SNRC Staff

2023 SNRC STAFF & COACHES

Head Coach

Grant Boyd

 

Grant has been coaching for well over 20 years and prior to coaching he also rowed, including some time as a member of the national team.
Grant grew up in Welland/Dain City and started rowing at SNRC in Grade 9 with Welland Centennial and his love for the sport grew from there. At the same time, one of Grant’s other main passions was hockey and he was drafted into the OHL by Sault Saint Marie in 1989 but I decided not to continue with his hockey career and chose to focus on his university education at Brock where he received his Bachelor of Physical Education focusing in Physiology, Biomechanics and Kinesiology as well as a Bachelor of Sport Management, with a focus on coaching education. Grant’s coaching career actually started with SNRC while attending Brock and then in 2001-2003 he got the position of assistant coach at Mercyhurst University in Erie PA. In the summer months he was also the head coach at SNRC, specifically working with the Sr. B women and Jr. A Women. In 2002, SNRC women won 4 Cdn Henley Golds under his guidance. Then in 2003 he took the position of Head Coach for the Upper Canada College rowing team with the immediate challenge to completely rebuild the team, which he did. Under Grant’s direction and leadership, UCC quickly became one of the premier high school rowing programs in the country and continued to be very successful throughout Grant’s 19 year career at UCC. More recently, Grant was the Head Coach for Team Ontario which had one of its strongest and most dominating performances ever at the 2023 Canada Summer Games. Grant’s passion for coaching is obvious when you meet him and we are so excited that he is now in place as our Head Coach to help lead SNRC into the future.
Strength & Conditioning Coach

Brandon D’Orazio

Brandon began rowing in grade 9 at SNRC and never looked back. He rowed throughout high school & university and then began coaching competitively. While rowing competitively for Brock’s varsity team he continued to coach the winter spring summer programs with SNRC until he left to pursue a master’s degree in Ireland. Brandon studied Fitness and Health Promotions, Kinesiology, and holds a MSc in Strength and Conditioning Coaching. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Brandon is not only a former SNRC athlete he also served the Board of Directors as the VP of Rowing in 2022 before stepping into the Head Coach role through to winter training. Brandon loves to share his  knowledge and passion for rowing and coaching. His favorite workout/drill on the water is pause drills because they provide versatility for beginners through to competitive athletes.
Facilities Coordinator – Jeremy Langelaan  

 

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport? I began rowing in High School at Notre Dame and E.L Crossley and continued rowing for 5 years at Western University where I studied business.  

What was your favourite workout/drill on the water and why? Legs only on the square. 

What is your rowing “catch phrase”? Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. 

Why did you start with SNRC? Its an exciting challenge that allows me to continue developing my own skills at a technically-focused club. 

Marketing Coordinator- Emma Wubs

 

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport?  I began rowing in high school at Notre Dame and am now finishing up a degree in Marketing Management at the University of Guelph.

Why did you start with SNRC? This was an excellent opportunity in my field to develop my skills and help promote a great sport with an amazing team!

COACHING CREW
Eve Belfry

 

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport?  I have been rowing with SNRC since 2016 and have been a coach at SNRC since 2020. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why?  My favourite workout on the water is any kind of pyramid or building. Whether it’s changing rates or just switching between on and off pieces I like that it gives you something to think about while also doing the workout.  

What is your coaching “catch phrase”?  I don’t have a specific catch phrase but I like to check in with the rowers as often as I can throughout a practice to see how they are doing! 

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching because I had already been rowing for many years and was excited to take it to the next level and see it from a coaches perspective. I also love working with people and being able to teach new skills and watching people succeed and reach their goals! 

Catharine Boitor  

 

Victoria Collins  

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport? I started rowing at Westdale Secondary School, rowed at McMaster University for my undergrad and then at Brock for my masters. I have also rowed and Leander, St Catherine’s, and Ridley Grad boat clubs. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why? Leap frogs: really fun to race your friends and great workout to get people race ready. 

What is your coaching “catch phrase”? “Stop talking in the boat!” 

Why did you get into coaching? After an injury I was unable to row. Coaching allows me to stay in the sport I love and hang out with great people! 

Carley Couroux 

Where do/did you go to school and what program(s) do/did you study? I just graduated from Welland Centennial High School but I’m going to Brock for Physical Education.

