2020-2021 Team Recognition & Awards
LETTER FROM THE COACHES Little did we know on March 12, 2020, that a three-week shift to remote learning would become a 14-month sea change in the operations of Saint Ignatius Crew. While countless changes, adjustments and creative ideas became our way of life, one thing truly remained constant: commitment. This 2020-2021 crew remained committed to each other, to the training plan, to hope for racing, to showing up ready to give their best for the greater glory of God. Our Novices committed to something completely new, with no certainty that they would get to experience real spring racing. Our Sophomores committed to developing into Varsity rowers, even after their own Novice season was lost. Our Juniors committed to raising the bar, for themselves and all those around them. Most importantly, our Seniors remained committed to goals set by the Class of 2020, to ensuring that no opportunity would be wasted, to true Ignatian leadership of this year’s crew. Hopefully, each time we can hit the water, or line up for a race, or even just be with each other, we appreciate that gift a little bit more. And perhaps we understand at a deeper level what a gift our commitments can be for one another. Thank you for remaining committed to us. Our accomplishments are many, and our future remains remarkably bright. That doesn’t just happen on its own. It occurs when the power of the collective surpasses that of the individual, when the boat finds its set and the crew finds their swing, when the wind and rain and cold make a crew dig down and go further, faster. We made it through! We couldn’t have done it without you. The Coaches
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
Senior Spotlights
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Coaches & Supporters
15
“Treasured” Memories
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2021 Team Photo & Roster
Back
A Rower’s Psalm
BRIAN
BONIFAS MARIETTA COLLEGE Nickname: Bbon, Bono I love to row because: The sport pushes me to become better everyday. It taught me that through dedication and consistency that any seat is possible. Furthermore the relationships that I have formed on the team are lifelong. I truly consider the people on this team to be a family. Favorite race: St. Mary’s What I’ll take away from being on this team: What consistency and dedication can do to better oneself. There are many examples on the team of people who bit the bullet and outworked everyone else, and their work payed off 10x. Favorite memory: Some of best times of my life have been at camp bob cooper. The things we did there such as the nature hikes or the launch rides still come in conversation today at the lunch table. To my parents/family: To my parents I want to thank you for the early mornings, even when you were tired or mad at me you still made the effort to drive me before the crack of dawn. I want to thank you for being there for me when things didn’t go as I planned, you helped me through some of the more frustrating moments in my life. Lastly I want to thank for for your interest in the sport, it shows that you truly care and that means the world. Your encouragement and support over the years has given me the opportunity to continue what I love in college and I thank the both of you for that.
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JACK
DITZEL UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Nickname: Ditzel I love to row because: I’m able to be a part of a community that works together to get better. It is gratifying knowing that my hard work benefits both myself and the entire team, and I like being able to see physical progress on the erg and on the water. Favorite race: Head of the Ohio (minus the bees) What I’ll take away from being on this team: I learned the value of hard work and discipline alongside a supportive community. Going into my first year of crew I had not yet learned how to do this, and I initially struggled with crew to the point that I almost quit. I decided to keep going a little longer, and now I’m here at the end. I learned that even if something seems difficult at the time, I should push through it anyways. Favorite memory: My favorite memories of crew come from the end of my freshman year. At Midwest, I won my first race ever in the Lightweight Novice 4+. I was so excited afterwards that I significantly over-smiled in the group picture, making a super awkward face that I am reminded of whenever I look at old pictures. We threw PC and all the coxswains in the water afterwards. Three weeks later on the way back from nationals, I went into the bathroom of the bus to change my contact lenses, only to find out that everyone had left for dinner. The door was locked on the inside, and my phone was dead, so I couldn’t text anyone to let me out. I waited until everyone was done eating to be freed from the bus finally. I have never let my phone die during a regatta since then. To my parents/family: Thank you for dedicating hundreds of hours to make my time on the team possible, driving me to practice, going to regattas, and picking me up. Crew was an integral part of my high school experience, and I could not have done it without you.
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CALEB
HILS
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Nickname: (none) I love to row because: Of the friendship it brings and the challenges it presents. Favorite race: Midwest What I’ll take away from being on this team: The friends I have and the work ethic it gave me. Favorite memory: Camp Bob sophomore year To my parents/family: Thanks for always coming to my regattas and pushing me when all I wanted to do was stop.
