Super Seven Steer Bulldogs

June 9, 2006

By Steve Conn, Yale Assistant AD & Sports Publicity Director

It's what every coach hopes to say about a group of upper class student-athletes. However, Yale heavyweight crew head coach John Pescatore and his staff can honestly say their seven seniors are all self-disciplined rowers with great leadership abilities and a fiercely competitive spirit. Those attributes are significant when athletes face unique circumstances like the long-distance racing on the Thames River in Saturday's Yale-Harvard Regatta.

These class of 2006 oarsmen hail from three different states -- with a heavy California influence -- and are spread out evenly over the varsity and junior varsity boats. Their motivational style has trickled down to the young Bulldogs in a unifying and productive manner.

The effect of the veterans can be quantified by Yale's progression of speed during the 2,000-meter racing season - and having all three boats make the grand final at the Eastern Sprints -- but their most significant impact has been the effect on the overall attitude within the program.

It's no surprise that each senior has already established what appears to be a path to success after graduation, including three men who will study at prestigious British universities this fall. What is surprising is the fact that three of the super seven were walk-ons during a time when Yale coaches are relying on successful recruiting efforts to produce faster boats. In fact, one of the recent graduates is the only one in the program who did not compete in high school sports.

There are not many Mexicans in collegiate rowing, so you might figure that Marcelino Pantoja (Tracy, Calif.) has an interesting story to tell. He worked after school rather than play sports because his family needed the financial assistance. He arrived at Yale as a rounded, 5-foot-10, 270-pound student hoping to become an athlete, but his initial experience with the Yale rowing program was not favorable.

"I had to work, I just couldn't afford it. But when I got to college I really wanted to be part of a team," said Pantoja, who has won at both Eastern Sprints and at the Yale-Harvard Regatta in the third varsity but is now in the five seat for the JV. "But I could not handle it (academics and rowing) my freshman year and the coaches cut me.

Pantoja might epitomize the determination of the rowers in this program. He took a year off before his sophomore campaign and returned with a greater focus, which helped him sculpt his current, 6-foot, 195-pound frame.

"I have transformed myself physically and mentally so I can participate in the regatta. I have done everything in my power to prepare my body and mind to face the difficult and long races on the Thames," said Pantoja, who said he was introduced to crew by a flyer handed out during Bulldog Days in the spring before moving to New Haven. "My body will withstand the exhaustion and my mind will overcome the pain, just like the rest of my teammates will."

Matthew Brown (Rocklin, Calif.), who is headed to Oxford University this fall, also made his journey from the Golden State but with a different twist. Brown, the No. 7 man in the varsity boat, rowed at UCLA as a freshman but decided he wanted to be in a more competitive environment, academically and on the water.

"I knew that if I wanted to go anywhere with rowing, I would have to transfer. Yale was the only school I visited. After spending the weekend at Yale, I emailed the other schools I was thinking about and told them I was no longer pursuing an application," said Brown, who said that historical and alumni implications of the regatta place a lot of weight on his (and his teammates') shoulders.

The additional weight should not be a big deal for him according to Pescatore. "He is extremely focused and intense, but he is so calm. He is like ice," said the Bulldog head coach.

Brown, a biology major interested in a medical career, played three sports in high school and set the Rocklin High record in the 110-meter hurdles while earning class valedictorian honors. His mother has had him convinced since he was 12 that he was going to be an Olympian. However, soccer, track and basketball were not taking him there. "If mom is right, then rowing is going to take me there. I hope she is right."

Pascal Noel, who captained his high school soccer and basketball teams and was all-league in both, developed his leadership abilities long before arriving in New Haven. He was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, and will attend the London School of Economics this fall.

According to Pescatore, Noel, the JV stroke, is relentless as a rower. "He drives the crew and throws it all back at them... and he wins the battle every time. He refuses to take the punishment from the back of the boat."

Noel also acknowledges the significance of this race. "The Race is the most important part of our season. We all know the history surrounding it and feel the weight of past crews on our shoulders. We want to honor them by beating Harvard. The Race is what keeps me going during long hours of solitary training in the summer and winter," said Noel, who won Yale's Iron Dog Triathlon for crew athletes.

Coxswain Dane van den Akker (Pacific Palisades, Calif.), who has been described by his coaches as very thoughtful, calm, meticulous and level headed, will join Brown at Oxford in the fall and in pursuit of a medical career. van den Akker has moved between the varsity and JV boats all spring depending on the situation. The former runner and rower at St. Paul's School was the only class of '06 Bulldog in the second varsity boat that beat the Crimson last year.

Pescatore has to decide between his senior coxswain and junior Alfred Shikany (Cincinnati, Ohio), who has shared the top boat duties. "They are so different in their styles, and they do different things for the crew," said the Bulldog head coach. "When we make more technical changes, we are more likely to go with Dane."

Stephen Rawl (Fort Myers, Fla.) rowed all four years in high school, mostly in a single shell, while earning class valedictorian honors. This quiet, calm and thoughtful oarsman has supreme boat moving ability as the varsity bow man. "Steve has the most potent mixture of power and skill. He is a behind-the-scenes, quiet, hard worker who shows up on race day and tears the place apart... he comes up big," said Pescatore.

Rawl, the No. 4 man in the varsity shell against Harvard in 2005, is headed to New York City to become a personal trainer.

Greg Williams (San Francisco, Calif.) may be the most powerful of the heavyweights. His 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame - not to mention the huge biceps -- appears to dwarf his oar in the four seat of the varsity. "It looks like he is holding a toothpick that is about to snap," said Pescatore. "He is so powerful and supremely confident. Greg sets aggressive goals and rarely fails to achieve them. It's awesome to watch him chase a goal on the erg. He is someone who does what he says he is going to do."

Williams, who is heading home to work for Bank of America after the rowing season, could have been a talented collegiate athlete in numerous sports if not for knee problems from high school football.

The glue that holds everyone together is captain John Petersen (Los Gatos, Calif.), who cares more about Yale crew than anyone in the program. Petersen, a lead singer in a band and the founder of the Yale Undergradute Barbecue Outreach, is an English major who will join Teach For America in Washington, D.C., later this summer.

The Eli coaches claim that there is nothing more important to Petersen than this team and that he loves the idea of being part of the program.

"He will go until there is not a drop of energy left or until he drops," said Pescatore of his JV bow man. He is the kind of oarsman whose training you have to keep a close eye on. He wants to win so badly that he'll train himself into the ground if he's not careful."

If all Yale rowers take that approach in preparation for the regatta, the tide may turn Blue on the Thames.

Steve Conn is Yale's Assistant Athletic Director & the Director of Sports Publicity

In Memory of Alexander Capelluto Alex Capelluto '08, who was a heavyweight rower as a freshman and moved over to the lightweights this year, died on May 18 after being struck by a truck while riding his bicycle back to campus from the Golder Boathouse. He was a caring person who organized numerous outreach functions, such as relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. He was preparing to ride for Habitat for Humanity this summer, which is why he was riding alone that morning. "He was a tough rower who always gave it his all," said Yale Lightweight coach Andy Card.