RegattaCentral

The 10th Annual Minnesota Power Pull (North Central Indoor Rowing Championships) will be Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Mayo Civic Center. The move to the Civic Center and the regional title reflect growth from 50 registrants in 2009 to 143 in 2010 with entries from 4 states and 10 cities.

In 2011 we expanded and improved venue facilities:

• Rochester Civic Center Space
• Support from Rochester Area Sports Commission
• Improved screen, Audio, and Video
• Improved sitting space and bleachers
• Free Parking
• 20 Concept 2 ergometers
• Discounted Ergometer sales
• Pre-race pasta banquet - Friday  6PM Feb 4 Kahler Hotel
• Guest speaker Mike Hughes, Naval Academy Women's coach
• 2000 meter races: Junior, Collegiate, Open, Lightweight, Masters over 30 and over 55

Let us know any special accomodations you might need and any questions you may have. You may register for the Power Pull and the Dinner on Regatta Central.

- Phil Greipp, President and Coach, Rochester Rowing Club of Minnesota

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Our guest speaker is Michael Hughes Navy Women's Head Coach, in his 12th season as the head coach of the women's team and his 18th year at the Naval Academy. Mike will speak at 6pm at the Kahler. His expertise is in the area of Sports Performance, in particular Mental Preparation and Mike will be speaking on that topic Friday night. Mike is an inspirational speaker. Rowers, Coaches, and athletes from all sports are invited.

Brief CV of our speaker:

• His athletes have totaled 26 CRCA National Scholar-Athlete awards (including six last year), 14 CRCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region accolades and a pair of Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognitions.
• Navy has six individual boat titles at the three Patriot League Championship regattas, winning the team title in 2005 and tying for first place in the team standings in 2008. The Midshipmen placed second in 2006 and `07.
• Mike was tabbed as the league coach of the year in 2005 and again in '08.
  Navy's 2005 team advanced each of its five entries to the petite finals of the Eastern Sprints, with its varsity boat placing a Navy-best 10th at the regatta. His first novice four boat won a silver medal at the Eastern Sprints.

Additional Navy Experience

• Prior to becoming the head coach of the women's team, served as the varsity lightweight coach for three years followed by another three-year stint as the assistant heavyweight coach.
  
• His 1993 lightweight team posted a 5-2 record to achieve a winning record for the first time in seven years. The following year, his final one with the program, all three lightweight eight crews made the final at the Eastern Sprints Championship. In the three years he coached on the heavyweight level, his freshman boats placed seventh, fifth and eighth at the IRA National Championship, while his second freshman crew won a gold medal at the 1997 Eastern Sprints.
• He also coached the U.S. team at the 1999 World Military Games in Zagreb, Croatia. The team won the gold medal in both the women's double and the women's pair events, as well as a bronze in the women's singles competition.

Prior to Navy

• Began coaching the sport in 1975 and two years later served on the staff of the U.S. Junior National Rowing Team.
• Went on to manage several national teams from 1978-88, including at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
• Worked at numerous rowing clubs from 1977-86, including the Boston Rowing Club, Viking Rowing Club, Riverside Boat Club, Bachelor's Barge Club and Vesper Olympic Training Center.
• Started and served as the head coach of the rowing teams at Stockton State College for five years, leading the program to several MIRA championships and to a second and fourth-place finish at the Dad Vail Championship during his tenure.
• Began coaching the lightweight freshman team at Penn in 1987, leading the Quakers to winning seasons in four of his five years. His crews earned a bronze medal at the 1989 Eastern Sprints and a silver the following year.