Nereid’s News page is designed to keep all of our members, families and potential members and families up to date with what is happening at the Club! Check back throughout the season/year to keep in touch and informed!
Nereid is proud to announce its Yearly Award Winners!
We would like to congratulate the following members for their accomplishments in the following categories:
Eric Hagberg (Men’s Mileage Award)
Congratulations to Eric Hagberg for winning the 2020 Mileage award by really taking advantage of his single! His stats are below, and there is no doubt this will be a high bar for years to come!
Total distance:1,814,329m (1127 miles)
Races (virtual, but on-water, of course) participated in:
Head of the Ohio; Head of the Charles; USRowing Virtual Half-marathon; Head of the Fish
Races won:
Head of the Schuylkill: 1st place, lightweight 50-59 Mens 1x
Ben Storch and Kevan Wisniewski (Volunteers of the Year)
In a normal year, we have one Volunteer of the Year, however this year we would be remiss not to award both Ben and Kevan for their amazing work.
Ben took over as Treasurer and has thrown himself into the position helping to bring the boathouse back to life. His dedication to the club thus far has set a high bar, and we are overjoyed to have him be involved for years to come.
Kevan has been a huge addition to the board as well this year! She has taken the lead on the fundraising efforts and grant writing for the boathouse, as well as coaching the Middle School program. Her dedication to anything and everything around the boathouse is a great example of what makes a great Nereid Member!
Congratulations to our Award Winners! We are excited to see who will be the winners in 2021!
Nereid hires Ryan Lillis as Varsity Assistant Coach
Nereid is delighted to announce the hiring of Ryan Lillis to help with the Varsity team!
Ryan began his rowing career as a coxswain at St. Peter’s Prep where he coxed the boy’s junior 4+ to a Stotesbury Cup and SRAA Nationals gold medal. He then went on to cox the varsity 8+ for four years at Marist College culminating in Marist’s return to the IRA Regatta for the first time in over a decade in 2018. Additionally, Ryan coxed the Vesper U23 Men’s team to multiple medals at Club Nationals and a gold medal in the U23 8+ at Canadian Henley in 2017. After graduating from Marist, Ryan spent time coaching at New York Rowing Association and Mary Whipple’s 9th Seat coxswain camp. Most recently, Ryan served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Georgetown Heavyweight men in 2019 while working towards his Master’s degree.
Ryan’s goal is to help athletes become detail-oriented students of the sport and for the athletes to develop a desire to grow and improve. He is excited to share his love of rowing with the athletes and wants to help create a fun and competitive environment.
“I’m very happy to share my passion of helping boats go fast with the rowers at Nereid!”
Ariana Welton signs to row at Division I Fairfield University
Arianna Press Release
Arianna Welton, a Rutherford native, signed her National Letter of Intent this past week to row at Fairfield University, in Fairfield, Connecticut. Fairfield is a Division I NCAA team.
“I am so excited to have been accepted into Fairfield University and to be rowing there. I can’t wait to start this new chapter of my life. Rowing has been a part of my life for 5 years and it has taught me to be a leader and to go to practice everyday ready to compete, be the hardest worker you can be and to push not only yourself but your teammates, so everyone improves together.” -Arianna
“Arianna has been a major influence on the team, and has helped teach the group how to compete and push one another, and we are so excited for her to go on to Fairfield next year. While I have only been here since August, I am impressed by our athlete’s ability to compete and improve. Everyone on the team from our Novices (first year rowers) to our top level Varsity athletes have gained a lot of speed and fitness, and I can’t wait to see what we can do this winter and spring.”
Due to demand, Registration for Junior Programming is OPEN!
7/30/20
Good News! Due to demand, we have opened registration for our Pre-Season, Middle School and Recreational programs. Head to our Youth Rowing page for more info on each program. Reminder: If you want to be on Novice or Varsity you must go through Pre-Season!
If you have any questions please email programs@nereidbc.org
Fall Masters Registration is OPEN!
7/29/20
Registration for all Fall 2020 Adult Programming is open! That includes Competitive, Recreational and Learn to Row. Please head to our Adult Rowing tab under Rowing Programs to learn more.
Private Lesson signups are now available through our website as well! Please check out our Adult Private lessons tab to find the best package for you!
