Vision

The Norwalk River Rowing Association (NRRA) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization which promotes a lifelong passion for the sport of rowing among its Adult and Youth members who love Competition, Teamwork, Excellence, and Fun. We are dedicated to providing educational and athletic opportunities for the youth of our communities, and promoting excellence in the sport of rowing for all age groups. Our goal is to be the preeminent community-based rowing center in the northeast United States.

History and Current Programs

The Norwalk River Rowing Association was founded in 1986 by Ralph E. Sloan, former Norwalk Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Norman J. Weinberger, Norwalk pediatrician, and a few local residents. Initially, our goals were modest: to provide rowing opportunities for adults and youth and to develop a competitive high school program. What began as a small group of enthusiastic rowers on Long Island Sound now serves over four hundred people a year, from throughout southwest Connecticut and into New York, ranging in age from ten to seventy-six. Many of the founding members remain active participants at the NRRA today.

The competitive Masters (adult) programs annually produce national championship rowers. The Youth Program has over 125 students from more than a dozen school districts and regularly develops crews capable of competing at the national level. Reach Out and Row, our inner-city outreach program, fosters discipline, teamwork, self-esteem and respect for the environment with over 50 minority youth and deserving people. During the summer we introduce and teach rowing to over 200 youth and adults from Norwalk and the surrounding communities.

Staff

Charles Huthmaker, Director of Rowing

Varsity Boys Coach/Adult Racing Team Coach

Charles brings a wealth of experience in collegiate, club and national team development. His crews have won conference, state, regional and national championships over the past 14 years. Most recently, Charles has been at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he has been assisting women's coach, Jim Deitz. Charles has spent his career developing rowers from junior to elite, making boats go fast, and promoting the sport of rowing. In addition to competing and coaching, he has vast experience in organizing regattas, running US Rowing coaching clinics and refereeing all levels of US regattas. Having recently obtained his Master's in Exercise Physiology, he is one of the top clinicians in the country for US Rowing Coaching Education.

Brian Ambrette, Youth Program Director

Girl's Head Coach/Adult Racing Team Coach

After rowing competitively for four years on the NRRA High School Racing Team, Brian continued his collegiate rowing career racing four years for Middlebury College in Vermont. He is currently the NRRA Adult Program Director and Girl's Novice Racing Team Coach. His 2003 and 2005 Novice Girls Teams won gold at the Northeast Junior Regional Championships and his 2004 Team placed 2nd. In 2006, his Boy's Open and Lightweight Eights both placed third at Regionals and qualified for the Youth National Championships. Brian also coaches the Adult Racing Team Program..

Jim Cooper, Equipment and Facilities Manager

Novice Boys Coach/Adult Intermediate Coach

Coop has rowed as an NRRA Masters competitor since 1988. He has won gold medals at every level of Masters rowing, and continues to train and compete. Coop is also the full-time Equipment Manager for the NRRA, keeping the ‘machinery’ running smooth. He is a coach for our morning Adult Intermediate women’s crew and afternoons with the Youth Program. Coop loves coaching because it gives him an opportunity to give back some of what the sport has given him, and he feels strongly that this sport is a model for exceptional character building. His successes are often measured with medals (many), but feels the admiration from Parents, Beginners, and the Youth athletes growth are what really drives him.
 
 

Melanie Jacobi, ROAR/Development Team Director

Melanie developed her passion for rowing as a walk-on athlete at Stetson University where she won medals at the FIRA Championships and was a finalist at the Dad Vail National Championships in the pair.  After graduating, Melanie joined Teach For America where she taught elementary students in inner-city Houston for 3 years.  A phone call from her former coach (Charles) was enough to convince her to take over the Outreach program here at the NRRA.   A native of Florida, moving to New England was a major step for her.  She can be seen frequently teaching kids how to row while bundled up in her new winter weather gear. 
 

Anthony Tabb, Office/Finance Manager

Tony has never taken a stroke but he enjoys the sport of rowing.  After 28 years of military service, this self-proclaimed "land lubber" is the glue that keeps us together.  Tony joined the staff in 2005 and brings a wealth of knowledge as an administrator and bookkeeping magician.  Having worked in human resources since 1977, his early days in the Army were spent as the Personnel Actions Branch Supervisor, Fulda, Germany coordinating US Passports.  The highlight of his time in the service was being a principal administrator with the Security Task Force during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah.  Tony continues to enjoy the challenges of human services.   

Katie Benfield, Asst. Coach

Katie began her rowing career at NRRA in 1999 when she joined the Racing Team.  As fourth year rower, in 2003 her boat placed 7^th at Junior Club Nationals.  She continued her education at Trinity College where she rowed from 2003 to 2007.  Her team made 4 NCAA appearances and in 2007 placed 2^nd among all Division III teams. She currently coaches the Novice Girls team.  

Jessie Caird, Asst. Coach

After rowing competitively for four years at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Jessie returned to rowing in the spring of 2005 as a coach for Norwalk River Rowing Association’s outreach program, ROAR.  She currently coaches Adult Learn-to-Row classes and competes with the Masters Racing team.  She also has experience coaching youth sculling camps and hosting local regattas.  Jessie enjoys introducing the sport of rowing to both youth and adults as a way of learning teamwork, commitment and lifelong fitness.

Liz Glomb, Asst. Coach

After coxing competitively for four years at Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA. Liz continued her coxing career by coxing for the women at the University of Connecticut.  While at UConn, Liz won two Gold Medals at the Dad Vail Championships in 2004 and 2005.  After graduation, Liz accepted a coaching position at Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT.) as the Assistant Women’s Rowing Coach.  Currently she is an Assistant Coach for the Youth Racing Team at NRRA, working primarily with the Men’s Varsity Team along with holding the position of Assistant Women’s Rowing Coach at Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT).  Liz is a USRowing Level II Certified Coach. 

Don Loomis, Asst. Coach

Don Loomis, educated at Georgetown University, began rowing at St. George’s College, Weybridge in the UK and continued at Georgetown competing on the lightweight crews. Don returned to rowing as a master rower in the mid 1980s, winning US Masters Nationals in 1993 and Masters Worlds in 1991, 1993 and 2001. Prior to coaching at GMS Rowing Center, Mr. Loomis coached Norwalk River Rowing Association’s junior program in the early 90’s. Don is a certified Level One coach (US Rowing Certification).