Rockford YMCA Rowing Crew

RYRC members join with other area programs for a spring scrimmage. What a fun way to get back on the water! Thank you, Jefferson Rowing Club, for hosting this great morning of friendly competition! We’ll look forward to seeing you again in a couple of months!

Come learn to row with the RYRC! Starting in June, 13-18 year olds can join the junior crew - find more information at rockriverymca.org or email Coach Morelock ([email protected]).

🚣‍♀️ What an incredible showing from the Rockford YMCA Rowing Crew at the Head of the Rock Regatta! Our team had 15 entries across multiple races:

Men's Junior Single - Henry Morelock

Men's Open Single - Rob Lancaster

Men's Master Single - Mark Stratemeyer

Women's Master Single - Heather Hatch

Women's Master Single - Ann Hyzer

Mixed Master 4X - Rachel Terminello/Justin Schwamberger/Mary Valentine/Matt Slayter

Men's Junior Double 2x - Jackson Otten/Javier Martinez

Mixed Masters Double 2x - Mark Stratemeyer/Kitty Kevin

Mixed Masters Double 2x - Mason Rosenberg/Carolyn Sornsin

Women's Junior Double 2x - Eve Nelsen/Morgan Kunz

Women's Masters Double 2x - Julie Maffei/Kathy Torrence

Women's Masters Double 2x - Joan Altman/Jane Johnson

Women's Recreational Single 1x - Carol-Anne Stewart

Women's Masters 4x - Dawn Witcher/Chris Dal Pra/Annie Roca/JoAnn Major

Women's Junior Novice 4+ - Evelyn Soderstrom/Ava Dr eyer/Ema Dreyer/Claudia Slayter/Noelle Nelsen
📸 Photo credit: Jeffery S Whitford Photography

Tomorrow’s the day, can you believe it?
Today, we put the finishing touches for our prep work for Head of the Rock-
Buoy lines? ✅ Docks? ✅ Rowers Ready?✅
Can’t wait to see you all soon!
#815

And finally, Nic Foor - master of the casual beach life vibe and master of the single. Nic played it cool no matter how often his boat overturned…not that many times, but enough times to become a very good single rower. Nic is always ready to try new things, to push the level of discomfort in order to experience something amazing. Sometimes that ambition landed him in the water, but more often it found him gliding atop the surface. Nic inspired his teammates to do the same. Thank you and congratulations Nic, and good luck as you find the next amazing thing!

Next on our Senior Spotlight series, we cover one of the biggest leaders to come from our team, William (Will) Rollins. Will comes to practice every day embodying the definition of leading by example. Whether it’s advice on boat handling, equipment repairs, rowing form, or even coxing instruction, Will is consistently there, patiently prepared to give a helping hand. Along with that, Will‘s commitment to the team extends far beyond just showing up to practice and includes making sure everybody has a ride home, being ready to row in any lineup at any time, and setting up the Head of the Rock course each fall. We’ll miss his confidence, determination, and impressive talent of never giving up, no matter how tough things get. We wish you the best on your new team and hope the Hawkeyes know that they’re getting a good one.

As dearly as we will miss our 2025 seniors, we are more excited to see where their futures take them. Shining a light onto their impact on our team, we start our Senior Spotlight series with our resident cheerleader, Carsyn Erickson. Carsyn, who primarily rows in small boats, is best known to bring the power and the fun in every water session. Whether a serene steady state practice covered in sunrise a or a torrential downpour at the start line of a 5k race, Carsyn has the amazing ability to make every row seem flawless. We’ll miss her fearlessness, kindness, and amazing sense of humor at morning practices, all traits that will serve her well no matter where life takes her in the future. Although she is moving onto bigger and better things this fall, we want her to know that she will always have BFFs in RYRC (boat friends forever).

A senior send off isn’t complete without fish slides…wear them proudly guys! Thank you Will and Nic for sharing your many mornings with the RYRC! Your enthusiasm, effort, and expertise will be missed. We all wish you a wonderful start to college - congratulations! And don’t be strangers, you’re always welcome back at the boathouse! 💙💛🎉🎉

The ambiance is better outside the boathouse. Great job rowers on your first 2k experience!