Donica Nalbert
Women's Varsity

Rowing Experience:
      I began rowing in the fall of 1998 fully intending to have fun with my friends only to find an amazing passion for the sport and competition and I've never looked back.  I enjoyed a successful high school career under Coach Mark Weissman, participating in four seasons a year, and at the pinnacle earning a 6th Place spot in Grand Finals at the US Rowing Youth National Invitational in Cincinnati, OH.

     In college, Binghamton University, I had the sincere pleasure of rowing for Coach David Patterson (currently Head Coach at Fairfield University) and Coach Bob Emerson (Head Women's Coach at Binghamton University). I was elected Vice President of our club sport my sophomore year and then President for junior and senior years at Binghamton.   As President of the team, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring back and run the Busfield Memorial Regatta, a tribute to a very important family in Binghamton Crew's history.   

Coaching Experience:
      I began coaching during the winters & summers while I was in college for the Hiawatha Island Boat Club Masters.  We took on the ergs in the winter and into small boats in the summer.   After graduating from Binghamton and moving back home, I coached the Novice Women at Shaker Rowing Association on the Hudson River.

     I was hired the spring of 2006 to coach the Varsity Women of Burnt Hills and there was no question on whether or not to coach my alma mater.  It has been great to be back in the old boathouse, see the friendly faces from Burnt Hills I remembered, and be able to lead an amazing group of girls.

Fall season Summary:
      The fall turned out to be a very successful one.  We are growing as a team and it showed in results this year.  We have increased our rankings from last year in nearly all the races competed in.   I am happy that we were able to compete with exactly two full eights and stay close to our local opponents. The girls did great at the Head of the Charles placing 18th and earning an automatic bid for next year. The Head of the Fish ended the season on a bang with a 4th place finish for the 1st Varsity boat and a 10th place finish for the 2nd Varsity.

Spring Outlook:
      I am looking forward to a very competitive spring.  With our new winter training facility I believe the girls will be able to improve their strength and athleticism unlike they've ever been able to before.   I am fortunate to have a large amount of the spring rowers participating in the winter training and cannot wait to introduce the rest of the squad into the routine in March. With winter training and a fulfilling week of rowing over spring break in South Carolina together with a competitive edge from the fall, I cannot wait to see what the girls will do this spring. I think they're ready to really make their mark on New York state scholastic rowing.