Nov. 3, 2007

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Yale head coach John Pescatore and his heavyweight crew were both honored by the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC), Friday. Pescatore was recognized as Coach of the Year, while the Bulldog crew won the Callow Trophy, which is awarded to that crew which overcomes adversity to outperform expected results. Voted on by the head coaches of the EARC, the recognitions are awarded annually after the Head of the Charles regatta.

"I have a great deal of respect for the head coaches of the EARC, and I'm honored to be recognized by them with this award," Pescatore said. "Usually, more than one coach is deserving of this award, so I'm certainly humbled by it."

Pescatore, who joined Yale in August, 2002, was recognized as the U.S. Rowing Coach of the Year in 2000, after coaching the men's coxless pair to a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. This marks the first time he has been recognized by the EARC as Coach of the Year.

"Anytime a coach is recognized by his or her peers, it's probably a sign that the team is in good shape, and that's gratifying, because this is always about the team and never about one person," Pescatore added.

Despite finishing 2nd at the 2007 Eastern Sprints, Pescatore's Yale crew was unable to qualify for the finals of the IRA National Championships. The crew had hoped that its best row would provide it the opportunity to achieve its goals.

"For the Yale Varsity, overcoming the disappointment that their best race was simply not enough was very, very difficult," Pescatore explains. "The members of last year's crew believed in themselves all year, and the seniors in particular kept that spirit alive in every situation, good or bad."

The Callow Trophy serves as recognition for the Yale crew's perseverance.

The Bulldogs have had a strong start to the 2007-2008 season, finishing eighth at the Head of the Charles and second last weekend in the Princeton Chase. They will return to Princeton, N.J. on Nov. 11 for the Belly of the Carnegie.

Report filed by Nicholas Thorne '08, Yale Sports Publicity