Mike Meier (Head Coach)
Men's Varsity

Men's Varsity - Head Coach

   I graduated from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School in 2002.  My rowing career first started the summer prior to my senior year.  Until that time, all I had done was play football, which was what I had enjoyed best.  However due to some intense pressure from my friends, and an injury in the previous football season, I had decided to give rowing a try.  A bit nervous, and not knowing what to expect, I was unsure if I was going to like it or not.

   Crew was much different from the other sports teams.   In terms of the work, the goals, and how it was organized, crew was a change from what I had known.  Me, being used to competing against one other team at any given game, was amazed when it came to my first race.  To see 1000 people, 300 boats and all of the different people that all came together to comprise that event, I was in disbelief.   I was also impressed as to how meaningless the so called “super stars” are and how important the “team” was.  I was used to the great wide receiver, or all star running back that could carry the team, but there was no such thing in rowing.  Here, one of the concepts that our coaches reminded us every day was that our boats were only going to move as fast as the slowest people in them, and that we all had to work together if we wanted to be successful.  I was also lucky enough to realize how hard a week of crew practice really was compared to anything else I had ever experienced.  It was some of the most exhausting moments, both physically and mentally, that I had ever gone though.

   The coaches I had were what I consider to be some of the best rowing coaches around.  I was taught the in’s and out’s of rowing starting my first day, and by the end of the second week, I felt like I was a seasoned veteran.  The level of support from the coaches and my friends made my transition from football to crew an easy one.

   I rowed 4 seat in the Burnt Hills Men’s Sr Eight, under Coach John Carbone, from my second race onward through graduation.  I raced in the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA the fall of 2001, competed throughout that winter, and competed in the Men’s Sr Eight and Sr four during the spring of 2002.  At the completion of my spring season, I placed 4th in the Men’s Sr 4 at the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Championships, as the only team from the United States in the finals.

   After graduation, I continued rowing throughout that summer, under Coach Chris Stockton.  That fall, as I entered SUNY Albany as a freshman, I joined the University at Albany crew team.  I competed at the varsity level that fall, racing in the Men’s Collegiate 8.  While rowing with Albany, I was also offered my first coaching position as novice/freshman boys coach for the Burnt Hills Rowing Association.

   Rowing was one of the toughest activities I have ever taken on, but it proves to also be one of the most rewarding.  I have experienced places I would have never been to; made some of the best friends I could ever have and proved to myself that hard work can bring you to places that forever seemed untouchable.  I can safely say I have never regretted my decision to start rowing, and only wish that I had done it sooner

Rowing Experience:

6 Seasons including high school and collegiate level.

Coaching Experience:

9 Seasons total with US Rowing level 3 certification.
Assistant coach, Winter: 03-04
Freshman/Novice boys Fall: 2002-Spring 2004
Competitive boys Summer: 2003-present
Varsity boys Fall: 2004-Present
Varsity boys Winter: 2003/2004 to present

Team Goals/Perspective:

   Now that our winter season in upon us, the use of the new Patrick C Breslin strength training center is in full swing.  We are experiencing record numbers for our first season there, with close to 50 high school rowers and 25 middle school.  Coaching for 6 years now, I have never experienced the level of excitement, dedication and determination that I am witnessing now.  Our rowers are using our specifically designed strength building programs, our new equipment, our 16 ergs and the heated 3500 sq ft gym to better prepare themselves for the upcoming spring.

   Our boys team currently has a very focused goal on their hands.  They have developed tremendous momentum coming out of the fall season, and are determined to keep it going throughout the winter.  They have the potential to be among one of the top boys teams that Burnt Hills has seen in years.  With these resources now at their disposal, they are looking to make that potential a reality.  I am extremely excited to see what the upcoming months bring.  I need to congratulate them on their outstanding success this past fall, and challenge them to rise to new heights this spring.  Whatever you are doing this winter, please remember the hard work you all put in last fall, where we want to go this spring and that “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals” –Henry Ford