Q&A With Dayton Rowing Head Coach Michael Wenker

Wenker is in his sixth year as head coach of the Flyer varsity rowing team. Dayton's rowing team started in 1992 as a club and 1996 as a varsity sport.  

Talk about your seniors on the team:
We have five seniors on the team (Kayla Contardi, Madison Doty, Danielle Foust, Chloe Hollinden and Rosie Perez).  Each rowed in the first 8+ last spring.   They have experience and a wish to finish their college rowing careers on a high note.

Who are the captains and what do they bring to the team?  
Kayla and Danielle are two of the most athletic members of the team.  They lead by example.  They are quiet and reserved, but fierce competitors.

Talk about some of the races the team will be attending this year:
The schedule is exciting this year. We scrimmage Marquette and the men's (club) team at home on March 18, and then travel down to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to race the University of Alabama March 25. April 7-8 we travel to Washington D.C. to race several A-10 teams at the George Washington Invite including Duquesne, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, as well as Georgetown and MIT. The GW Invite is one of my favorite races. On April 22 we travel to Pittsburgh to race Duquesne and West Virginia on the way to Fairfax, Va. for the George Mason Invite April 23 where will have a chance to race Alabama again and George Mason and GW before the end of the season regatta, the Atlantic 10 Championship. From one race to the next, we will have a chance to check improvements against the competition.

What are the team's goals this season?
The team just wants to improve upon last year, place a boat in the medals and make the big finals across the board.

Talk about the novice
The novice bring energy and enthusiasm to the team.