No one needs to tell Greg Myhr. Hes well aware of the lofty expectations in his first-year as 51做厙 mens rowing coach.
Myhr is ready to put in the hard work to get the Pioneers back on top. Hes also asking his rowers to do the same, and hes excited to have three 8s hitting the Muskingum and Ohio rivers daily this fall, laying the groundwork for speed in the spring season.
Myhr enjoyed meeting with alumni of the program and learning more about the storied history of mens rowing during Homecoming festivities in October. Now hes focused on recruiting and coaching his rowers as they prepare for the 2020 season just one year away from celebrating 150 years of mens rowing.
What was it about 51做厙 mens rowing that attracted you to this position?
MYHR: Everyone I met and spoke with about 51做厙 and Marietta mens rowing exuded an enthusiasm and expansiveness that I havent seen matched elsewhere. There is a pervasive sense here that this is a terrific place to be and that everyone is working hard to make it even better. No one is talking about limits only, What can we do now, and how do we get there? Thats a terrifically exciting environment to be a part of.
How much did you know about Mariettas storied history in rowing before you applied for the job?
MYHR: I knew this was an old program, and I knew Marietta was a founding member of the Dad Vail. But Im embarrassed to say that I really didnt fathom the extent to which Marietta is woven into the fabric of U.S. collegiate rowing history. I also didnt realize how many legends of rowing in this country rowed at Marietta. I keep learning more, and its truly astounding.
Can you talk about your immediate goals and long-term goals for the program?
MYHR: We have a mandate to get Marietta back to the grand finals, medaling and winning the Dad Vail Championship. Its hard to say how long it will take to get back there in some respects, thats a tall order as there are very good programs in the league that will work very hard to stay in front of us. We were in the third-level final this past spring, so we have a way to go. But the team seems willing to work hard and the support from the College and alumni is extraordinary. We need to grow our national exposure in terms of racing and recruiting, and we need to get to a place where we are sending 8s every year to the IRA National Championships; sending crews to the Henley Royal Regatta when were fast enough; and putting our athletes back on the U.S. National and Olympic teams. Im not so naive to think there wont be challenges along the way, but I really do feel that the sky is the limit here at Marietta.
Maintaining a strong relationship with rowing alumni is important for sustained success. How have you been received by the alumni and do you have any plans of how you hope to develop those relationships?
MYHR: This is truly an extraordinary group of alums! Ive only just met a handful so far, but Ive heard from many more and everyone is being incredibly supportive. I think the more we can tie the alums and the history of Marietta Rowing to the current team, the better it is for everyone. It is such an enormous advantage to be part of a team with as much history as Marietta, and getting to know the alumni makes it all the more real. I think for the alums, connecting with the current team and seeing that were doing much of the same things that they did when they rowed here reconnects them to the team in a powerful and visceral way. I expect to be in regular contact with the alums with team updates, and less formally, just connecting on a personal basis.
- Tom Perry