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2024 Fall Racing Begins

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Oct 042024

The team got back on the water on August 19th with 16 returning athletes. A new face around the boathouse is interim head coach Bernard Aparicio (Aztec rower 2011-2015) and Olympic hopeful (2019 – 2024), making his coaching debut for the team. Recruiting efforts yielded 48 potential new athletes. To start off this large new group the team hosted a “Learn to Row” day at the boathouse on 9/7/24, while concurrently holding an equipment maintenance work party attended by current team members and multiple alumni.

Throughout September the team has been developing their rowing skill, athletic agility, and strength. Over the course of the month, Coach Bernie has been impressed with the MV8 and MN4+, both of which have shown good endurance. The WV4+ shows promise as well, and the MN8 and WN8 are developing as planned. In a welcome turn of events, the team has three high school rowers joining the novice crews, which is relatively unique for our historically walk-on program.

Unfortunately, the large set of novice rowers brought in from the team’s recruiting efforts has resulted in a few “good problems”. First is the limitation of having a single coach, which makes managing 60 students on the water impossible. The second issue is the current quality of the equipment. Due to significant boat wear and tear, the team currently has 32 working seats, with a possible capacity, following repairs, of 48 seats. Over the next year, we plan to make a larger, more competitive team possible.

Currently, the team has stabilized to 36 consistent rowers and 6 coxswains on the water each practice. While Coach Bernie is working on the rowing form, the team culture is excellent. The students are learning that consistent, focused work makes boats move. They’ve definitely taken on challenging workouts with enthusiasm.

Through October, the focus will shift from technique into fitness and target speeds. The stroke will continue to be refined, but a primary focus for practices will be hitting their target goals for the workout, and working towards hitting the “stretch” goals that will take the team to the next level.

Head Coach Search Update

The search for a permanent head coach continues. The H Del Beekley Foundation, in accordance with our founding principles, has given the team a significant grant to supplement the salary of a head coach. We feel that we will get more and better candidates with a higher pay package.

Aztec Rowing Centennial Season

The 2024 – 2025 school year will mark the 100th anniversary of Aztec Crew’s founding. Multiple special events are in the works, but the preeminent development is a centennial fundraising push. Keep your eyes open for the email.

Fall Alumni Row

Mark your calendars for the Fall Alumni Row, set to take place October 26th @7:00AM on Mission Bay. Come jump into a contemporary racing shell and get a light workout with the current crew. This event is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and support the current team. Email info@beekleyrowing.org to get more info and reserve your spot! You can find more information here.

Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Congratulations to Kris Corley and his wife Brynne, who were married September 28, 2024 in New Jersey. Kris rowed for the Aztecs from 2012-2015 and is the current HDBRF Secretary. Many spirited Aztec alumni were in attendance.

It’s recruiting season + boathouse prep day on Saturday 9/7

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Sep 052024

Team Update

The first Boathouse Prep Day on August 18th had a great turnout of alumni – representing the last several decades of Aztec Crew – returning to the boathouse to help the team get things ready for the 2024/2025 season. Alongside the returning athletes already in town, we cleaned, rigged, and even did some repairs to a few eights, a four, and a whole slew of oars so that the athletes could hit the water the very next day.

Between then and now, Interim Head Coach Bernard Aparicio has been leading regular water and land workouts for the returners, and the team spent their afternoons on campus heavily recruiting the next class of novices, while hopefully also attending a class or two.

Boathouse Prep Day #2 – Saturday 9/7!

While we made great progress on the first prep day, Coach Bernard could really use the help of some more alumni to get a few more boats ready for the incoming class of novices. He’s asking – for those who are willing and able – to once again meet at the boathouse this Saturday September 7th from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM to help get these shells in ship-shape. They’ll need extra hands to help move boats around, do a bunch of rigging, seat/wheel assembly, and likely do a bit of cleaning.

The team will also be hosting their annual Learn to Row/Open Boathouse event for new recruits starting at 9:00 AM, meaning it’ll be a busy day at the boathouse. Please consider heading down to help get a few more boats seaworthy, as well as exchanging stories with other alumni and the current team! You can just show up, but they’d really love to know how many are coming for planning purposes. So, please RSVP to Bernard via email if you’d like to help or have any questions!

Changes in Leadership

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Aug 112024

Summer is usually a relatively calm and quiet time of year for Aztec Crew, but this year there is quite a bit happening. Last month Coach Craig Doan let us and the team know that he was resigning as Head Coach for the program to pursue other opportunities. Craig took over as Head Coach back in the fall of 2019, after having coached the novice program since 2016. Unfortunately, his first season at the helm was met head-on with an unbelievable challenge that nobody expected.. COVID. Even though the team couldn’t officially gather for over a year, Craig kept the team connected virtually and worked with them and the university to pick up the pieces and get back on the water after they got the green light. Since then he and the officers had been working to rebuild, and he’s leaving the program with a good core of returning athletes and leaders, primed for the next coach.