If you have any questions please email programs@nereidbc.org
Nereid Hires Georgia Seehaus as Novice Boys and Middle School Coach
7/20/20
Nereid is excited to announce the hiring of Georgia Seehaus! Georgia grew up rowing at Nereid, having a successful High School career primarily in the single.
Georgia went on to a great career at Cornell University, where she was team captain her senior year. She most recently coached the Freshman Boys at Ridgewood Crew.
Georgia will be taking the lead on the Novice Boys team as well as working with the other coaches to run the Middle School/Recreational program.
“I can’t wait to work with new rowers and help them find new skills, fun, and most importantly a passion for rowing!”
Nereid Hires Rachel Dowd as Novice Girls and Middle School Coach
7/19/20
Rachel started her rowing career in the Nereid middle school program where she learned to scull and race. She then continued to row at Montclair High school as a competitive lightweight. After high school Rachel continued to row for Ithaca College as a competitive sculler and lightweight sweep rower where she earned many state championship and NIRC medals. After graduating from Ithaca College Rachel coached both novice and varsity women as an assistant coach at Ithaca College from 2017-2020.
Rachel’s coaching philosophy is to create an environment for athletes where they can grow and strive for excellence in themselves. She wants to be able to share her passion and love for the sport with others and create a family for them in athletics.
“I am very excited to come back to the Nereid program where I learned to row and can’t wait to help provide current and future rowers with the same amazing experience I had rowing with the club!”
Nereid Hires Zach Spitzer as New Head Coach
Nereid is excited to announce the hiring of Zach Spitzer as the incoming Head Coach of Nereid Boat Club. Zach comes to us from Saugatuck Rowing Club, where he coached two fours to Top 7 finishes in the nation at Youth Nationals in 2019, as well as a Top 15 finish in the Junior Men’s Eight at the Head of the Charles. Prior to Saugatuck, Zach coached at what is now Row New Jersey, as the Girls Head Coach where two fours finished in the Top 13 in the nation at Youth Nationals in 2018.
Zach also has extensive experience coaching Masters. He began coaching Masters at the age of 17 in his home town of Niskayuna NY at the Aqueduct Rowing Club. From there he coached adults at PNRA/Mercer when he was the Boys Novice Coach, and throughout his time at Saugatuck having masters boats medal at local, national and international regattas.
“I am very excited to join the Nereid family and build on the already amazing reputation that the club has. It is my hope that we can expand on all of the great things happening at the club!”
Zach will begin on August 1st, so feel free to reach to him with any questions you may have!
Official Statement from Nereid Regarding Inclusivity
6/10/20
Nereid Boat Club (“Nereid”) is a non-profit organization devoted to the promotion of the sport of rowing, improvement of the environment of the Passaic River and engagement with the community of Rutherford and surrounding areas to support those goals. Nereid does not discriminate against any individual’s participation in club matters, including applications for membership; board, officer and coaching positions; or participation in its various rowing programs on account of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or physical limitations.
Nereid recognizes that the cost of rowing, and general access to the equipment and facilities needed to participate, have been a barrier to entry to the sport for broad segments of our society. We are excited to see the sport’s national governing body, US Rowing, launch a number of initiatives to improve diversity within the sport and recognize the responsibility of all clubs, including small clubs like Nereid, to follow that example. Nereid has funds set aside to provide need-based support for participation in its student programs.
Adult Programs updated for Fall 2020!
6/6/20
We have added new structure to the Adult programs for this coming fall. Our goal is to give all adult rowers the opportunity to train how they want, and creating competitive and recreational teams is a great way to do that. Please read through the new team descriptions and times, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Junior Programs and procedures updated for Fall 2020!
6/4/20
We have added new structure and programs for this coming fall! Whether you have been on the team, or are new to Nereid, please take the time to read through all of the Youth Rowing pages. We have a lot to offer at Nereid, and we just want to make sure everyone is getting the best experience they can. The new structure and programs will set us up to be able to grow as a club, while making it a fun and competitive environment for everyone involved!
If you have any questions please contact our Head of Programs (programs@nereidbc.org) or our Head Coach (headcoach@nereidbc.org) with any questions about the programs!