MICHAEL F. BRANDMEYER '77

Rowing

The major reason for the development of sport of rowing at the College as a major varsity sport, MICKEY BRANDMEYER served as both a four-year participant and then as head coach for 10 years after his graduation in 1977.

Brandmeyer rowed two years and then coxswained the varsity eight as a junior and senior. He was captain as a senior under Coach Jim Hanley.

Named coach in the fall of 1977, he is the youngest person to coach a varsity team in the College's history and his 10 years at the helm represent the longest stint by any rowing coach.

In his first year as coach the men's freshman four won the Worcester City Championship, the first significant accomplishment for any Assumption College crew team.

In 1979, 80, 81 and 82, the women's varsity eight won the Worcester City title and in the fall of 1981 they finished third in the Women's National Invitational Regatta in South Hadley, MA.

The men's varsity four won the New England title in the spring of '82 with Mike Houghton, Ray Valeri, Felix Grygorciewicz, and Brian Koeller coxswained by Stephanie Ambulos. The women won the Worcester City varsity four event the same year.

Three of his student-athletes won the department's William Cating Memorial Award given for coachability . . . Robin Messersmith (1979), Mary Lesniak (1981), and Mike Houghton (1983). Another, Chris Owen (1984), received the Al Banx Memorial Service Award.

He is currently Superintendant of Schools in Harvard, MA and resides in Sturbridge, MA with his wife, the former Jean Peloquin '77.