Catholic University of America Rowing Association

The Catholic University of America Rowing Association is a rowing club established at the beginning of the spring semester 1990 by Laurie McGuane, an architecture major from Denver who transferred to CUA after her freshman year at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Disappointed that CUA did not have a rowing club, she decided to start one. In January 1990, the Crew Club was granted official club status by the university.

The spring semester of 1990 was devoted to organizing the club, starting fund-raising, and making contacts with the Washington rowing network.

Our first coaches were Glenn Harchar and Bob Shuttleworth, who both coached for Capital Rowing Club at Thompson’s.

The following year (1991-92), with Laurie McGuane still president, Gregory Rubbo VP, Chris McBride "purser," and Meg Murphy, secretary, Glenn continued to serve as coach of the novice women, Ed McCormick coached our men, and Bill our varsity women. In the spring semester, Doug Sanders, who was a grad student in physics at CUA, became the coach of all our crews.

In 1992-93, Joe Creed started coaching. In the 1996-97 season, the Women’s Novice Eight, stroked by Rosanna Brunelli, became the first crew in CUARA history to win a gold medal. They won the Bill Braxton Regatta, beating Temple, Delaware, and UConn.

In the fall of 2002, John and Bridgette Dziedzic joined as assistant coaches and became head coaches of the men's and women's teams, respectively, after Joe Creed resigned. The team had a rebuilding year.

The 2004 Spring Season was the most successful year, to date, for the team. The Men's Four (Alan Van Epps, Matt Starr, Brian Flynn, Mark Freibott and James Hood) had a strong showing, winning Gold at Occoquan Sprints and the St. Mary's Seahawks Regatta. The Varsity Lightweight Women's Four (Catherine Mancusi, Stephanie Callaghan, Erin Curry, Jackie Racicot, and Lindsay Capidulupo) won 3 medals (Gold at Knecht Cup and St. Mary's Seahawks Sprint and Bronze at the Mid-Atlantic Championship Regatta; in addition to a second place finish at the Occoquan Sprints).

As of 2008 the team is in decline due to lack of interest by the student body and a lack of commitment by members of the team. The team is now under the direction of James Augone, as Coaches John and Bridgette Dziedzic resigned after six years to start their family. Coach Augone formerly rowed at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. The team is now is another rebuilding period and will die unless student interest and quality increases.

The team rows on the Anacostia River out of the Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Maryland.