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LEVENTE
KARETKA UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON Nickname: (none) I love to row because: Through all the pain and time some of the strongest friendships were made. Favorite race: Freshman year Nationals, being down in New Jersey, talking to other crews about how they row all year long in Florida. What I’ll take away from being on this team: Commitment— mornings and afternoons of practices put in for one goal, to win, but it also includes the best side effect—team bonding. Favorite memory: Freshman year Midwest. Full day of racing, being the last ones at the lake, doing a quick run to KFC, then back to the Columbus Retreat House. We literally had fried chicken the night before our finals races. Was a blast. To my parents/family: Thank you for all the driving, the long regattas, and putting up with me after tiring practices. Most of all for pushing me to row, it was awesome.
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MARK
KIKTA THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Nickname: (none) I love to row because: I am a very competitive person, and I love knowing that I can see steady improvement through consistent training. Favorite race: Midwest 2021 What I’ll take away from being on this team: Crew has shown me that hard work pays off. I will take away from this team a consistent work ethic. Favorite memory: My favorite memory is beating Upper Arlington after losing to them Freshman year, and then doing the same thing again in Senior year. To my parents/family: Thank you for driving me to practices and regattas, paying for me to row, and for continuing to support me over these past four years.
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COLE
MAMONE THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Nickname: (none) I love to row because: Of the high level of competition and the community we’ve built Favorite race: Sophomore Year Nationals What I’ll take away from being on this team: How to work for my goals and work through adversity Favorite memory: Watching horror movies with the Lightweight 8 and Junior 8 guys at the sophomore year nationals hotels. To my parents/family: Thank you for always fully supporting me and pushing me to be my best and push past my comfort zone
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MATT
METZGER THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Nickname: Metzger I love to row because: Of the way it has allowed me to push myself past what I thought possible time and time again Favorite race: Sophomore year Midwest What I’ll take away from being on this team: The community and friends I missed and was accepted back into. Favorite memory: All of sophomore year Camp Bob--the launch ride. To my parents/family: Thank you for driving me at 4:30 in the morning with absolutely nothing in it for you.
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MATTHEW
PISCHULLA THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Nickname: Pichula (The Ben Sommer pronunciation of Pischulla) I love to row because: Of my teammates Favorite race: St. Mary’s What I’ll take away from being on this team: The sense of family Favorite memory: Beating New Trier and UA in the 1V race to get 2nd in the Midwest To my parents/family: Thanks for encouraging me to join crew my freshman year.
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ANDREW
ROBISON UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON Nickname: Meatball I love to row because: It keeps me sharp. Because of the grind we go through I feel like I can tackle situations other people might be scared to. Favorite race: Varsity 8 at Midwest or Semi-Final at Nationals 2018 (Freshman 8) What I’ll take away from being on this team: The Brotherhood. I’ve made my best friends in this sport and will always remember them. Favorite memory: Seeing the faces of the Upper Arlington Varsity 8 after the Midwest final, Senior Steak Dinner at PC’s, Basketball Erg Workouts To my parents/family: Thank you for pushing me to row four years ago. The decision to row, which has been one of the best in my life, probably would not have happened if my parents didn’t tell me about it. For all the early morning practices, far away races, and million other tasks that come with crew, thank you. Finally, the part I’m most thankful for is simply the fact that you were a helping hand. Due to the vigorous nature of this sport and just going through high school, I have realized that I have the best support system in the world that will help me through the ups and the downs.
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MATTHEW
SKUBAS PURDUE UNIVERSITY Nickname: Skoobs I love to row because: The competitiveness makes every season fun. Favorite race: SRAA Nationals J8 Finals What I’ll take away from being on this team: You can take up anything and excel at it, and that you need a group of guys to always have your back. Favorite memory: Coach Hess’s Hobart stories, the lethal dodgeball teams sophomore year at Camp Bob, and doing pumpernickels before our finals race at nationals in 2019. To my parents/family: Thank you for always having my back throughout high school. Without your continued support, I don’t think I would have continued with crew through freshman year. Thank you for driving me to early morning practices and letting me sleep during the car ride up to regattas.
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NATHAN
TAYLOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Nickname: Nate I love to row because: I love the feeling of racing, and watching a boat learn, grow and complete to win together has always been satisfying and rewarding. Favorite race: Sophomore year Nationals What I’ll take away from being on this team: Working my hardest because I can’t trust everyone else is working just as hard. Favorite memory: It has to be the emotions I felt after crossing the finish line at nationals sophomore years To my parents/family: Thank you for your amazing love and support. You’ve always encouraged me to do my best and I’m truly grateful for it.
