Our 1975 varsity heavyweight boat consisted of home-grown rowers who were scholar athletes with no high school rowing experience. The boat, with John Schott (bow), Ben Herrick (two), Rick Rosseau (three), Mike Shevock (four), Tom Mascoli (five), Dick Ingles (six), Doug Fluddy (seven), myself (stroke), and Glenn Wiltshire (coxswain), was eager to make an impact at the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate rowing regatta in the United States and considered the small-college national championships. Amongst us were rowers who won the four with coxswain and four without coxswain at the 1974 IRA National Championships in Syracuse. Following a solid fall and winter program, we matured as a team of rowers in the spring. The boat more consistently moved smoothy with power. Rowers and coaches could feel the momentum during the two Saturdays prior to the Dad Vail Regatta by defeating the University of Massachusetts, winner of the last two Dad Vail Trophies, and by prevailing over a strong Ivy League competitor, Brown University. The Coast Guard Academy’s rowing program was founded in 1971 by 1964 Olympian, Coach Bill Stowe. With an enrollment of 1000 cadets, all, admitted for the purpose of becoming officers in the United States Coast Guard, the Academy amazed the college rowing community by winning its first varsity heavyweight Dad Vail Trophy in 1972. We were defeated in the finals in 1973 and 1974. Now was our chance to bring gold back to the Academy. It was always a thrill to arrive at historic Philadelphia’s rowing tradition at Fairmount Park on the Schuylkill River. Our team of 58 oarsmen and 7 coxswains descended upon the riverbank as freshman through seniors prepared to participate in nine of ten heavy- and lightweight events. We were blessed with ideal rowing conditions for the finals. Glenn’s adjustments at the stake boat perfectly positioned us. With a strong start we sped out in front by one-quarter boat length of open water at the 500 mark, extending it to three lengths of separation by 1500 meters. Coast Guard crossed the finish line at 5:44.3, followed by UMass at 5:51.1, Ithaca at 5:51.5, St. Joseph’s at 5:52.8, Trinity at 5.53.3, and Marietta at 6:02.8. The Coast Guard Academy won the Dad Vail Trophy in the varsity heavyweight race, the Ernie Bayer Trophy in the junior varsity heavyweight race, and the Jack Bratton trophy, awarded to the school accumulating the most points. Our team earned an invitation to the National Intercollegiate Rowing Championships at Onondaga Lake, Syracuse, NY, on May 29 through May 31, 1975. We performed well in the heats, becoming the first small-college crew ever to race in the Varsity Eight Championship Finals. Eight of us graduated, earning our degrees and officer commissions with each of our classes of 1975, 1976, and 1977. Ben and I served on Coast Guard cutters in Alaska and California, respectively, and served in various Coast Guard civil engineering districts before entering civilian engineering careers. Tom left the Academy to attend the University of Pennsylvania. Doug Fluddy served in active duty for several years before he separated from service for medical reasons. Sadly, he passed away in 1993. Glenn Wilshire and John Schott served 30 years of meritorious service on active duty in the Coast Guard. Dick Ingles, Rick Rosseau, and Mike Shevock served on west coast cutters. Dick, an ocean engineer, joined Chevron where he worked for 33 years in offshore marine construction, Rick transferred to the Navy and had a successful medical career as an orthopedic surgeon. Mike served as a respected official in law enforcement. CGA rowing immensely added to our Academy education, training, and experience. Forging lasting friendships, we are proud of our perseverance, unity, spirit and representing the US Coast Guard Academy. Women entered the Coast Guard Academy in 1976. Since then, the Academy continues to develop competitive men’s and women’s crew teams. 1975 CGA varsity heavyweight crew 50YEARSAGO By Bob Stromsted, 1975 Crew Team Captain
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