursuing a career in emergency services and is currently in the process of becoming an EMT.
Charles Abrahams- Assistant U17 Coach
Charles began his rowing career at Montclair high school where he learned to sweep and scull, after moving to New Jersey from London in 2013. He went on to row for 3 semesters at Stetson University.
He took on the Novice Boys in his first year, and is now an Assistant Coach for the U17 group.
Charles is passionate and competitive, constantly striving to embody and contribute to a winning culture for the Nereid athletes to embody for the rest of their lives.
Connor Sawyers- Head of Beginner/Intermediate
Connor, a Wisconsin native, was a lifelong competitive swimmer before making the jump to rowing during his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After learning to row with the UW Men’s Team he continued the aquatic streak by joining the UW Sailing Team, and rowed with the Mendota Rowing Club for the next 4 years.
After graduation he moved to Cleveland, OH, where he joined the Cleveland Foundry Juniors’ (CFJ) coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for their Middle School, Novice, and Varsity coed programs. Over the subsequent 4 years he worked with every boat class and saw the program adapt to a 1x/2x focus and virtual format during the pandemic.
A brief stint in 2021-2022 saw Connor join the Magnificat Rowing staff as an Assistant Coach for their Olympic Weightlifting program before being named CFJ’s Head Coach. Within a short period his focus on rebuilding Cleveland Foundry Juniors saw 3 boats qualify, and 2 row at Youth Nationals, ending the program’s 10+ year drought from the national scene.
Connor is a USRowing and USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, and as a recent East Coast transplant, is excited to join Nereid Boat Club as the Head of Beginner/Intermediate.