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PETER
TURK GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Nickname: Smurk I love to row because: Of the community and shared commitment to success. Rowing has given me my best friends, but also taught me unparalleled discipline to work towards an end communal goal as a boat and a team. Favorite race: 2019 SRAA National Championships / 2019 Head of the Charles What I’ll take away from being on this team: Attaining your goals will never be easy; it’ll take months/years of preparation, commitment, and patience. But the more time you dedicate towards your goals, the better attaining them will feel. Favorite memory: When Skubas’s oar got caught on a buoy at the HOCR, but we somehow managed to re-qualify. And then we became famous on Reddit. To my parents/family: Hvala Lepa, Mami and Ati. You’ve provided me with so many opportunities in my life, and I’ll forever be in debt to you both. Whether it was making me breakfast in the morning, driving me to practices/regattas, or just talking with me, I appreciate it all. I’m proud to be called your son, and I love both of you more than you’ll ever know.
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COACHES &
SUPPORTERS Head Coach: Connor Walters ’09 Assistant Coach: Russ Eckles Assistant Coach: Bob Emmett Assistant Coach: Tony Fistek Assistant Coach/Chaplain: Bill Head ’60 Assistant Coach: Mike Hess ’07 Assistant Coach: Mitch Patterson ’16 Assistant Coach: Tim Telep ’07 Director of Strength & Conditioning: Anthony Rubino Assistant Director of Strength & Conditioning: AJ Short ’09 Athletic Director: Rory Fitzpatrick ’88 Assistant Athletic Director: Brad Ganor Athletics Coordinator: Marquia Ivey Athletics Communications: Joe Mertens ’15 Faculty & Staff Crew Fans: Dan Arbeznik ’00, Ed Sas
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“TREASURED”
MEMORIES... Sprint ergs before water practices Rowing feet out at a 36 (Metzger) Robison running around the erg room screaming like a mad man the day school (sort of) got cancelled because of the fire The dead mosquito drill “Es la hora de comer” MARY’S WEEK Sommer throwing up while we tried to pray Camp Bob Building our team weight room culture Lake Days Winning the 2018 Midwest Boys Points Trophy Winning the 2019 Junior 8 National Title All Seniors earning a Midwest medal in 2021 Singing the alma mater on the water Blisters and calluses that will never really fade Stories that get better with age Relationships to last a lifetime
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Y V A N T ILDCA
1W 2 0 2 0 202 CLASS OF 2024 Boomer, Nathan Burke, Carter Caine, Lucas Cannata, John Carey, Marty Craciun, Tyler Cubela, Dominick DiBenedetto, Spartico Dietrich, Ben Enders, Michael Fall, Dillon Fitzsimons, Jackson Fogarty, Connor Gerda, Eric Hill, Lincoln Knight, Landen Love, Seamus
Lovinger, Jadon Lucci, Dominic Miller, Miles Munro, Andrew O’Toole, Simon O’Neill, Sean Roark, Vincent Romano, Vincenzo Soltes, Nathan Thein, Anthony Whittier, Bryce Yeh, Nathan CLASS OF 2023 Anderson, Owen Bartley, Jeffrey Bulic, Andrew Darling, Peter Demers, Henry Demers, Nick
Hill, Porter Jakubisin, Andrew Kellers, Joe Knittel, Chas Kovalsky, Nathan Kowalski, Griffith Kramer, Nick Kucera, Jacob Lalak, Will Makar, Ethan O’Donnell, Ryan Robison, Patrick Rossman, Gus Shepherd, Robbie Staggs, Chris Thein, Luke Tomsik, Aidan Wilson, Jimmy YIrga, Jack Zorc, Jacob
CLASS OF 2022 Antonius, Wil Atkinson, Tim Chambers, Emmett Halkiadakis, Nick Howe, Will Mason, Matthew Miklus, Patrick Petrus, Jack Roark, Owen Schillinger, Colin Sommer, Ben Sullivan, Matthew CLASS OF 2021 Bonifas, Brian Ditzel, Jack Hils, Caleb Karetka, Levente Kikta, Mark
Mamone, Cole Metzger, Matt Pischulla, Matthew Robison, Andrew Skubas, Matthew Taylor, Nathan Turk, Peter
A ROWER’S PSALM Whether the water is flat or choppy, straight or crooked, warm or icy, I thank You for this gift. Whether I row in smooth or strong headwinds, at dusk or in first light, I row not for myself but for my brother in front of me and for You. Whether motivated and supported by a parent, teacher, coach or teammates, I ask Your blessing upon each of them. Whether in single, double, four or eight, I use the strength, power and stamina You have given me and offer my blistered hands as prayers of thanks. May the boat, a sign of unity, the oars, a sign of strength, the water, a sign of life with You in Baptism, assist me in becoming the man You are calling me to be. Amen.