Simmons Crew Team is Awash in Success : Spotlight on Simmons : Simmons College

This article appears in the spring 2006 edition of Simmons Review, the Simmons College alumnae/i magazine. Since the article was printed, the Riverside Boat Club - from which the Simmons crew team rows - named one of its boats after Kurmakov for his long service as an RBC coach.

By Emily Devaprasad

Chilly fall mornings are meant for students to snuggle deep into their down comforters and hit the "snooze" button until their 8 a.m. class beckons them to rise. But not if that student is on the crew team.

Despite the frost and frigid air, 18 young women huddle together at the Riverside boathouse at 5:30 a.m. Their coach, Nikolay Kurmakov, does not accept tardiness; he expects practice to start on time.

"These students have a lot of enthusiasm for the sport," said Kurmakov, who was born in Ukraine. "Their dedication to the team and passion to win gets them to practice at this hour."

It's hard to believe that most of these women had never picked up an oar prior to joining the crew team. Since the inception of crew at Simmons in 1978, at least 95% of the team at any given time consists of first-time rowers.

Ten years ago, Wendy Campanella '96 was a novice, too. Now, the 31-year-old is an Olympic hopeful for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Crew Team.

Like most students, Campanella was not what you'd call a "morning person." So when she heard about daily practice at 5:30 a.m., she couldn't help but laugh. She never thought she'd make it to practice, let alone the Olympics. But 10 years and numerous competitions later, this alumna is still practicing in the wee hours of the morning. She can't think of a better way to start her day.

"Once I started winning, I couldn't stop racing," said Campanella. "There is nothing like the thrill of competition. It's an addiction."

Campanella's "addiction" has led to a highly successful rowing career. She came in first place in the Lightweight Single at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston this past October, after placing seventh in the Lightweight Quad at this year's World Championships in Gifu, Japan, where her crew also broke the world record during a trial heat. Other rowing accomplishments include third place at the World Rowing Championships in 2002, second place at the Pan American Games in 2003, and first place at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in 2001.

In addition to a full-time job as a nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Campanella trains six days a week, with 11-13 weekly practice sessions. A perfectionist by nature, she also attributes much of her success and motivation to Kurmakov.

"Nikolay saw potential in me," said Campanella. "He made me realize that I was capable of reaching a higher level in this sport than I thought I ever could. He has told me that I am his hope for the Olympics."

Kurmakov does have high expectations for Campanella and the crew team, but he also demands excellence from himself - as a coach and as a competitor.

"I know I've done my job when I see students develop such a love for the sport. Wendy is an outstanding athlete with Olympic potential. Seeing her kind of success is the greatest reward for me."

A former Soviet rowing champion who began the sport in his teens, Kurmakov has been coaching at Simmons since 1994. He moved to the U.S. from Kiev with his wife and two sons in 1992 after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Most coaches have enough of a load to carry with training schedules and team competitions, but this hasn't stopped Kurmakov, 54, from pursuing his own dreams. A competitive rower with the Cambridge Boat Club, Kurmakov has competed in nearly 40 competitions in the last decade.

While living in the Soviet Union and Ukraine, he garnered first-place finishes at the national championships from 1973 to 1975, and recently came in second place in the master's competition at the 2005 Head of the Charles after he had coached Simmons to a seventh-place finish. Kurmakov also won a gold medal in 2004 at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

"I enjoy my coaching and I love to compete," said Kurmakov. "I have my wife and sons to thank for their support in my career. There is nothing more to say. It's just my life."

Those around him, like Simmons Athletics Director Ali Kantor, respect Kurmakov's skill, passion, and drive. "Nikolay models integrity, self discipline, and a dedicated work ethic. He is a gifted individual and a master at teaching fundamentals, inspiring our student athletes to discover and develop their talents. He gets them to reach beyond what they thought was capable and to achieve their greatest potential."

Kumakov at boat-naming ceremony
photo by Igor Belakovskiy of RBC

That success has been apparent in recent years with impressive finishes at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta, New England Championships Regatta, and the Textile Regatta in Lowell, Mass. But Kurmakov does not let success get in the way of what is most important for these young students.

"When it comes to our team goals, we have athletic and academic goals," said freshman Rachel Franchi. "Our coaches always remind us that our schoolwork comes first."

For now, the crew team dreams about having their own boathouse some day, as they continue on their successful path. After graduation, some may follow in their coach's footsteps and become national and world-level competitors. Others may find themselves on the cusp of fulfilling an Olympic dream, like Campanella. But the one thing they all share is a passion for the sport and an ability to achieve excellence - something they discovered about themselves at Simmons.

"My experience on the Simmons crew team has influenced my life in immeasurable ways," said Campanella. "Look at me now - I actually have a shot at the Olympics!"

Support the Crew Team
If you would like to support the crew team with a gift to the Simmons Crew Fund, please contact the Development Office at 1-888-GIV-BACK.

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Simmons Crew Team is Awash in Success

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