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MICHAEL WIENEKE
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Mike brings a love of rowing and youth athletics to our rowing program, with a background in sales and logistics he oversees all of our junior and masters programming. Providing a safe, fun, structured environment for rowers is key to his drive for Greenwich Crew to be “the leading example of excellence in the sport”. Mike learned to row while attending St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, graduating in 2007 with a degree in Government and Economics. Mike resides in Stamford with wife, son and dog. He enjoys spending time on the water during the summer, skiing during the winter and volunteering across a number of organizations in his free time. |
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Paul Ruggeberg
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Paul Ruggeberg started his rowing career with Greenwich Crew in 2003. While rowing for Greenwich, Paul helped lead the team to a number of Connecticut Public School Regatta medal finishes. He continued his rowing career with the Kent School (Kent, CT) under the leadership of Coach Eric Houston before going on to row for Hobart College. After college, Paul worked in Real Estate and continued to share his love for the sport of rowing through multiple coaching positions. Returning to where his rowing career started in 2013, Paul joined the coaching staff of Greenwich Crew, working with the Masters program. Over the years, he transitioned from coaching Masters to coaching our Junior Women’s team. Under his leadership, Paul helped develop our novice women, leading the team to a Northeast Novice Points trophy win in 2019. In the summer of 2021, Paul started working with the Varsity Women, playing an instrumental role in their current run of success on the national and international stage. A few of the highlights are- 2021 Head of the Charles Regatta 2022 USRowing Youth National Championship 2022 Head of the Charles Regatta 2023 USRowing Youth National Championship 2023 Royal Henley Regatta 2023 Head of the Charles 2024 USRowing Youth National Championship 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta 2024 USRowing Youth National Championship Paul currently serves as Assistant Director of Rowing and Head Women’s Coach. Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife Courtney and their dog (Roxy). He’s an avid outdoorsman who loves to hike and kayak in his free time. |
| Cary Wasserman
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Cary Wasserman started his rowing career as coxswain at the Salisbury School under legendary Head Coach, Dick Curtis. At Salisbury, Cary became the first coxswain to be named the Hugh Cheney Outstanding Oarsmen (MVP) in the 100+ year history of the school. After Salisbury, Cary coxed at Hobart College where he led the 2007 IRA V4+ to a 5th place finish and won Bronze in the Collegiate 8 at the Head of the Charles. He was also a member of several Liberty League Crews of the Year. After college, Cary worked in the Human Resources and Talent Acquisition field in both the Financial Services and Tech Industry.
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Nicole Chaloux
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A native of Newtown, CT, Nicole began rowing in high school with GMS Rowing Center in New Milford, CT. Upon graduation, Nicole attended a small university for two years before transferring to the University of Connecticut and walking on to their Division I rowing team. She spent three years as a varsity athlete on the team, racing at regattas such as Head of the Charles, Knecht Cup, and Eastern Sprints. Nicole graduated with a degree in Biology and a minor in Sports Nutrition. Nicole can be reached at nchaloux@greenwichwaterclub.com. |
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Quentin Thibault
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Quentin Thibault, better known as Coach “Q”, is a native of Greenwich, CT. He began his rowing career with Greenwich Crew in High School as a member of the varsity team. In the spring of 2018, Coach Q became the Assistant Coach for the Novice Men. In his first season, he helped lead the team to a second place team finish at Northeast Regionals. In 2019 and 2021, he helped lead the team to their first place victories. In the winter of 2025, Coach Q transitioned to the role of Head Men’s Novice Coach In his time with Greenwich Crew, Q has worked with almost every program, from middle school to masters. Quentin can be reached at qthibault@greenwichwaterclub.com |
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Darren Gary
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Originally from Arlington, Texas, Darren began rowing his sophomore year in high school at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, winning several SE Regional championships to qualify for the Youth National Championships in 2004 and 2005. After high school, he was recruited to row under Coach Chris Clark at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned two bronze medals at the IRA National Championship, a gold at the Eastern Sprints Conference Championships, and a gold medal at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catherines, Onatario. After graduating in 2009, Darren worked for the University of Wisconsin as a Boatman/Rigger for all three of the collegiate rowing teams.
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Tripp Smith
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Coach Tripp is a Greenwich Crew alum who rowed from Middle School through Varsity! He rowed as a lightweight at USRowing Youth Nationals in 2015. He was coached by many of the coaches still in the program and his family has been a FOGC since 2012. Tripp can be reached at tsmith@greenwichwaterclub.com or by phone at extension 250. |
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Bert Harney
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Bert began rowing in high school at Salisbury school. Originally reluctant to start rowing after hearing it was a grueling sport, he eventually caved his junior year after seeing his physics teacher was a big time rower. During his first year, he was pulled from the novice squad and into the third varsity 8+ after a strong showing in workouts. His senior year, and second year rowing, he made the varsity 8+. This boat was the first Salisbury 8+ to make it to Nationals! That same year, they attended Henley Royal Regatta and made it to Friday. Upon graduating from Salisbury School, Bert attended Cornell University where he studied meteorology and information science, while also member of their lightweight team. His senior year they won the national championship, as well as finishing second place at Henley Royal Regatta in the Temple Challenge Cup. After sustaining a back injury, he was put on training hold and began coaching at Oakland Strokes, helping the team with their first two national championships. In addition, Bert helped the lightweight team win a national title in 2018. Bert joined the coaching staff at Greenwich Crew in the fall of 2019. In the spring of 2021, he coached the u17 Men’s 8+ and youth 4- to their national title. Outside of rowing, Bert writes, records, and produces music under the name Redshiift. |
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Martin Villanueva
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Martin began his rowing career as a coxswain, first at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, then at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Martin had the privilege of competing at NEIRA’s, Head of the Charles, and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Martin can be reached at mvillanueva@greenwichwaterclub.com. |
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Anna Yamamoto
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Anna comes to Greenwich Crew after spending two years as Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach for Holy Cross Women’s Rowing. For six years prior, she was the First Varsity Assistant for Women’s Rowing at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in Westport, CT, where her crews earned four top four finishes (including two gold and one silver medal) at Youth Nationals during her time there. She also coached at Essex Rowing Club in MA, and Central Crew in NH (her home state). Anna fell in love with the sport as a walk-on novice coxswain on the University of San Diego’s Women’s Rowing team and knew by the end of her four years that she wanted to coach rowing. Anna can be reached at ayamamoto@greenwichwaterclub.com. |
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Scott Branscomb
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Originally from New Hampshire, Scott discovered rowing in his first week on campus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He continued to row with the UMass Men’s Crew team for all four years, competing at regattas around the Northeast. Following graduation, he got his start coaching for two years at North Carolina Community Sailing and Rowing outside of Charlotte, NC before returning to New England as the middle school coach at Essex Rowing. Scott can be reached at sbranscomb@greenwichwaterclub.com. |
