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.
Jessica Eiffert- Head U17 Coach/Head of Athlete Development
Jessica began her rowing career at Pittsford Crew in Rochester New York. She won multiple NYS Championships and earned a gold medal at Junior World Championships in the 4+ her senior year.
She went on to row at the University of Michigan, earning 2nd at the NCAA Championships in 2012. In her summers should would row for the U23 National Team, earning three golds and one silver medal over her two summers on the team. She then went on to train with the National Team in Princeton, and have a brief stint as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Texas.
Following her rowing career, Jessica was the Head of Beginner/Intermediate at Saugatuck Rowing Club, before moving on to be the Women’s Head Coach at PCRA in 2018. Before coming to us, she was an Assistant Coach at Rutgers University.
Jessica is also a Certified Personal Trainer and will be offering personal training out of Nereid.
Katherine French – Assistant U19 Coach
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
Charles Abrahams- Assistant U17 Coach
Kate Rudolph – Assistant U17 Coach
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.