GT Crew History
Submitted by
T. Brian Flowers
My details are sketchy, and I apologize up front about any details I got wrong but, in the beginning, a group of students from regions beyond Georgia got together to continue their pursuit of rowing. Among these people were Jeff Lukens and Debbie Permenter. After a while, the Rowing Club was formed to share the sport of rowing with the Tech community. There was no boathouse then. But a philanthropist stepped forward and befriended this young group of determined rowers. His name is John Hunter. He allowed them to keep their boats on his property and to launch off of his deck/river's edge on the waters of the Chattahoochee. Time went by, and the club grew in numbers and it became obvious that they needed a 'home'. Mr. Hunter had some land across the river behind St. Andrews Catholic Church. He gave the land to the church in exchange for their promise to start a high school rowing program, and allow this group of students from Ga Tech to share the land. A boathouse and a dock was built. For years afterward, as the rowing shells of Ga Tech and St. Andrews glided past Mr. Hunter's residence, these students shouted and waved their thanks to Mr. Hunter.
I joined GT Crew in Winter of 1991-1992. Unlike most of the new rowers at Tech, I had previously experienced rowing while growing up in Augusta, Georgia. By the time I began my studies at Ga Tech, the early spring regatta in Augusta attracted teams from all over the nation. The locals watched in curiosity and many fell in love with this strange sport. After a year at Georgia Tech, I gave rowing a shot. Winter training involved erg torture (training) and trips to erg races, not to mention running the steps in the football stadium. Spring brought about water training and Spring Break was spent in Panama City rowing up to 3 times a day, much to the amusement of the locals and inebriated college tourists.
By this time (1991), the crew team numbered about 40, and they had a coach. His name was Norm Vickers and the team president was Chad Markle. Norm had rowed at Duke University and somehow became involved with this motley crew. Norm had the good fortune to head this team in what I call the Golden Days of GT Crew. We were becoming more than just an eccentric group of student/athletes, big enough to be able to send multiple boats to competitions and yet, small enough for one man to guide the team. Norm was not without assistance however. Debbie Permenter was still around to provide guidance and a graduate student couple, Vicki and Jerry Zadnik helped coach the team. At the end of the spring, we were able to send 2-3 boats to Dad Vails.
The team paid their way to compete in regattas out of their own pockets and through fund raising projects. Once in a while, we would bug the Student Government Association for money to buy boats and equipment. Assests way beyond what the students could afford. Thankfully, SGA looked upon us kindly and was very supportive. Without them, the team would be nothing more than a handful of ragtag rowers.
The next year, the team began to boom, and unfortunately, we had to bid farewell to Coach Norm. We found a new coach and friend in Lucy Gilson. Lucy, from England, had rowed at Georgetown. The team swelled with new recruits and we got a brand new Vespoli 8 (the Sting?). In an attempt to better provide for the rowers and cement the sport's presence at Tech, our new team president, Jim Wilson (1992-93), and Mr. Hunter, aggressively petitioned then school president, Pat Crecine, and the Athletic Director, Homer Rice, for varsity status. We got some support and well wishers but our attempt at varsity status fell short.
About this time, the team needed to replace the dock. Mr. Hunter, as always, was willing to help, but rightly made the two teams earn their gift. Mr. Hunter bought the supplies and hired a foreman in exchange for Ga. Tech Crew and St. Andrews Crew supplying the manpower. The deck, still in use today, wasn't perfect, but it sure got the job done!
Under Coach Lucy and president LynneAnn Fickes (1993-94), our team ballooned to almost 100 members and the team had to deal with the problems associated with growing too fast. There wasn't enough equipment to go around and it was hard to manage that many rowers without a paid and focused coaching staff. We got another boat, a yellow Vespoli 8 (the Cab?) and the team moved operations into the basement of a house on 10th street shared with the Sailing Club. The team roster settled around 70 and continued to experience greater success.
About this time, a group of 6 male rowers; Jim Wilson, Jae Yun, Martin Dean, Bill Doss, Chris Betz and yours truly, rented the corner condo on 10th/Atlantic. This became known as the infamous "Crew House". This residence, located across the street from the Sailing Club/Rowing Club house, became the focal point for study sessions, parties, hanging out, pit stops and even holiday dinners for the members still at school. Later, Claus Melarti and Lee Johnson replaced two departed members of the house.
By the next year, in which Dianne Hayes served as president (1994-95), we were having our meetings in large auditoriums in the Management Building. We sent boats to the Head of the Charles and a boat to the Champion Regatta in Worcester in addition to our usual events. Lucy Gilson soon completed her grad school and we picked up a new coach, Rob Canavan. He started rowing as a freshman at Temple University. He then joined the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, rowed in the World University Games, U.S. Olympic Festival(gold medalist), Pan American Games(gold medalist), American Nationals (two-time gold medalist),and the U.S. Nationals(two-time gold medalist). He has been the Head Coach of Georgia Tech Crew since 1995.
While I was on the team, most rowers came from other sports to try rowing. A number of us had played soccer all of our lives, some were cross country veterans, others were surfers, volleyball players and non-athletes. Very few of us had ever rowed before. Most of us would have been too short or too light to even consider walking on at a varsity program. But we pushed each other and found coaches that were willing to make something out of this strange group of students. That was probably the greatest attribute of the team. That cadre of friends, pushing you to excel, looking out for you, having fun, learning and growing together, is something to behold. From 1990-1996, I served as a crew officer, met many friends, learned to row, taught others, and competed. It was a difficult time, but extremely rewarding. I wouldn't give that experience up for anything.