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water, and why? My favorite drill is Cut the Cake because it teaches the rowers to slow down, and it takes a lot of focus to stay in time.

What is the most important thing another athlete has taught you? How to row with a smile on my face. It’s easy to get caught up in drills, workouts, or races but ultimately rowing is something that I love to do and something that I take for granted too often.

What is your coaching “catch phrase”? “Hold your position 3”

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching because I wanted to further my knowledge in the sport. As an athlete I always wanted to go more in depth with the proper technique and as a coach I can keep learning.

Joey Everitt 

 

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport?  I’m graduating from Welland Centennial this year and going back for another year. I’ve been rowing for 3 years all together, all at Centennial or South Niagara Rowing Club. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why?  My favorite drill on the water is rush in catch (preferably in a single), a lot of people have trouble balancing at the catch and it can mess up the rest of their stroke so I like to work on that a lot.  

What is your coaching “catch phrase”? “Keep the boat moving” when I’m in the body of a race all I can think about is keeping the boat moving.  

Why did you get into coaching?  I’ve been rowing for a while now and would really like to help new rowers learn why we love it. I also love watching people improve over time.

 

Sarah Fuller

 

 

Where do/did you go to school and what program(s) do/did you study? I went to Queens University and studied biology with a minor in geology.

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water, and why? My favourite workout rush in catch. I like it because it is hard and challenges the athletes. It challenges both the physical and mental side for the athlete.

What is the most important thing another athlete has taught you? If you give them the confidence, anything is possible. Coaching to be confident goes a long way.

What is your coaching “catch phrase”? Give them hope at the beginning of the race, then tear it away at the end!

Why did you get into coaching? As an athlete I loved the sport so much, that I wanted to share my love for rowing with other athletes and create an environment where they feel the same way.

Sierra Humphries

 

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport?  I have been rowing with SNRC since 2016 and have been a coach at SNRC since 2020. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why?  My favourite workout on the water is any kind of pyramid or building. Whether it’s changing rates or just switching between on and off pieces I like that it gives you something to think about while also doing the workout.  

What is your coaching “catch phrase”?  I don’t have a specific catch phrase but I like to check in with the rowers as often as I can throughout a practice to see how they are doing! 

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching because I had already been rowing for many years and was excited to take it to the next level and see it from a coaches perspective. I also love working with people and being able to teach new skills and watching people succeed and reach their goals! 

Kennedy Keith

 

 

 

Where do you go to school and what programs did you study? I have been rowing for 10 years, I started rowing at SNRC in 2013, and continued my rowing career at the University of Central Florida, while studying Health Sciences.

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching because I love working with people and helping them to achieve their goals!

 

Caitlyn Nero

Where do you go to school and what programs did you study? I go to Niagara College for the Office Administration Health Services program. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why? My favourite drill on the water is the eyes closed rowing drill. I like it because it allows the athletes to really focus and listen to the sounds the boat makes. 

What is your coaching catch phrase? Row with a positive attitude and the desire to continually improve. 

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching after rowing all through high school. I love that it gives me the ability to share what I’m passionate about with the younger groups of athletes. It also allows me to pass on the knowledge about the sport that my past coaches have given me. 

 

Emma VanDyk

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport? I have been rowing since grade 9

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why? My favourite drill on the water is rush in catch because it really helps put the whole stroke together. 

What is your coaching “catch phrase”? My coaching catch phrase is  “Always have fun on water and on land!” 

Why did you get into coaching? I got into to coaching to hopefully help other athletes to learn and love rowing just as much as I do

Jillian Van Dyk

Where did you go to school and what programs did/do you study? Or- How long have you been rowing and how did you get into the sport? I have rowed for 8 years now, starting with Learn to row in grade 7, and continued to love the sport. My mum is the one who recommended rowing so I’m like let’s try it and I did and I fell in love with the sport. 

What is your favourite workout/drill on the water and why? My favourite workout/drill would be rowing on the  square.   It’s hard but it’s great to improve your balance .

What is your coaching “catch phrase”?  “Always race like it’s a final”  because you never know what the future holds.  

Why did you get into coaching? I got into coaching because I wanted to teach beginners some technical strokes,  have fun, and teach some drills that might be unfamiliar. 

 

Abigail Welch