1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My first rowing practice was in March of my freshman year of high school. Our school did not have a spring track team so I figured rowing was the next best thing, plus my older brother, Nick, had already rowed the previous year so it didn't take much convincing for me to head to the boathouse. He had assured me that this was the best way to cross-train for cross country in the fall (which was our 'main sport' throughout high school). The first time I sat in a boat, I caught 3 crabs within the first 7 "strokes" I tried to take. The coach thought I would be a natural given that my brother was already so talented but, clearly, he was mistaken. The first 2k erg test I ever pulled was an 8:12. I weighed in at 114 lbs and stood at about 5'9" tall.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
The first time I "fell in love" with rowing happened in my freshman year of college. I was sitting in the bow seat of the Trinity 1F, the guy sitting in front of me just happened to be one of my best friends from that year, Jon Poole, and we were out rowing on the river having a hell of a practice where we just barely beat the JV on a short piece and he turned around to me during a spin with a shit-eating grin on his face and gave me a high five. Looking back it was a pretty uneventful moment but that 1F boat had so many of my best friends from freshman year (Vince McClaughlin, Brandon Taafe, Greg Magarian, Graham Skinner, Henry Fitts) and we had a hell of a season.
As far as a moment when I thought "I might be able to make the national team..."
I still am not sure whether or not I could make the national team...every year in the training center is a new adventure with phenomenal athletes and tons of racing and competing and meters both on the erg and the water. I am very fortunate to have made the National Team for the past 4 years...
My first national team experience was in the summer of 2011 when I was invited (and cut) from the U23 camp. It opened my eyes to this pretty incredible world of elite rowers who worked tirelessly trying to perfect their rowing stroke. My goal after that summer was to go back to Ithaca, train better than the previous years and be invited to the U23 camp again for 2012. I was lucky enough to make the 4- that summer (along with Justin Jones, Will Gillis and Ted Baumgardner) and ended up 4th at the U23 Worlds. After that summer, it struck me how amazing it was to have competed for the USA internationally - to be on the starting line and instead of hearing different college/universities being called, it was countries. I was lucky to be a part of that U23 team and every year since I have considered myself just as lucky to be on the senior team.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
It is tough to pick just one 'best race' of my rowing career. If I had to go with just one, it would have to be this most recent FOQR in Switzerland - its tough to beat a race where you qualify for the olympic games. But if I could also list a few other of my favorites over the years: 2006 NEIRA Boys 2nd boat grand final, 2010 Eastern Sprints JV grand final, 2012 U23 World Champs 4- grand final, 2014 Senior World M2x trials, 2015 NSR 1 and the 2015 HOCR Champ 4+. I've been lucky enough to row with some phenomenal guys who put up with my antics in the boat (and more often than not, dragged me down the course).
As much as I would care not to relive any of my worst races or practices, one in particular stands out over these past 4 years on the senior team. It was January of 2014 and the team was in Chula Vista rowing pairs, working on different technique changes, etc. etc. I was sitting bow of a pair as the coaches launch came by and the pair was not moving particularly well. Luke had us stop the boat and he pulled right up along side and said, "Alex, you are the Jedi Master of going easy..." And with that, he drove away. We didn't receive any coaching for the rest of that practice.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
While I'm not sure if its the "best" thing I've done, being in the mens double in 2014 was pretty special. Ian Silveira taught me how to scull in about 3 weeks time and convinced me that I was "good enough" to head to trials with him. Another really memorable boat I got to row in was the 2015 Champ 4+ at the Head of the Charles with Matt Miller, Tim Aghai (rowing on his non dominant side), Keith Rush (one of the smartest guys I've ever met) and Anthony Altimari. We had never rowed together prior to launching for the race and we just went out and had a blast going down the course.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
First and foremost, don't take rowing too seriously. If it isn't fun, you probably won't want to keep rowing. And of course, winning is a lot of fun, so definitely try and win a lot. As far as more meaningful advice, listen to your coaches, parents, peers and whoever else is willing to offer up advice when it comes to critiquing your rowing stroke. I have had some amazing coaches throughout my time in the sport (such as Topher Row, Bob Madden, Kevin MacDermott, Todd Kennett, Matt Smith, Eric Houston) and there was always a sense of commitment I had to the sport and to them - they were spending their time to try and help me so I owed it to them to give everything I could to try and learn. And finally, my dad would always tell my brother and I when we were growing up to "spend the extra five minutes" - no matter what it is you are trying to do, spending the extra five minutes to make sure you are doing it properly/to the best of your ability will pay dividends on the back end. There is no do-over button with most things in life - so spending the extra five minutes to make sure that one shot is the best you can do is always worth it.
Birthplace: Nashua, N.H.
Hometown: Hollis, N.H.
Current Residence: Princeton, N.J.
Club Affiliation: USRowing Training Center – Princeton
Began Rowing: 2005, Groton School
Date of Birth: 9/16/90
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 190
High School: Groton School, 2008
Undergraduate Education: Cornell University, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012
Current Coach: Bryan Volpenhein, Luke McGee
National Teams: Five – 2012, Under 23; 2013-16, Senior
International Results: Won bronze in the eight at the 2016 World Rowing Cup II...Won the eight at the 2016 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta...Finished seventh in the eight at the 2015 World Rowing Championships…Won bronze in the eight at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished 20th in the double sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Championships...Finished 14th in the pair at the 2013 World Rowing Championships...Finished fourth in the four at the 2012 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
National Results: Finished third in the pair at the 2016 National Selection Regatta I...Won the pair at the 2015 National Selection Regatta 1...Won the double sculls at the 2014 Senior 2 World Championships Trials…. Finished seventh in the pair at the 2014 National Selection Regatta 2...Won the pair at 2013 World Championships Trials.
Personal: Alex loves his family and is thankful that his mother and his sisters are so supportive of him...Alex’s brother is a professional triathlete…He lists his father as the most influential person in his sporting career.
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