FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS TO EXCALIBUR COACHES LAPUM, KELLY, & LEPAGE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2015OUA COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS PRESENTED TO SEVERAL COACHES

Summary:

This past weekend was one for the books for the Trent Rowing Program at the OUA Championships in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Head Coach Jack Lapum was awarded Head Coach of the Year for Varsity Men’s Rowing, as he simultaneously coached the lightweight and heavyweight men’s programs. This success comes as a result of the unprecedented success of the Men’s Rowing program at Trent this year, with the men placing third overall, knocking out long-standing Queen’s University for the coveted third place spot behind Brock University and Western University. Trent has always been known for its Lightweight Men, and this year was no different. Taking home Gold was Joshua King in the Men’s Lightweight Single, King and Alex Watson in the Lightweight Men’s Double, and Graham Peeters and Trevor Jones in the Heavyweight Men’s Double. Peeters also received a Silver Medal in the Men’s Heavyweight Single. Trent rounded out the OUA tournament with bronze medals in the Lightweight Men’s Four and the Lightweight Men’s Eight, both very contested categories. Every member of the Lightweight Men’s Eight has at least one more year at Trent, so next year they are looking to use the momentum from this year’s success to further goals next season. Assistant coaches for the men’s program included Alumni Rower Scott Bishop, Olympian and Gold Medallist Darren Barber, Olympian and Talent ID Coach Carol Love, and others.

Lapum was thrilled and surprised to receive the award, and accepted it graciously. “It is an honor to be the OUA Varsity Rowing Men’s Coach of the Year, but it really speaks to the talent and hard work of the athletes.”

The Novice Women’s Rowing Program grasped their second OUA gold medal in as many years this past weekend at the OUA Development Regatta. Coached by Peterborough Rowing Club Legend Terry Kelly, and Trent Rowing Alumni Rory Lepage, the team was set up for success from the beginning. After winning the gold medal, Kelly and Lepage were presented with the Women’s Development Coaches of the Year award for their stellar performances this season, in introducing 18 new female athletes to the sport of rowing.

Trent Novice rowing had over 100 people come to try out for the team this year, which takes people who have never rowed before and teaches them to row over the course of the 6-week season. A good novice program is key to feeding a good Varsity program, as currently over 75% of current varsity rowers started their rowing careers as Novices in their first few years at Trent, including 8 of 9 members of the Bronze-Medal Lightweight Men’s Eight.

22 Members of the Varsity Rowing Program will travel this weekend to Antigonish, Nova Scotia to compete at the Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURC’s) on Saturday and Sunday. This is the first year in several years that Trent has sent a full slate of athletes to the CURC’s.

Remember to follow @TrentExcalibur on Twitter, for up-to-the-minute home game updates, and post-game away scores! See you on the water, the field, or in the gym!

For more information, please contact:Alex Bridal, Athlete Development Coordinator

Athletics & Recreation Department, Trent UniversityPhone: (705) 748-1011 x 6278 or varsity@trentu.ca