Head Boys Coach

Sam began rowing in high school at the Gunnery where he served as team captain his junior and senior years. He went on to row another four years at Connecticut College where he served as team captain and received Most Improved and MVP awards as well as the recipient of multiple medals in national championship regattas. Sam was a National Team candidate and accepted into training camp for World Championships. He was a Gold Medalist in U.S. Rowing Assoc. (USRA) National Championships rowing for the Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia in the Men’s Heavyweight Four with Coxswain, affiliated with the New Haven Rowing Club and winner of the Northeast Regional Regatta in the Men’s Heavyweight Eight, Bronze Medalist in the USRA Masters National Championships in the Men’s Heavyweight Singles, and Gold medalist in the elite singles at the inaugural Audi International Sprints on the Charles River, Boston MA.

In 2022, Sam was inducted into the Connecticut College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Novice Boys Asst. Coach

Jeff has been associated with GHS crew since 2015 as a team member parent, FOGRI board member (Safety, Nominating and Competition Committees) and as a volunteer coach for the boys novice team. 
His Glastonbury athletics coaching journey includes Youth Football, Hartwell Soccer, Youth Wrestling and GHS Boys Novice crew.

Riverfront Recapture's rowing program is where Jeff was first introduced to the sport in the early '90's. His certifications include CIAC coaching, Safesport, Red Cross First Aid, AED ,Concussion and US Rowing Referee

Jeff is an avid runner, dedicated gym rat, well known dog lover and in awe of the GHS rowing coaching staff.
Jeff is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where he played football and wrestled.

Girls Asst. Coach

Avery Spencer is an assistant girls coach for GHS. She began rowing for Glastonbury High School her freshman year. Avery primarily rowed as a port in stroke seat. During her rowing career, Avery collected several medals from various races across New England, including a first place medal from the Head of the Fish. Avery now teaches 1st grade in Wethersfield. In her free time, Avery enjoys hikes with her dog, reading and spending time with her family.

Junior Varsity Boys Coach

While attending Glastonbury High School, Connor rowed on the crew team as a starboard, usually at 5 seat. His Senior year he rowed on the Boys Varsity 1 boat which ended the year winning not only states, but also New Englands as well. Based on those two performances, the boat was invited to Nationals in Virginia, where they sadly missed qualifying by about a bow ball. Connor now teaches at Glastonbury High School as a STEAM teacher and also volunteers with the Fire Department in town. In his free time, Connor enjoys walking his dog and spending time outside.
 

Head Girls Coach

Jason has a strong background in crew having rowed for 4 years at GHS and 4 years at UCONN. While studying Healthcare Management and business at UCONN, he maintained a successful rowing career collecting various medals from races across the Northeast. He rowed in nearly every seat in the 1V and 2V boats at UCONN and was also instrumental in the management of the team during his final two years. During his senior year, he also took up the role of novice coach, helping his coaches teach the incoming class. Jason is currently attending the Graduate Business School at UCONN, pursuing a master's degree in Business Analytics and Project Management. He works part-time as a database management with VKEYO analytics. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, learning new practical skill, reading and programming. 

Novice Boys Coach

Sean was a novice men’s heavy weight 8 coxswain at Connecticut College and went on in his sophomore and and the fall of junior years to cox a J.V. heavy 4 and Varsity heavy 8.  In the spring of his senior year he was the coxswain of the Varsity light-weight 8 that won the New England Championship and a silver medal at the Dad Vail U.S. Small College Championship in Philadelphia in the Spring of 1983. Sean returned to coach a freshmen lightweight 8 and J.V. four at Connecticut College from 1983-84.  Sean was a substitute coxswain while attending graduate school at Columbia University in 1984-85.  He has coached various crews at Glastonbury High School from 2002 to the present.

Novice Girls Coach

Julia Canova is an assistant coach for GHS, coaching the novice girls. She started her rowing career in 2011 with the learn to row program at Riverfront Recapture. She started rowing for Avon High School her freshman year, and rowed there for her full high school career. Starting her sophomore year, she was rowing with the first varsity, often as a stroke seat or 2 seat, and with her high school crew rowed at the head of the Charles regatta in 2013. After graduating, she was recruited to row for Franklin Pierce University on their D2 team, where she rowed in the head of the Charles 2 more times in the 3 seasons she participated there. She continues to row recreationally, sculling at Riverfront during the summers. From sculling to sweep, singles to eights, she’s done it all. She is currently an art teacher at Ellington High School. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, making art, and cooking and baking.