While the team and Associated Students are in process of interviewing for a new head coach, our very own alumni Bernard Aparicio and Allan Miller have been helping the team get ready to start the Fall, with Bernard volunteering to take on the role of Interim Head Coach.

Boathouse Prep Day – Sunday 8/18!

In an effort to get things ready for the return of the students and the official start of the Fall later this month, Bernard and Allan are asking for some alumni help at the boathouse on Sunday August 18th from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM. At this point they know they’ll need extra hands to help move boats around, do a bunch of rigging and assessing, and likely do a bit of cleaning. There are only a handful of local team members, so please consider heading down to help get the boats seaworthy and exchange stories with other alumni! You can just show up, but they’d really love to know how many are coming for planning purposes. So, RSVP to Allan via email if you’d like to help or have any questions!

Aztec Rowing breaks for Summer

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Jul 012024

Team Update

As we transition into the summer months, the Aztecs are preparing for some time off from the boathouse. While the athletes take this well-deserved break, the Beekley Rowing Foundation continues its efforts to support the team through various initiatives and events. We are excited to share the latest updates with you.

San Diego Crew Classic and Annual Meeting Results

This year’s San Diego Crew Classic marked its 51st anniversary, with the Aztecs proudly representing SDSU rowing. The team competed in the Men’s Varsity 8+ event, finishing 7th in the B final, beating Sacramento State (With 4 of the 8 oarsmen being novices). The Men’s Novice 8 also performed admirably, finishing 7th and beating UC Irvine.

During the Crew Classic weekend, the H Del Beekley Foundation held its annual meeting. Key discussions included the state of the program and the foundation’s achievements. We also elected the 2024-2025 Board of Directors:

   •   President: Steve Lewis
   •   Vice President: Royce Cumming
   •   Treasurer: Andy Olson
   •   Secretary: Kris Corley
   •   Alumni At-Large #1: Joey Matus
   •   Alumni At-Large #2: Kam Kennington

You can read the meeting minutes here.

Mentorship Program

We are thrilled to announce that our Mentorship Program has received an enthusiastic response, with 16 sign-ups to date. This program aims to connect current rowers with alumni and supporters to provide guidance and support both on and off the water. If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, please reach out to us here.

1925 Club Payment Revisions

To better serve our supporters, we have revised the payment options for the 1925 Club. These changes aim to make it easier for alumni and friends to contribute to the team’s success. Details about the revised payment options can be found on our website.

Stay Connected

We encourage everyone to stay updated with the latest news and events by visiting the team website and signing up for the newsletter. This will ensure you receive timely updates about the team’s progress and upcoming activities. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up.

Fall Alumni Row

Mark your calendars for the Fall Alumni Row, set to take place this October or November. This event is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and support the current team. More details will be announced soon.

Crew Classic 2024

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Apr 042024

Aztecs at the 2014 Crew Classic. Photo by Eitan Zur - The Daily Aztec — *Aztecs at the 2024 Crew Classic. Photo by Eitan Zur – The Daily Aztec*

San Diego Crew Classic is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

The Aztec Men and Women will be racing against dozens of colleges this weekend. The current schedule is as follows:

Friday 4/5
- @4:46pm Men’s Varsity 8- Invitational (Event #17)
Saturday 4/6
- @9:58am Men’s Varsity 8-Cal Cup (Event #30)
- @11:10am Men‘s Novice 8 (Event #34)
Sunday 4/7
- @11:42am Women’s Novice 8 (Event #2 8)

Sunday 4/7 To Be Determined: Most A and B Finals will take place on Sunday based on performance from Saturday

Discount Crew Classic Tickets!

Because the Beekley Foundation sponsored the SDSU Alumni tent this year we have access to discounted Crew Classic tickets! If you’d like to attend Crew Classic this year and meet the current team:
Go to crewclassic.org/tickets/ and click “Get Tickets”. Select the General Admission Ticket you would like to receive and the number of tickets you would like. Enter the promo code beneath your Order Summary. The email address you enter will receive the electronic tickets you select.

Beekley Foundation Annual Meeting Sunday at the Alumni Tent

The Annual Meeting is an important discussion of the state of the program and foundation, and is key to continuing the positive impact of the Foundation. This year’s annual meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday April 7th at 1:00 PM Pacific (depending on the team’s race schedule) onsite at the SDSU tent and simulcast on Google meet. We will not be posting a public link to the meeting, so please RSVP with an email to info@beekleyrowing.org and we will send you a link to the virtual meeting.

The Foundation is always looking for people willing to help, and who would like to serve on the board. If you’re interested in taking on a board position, please send an email to info@beekleyrowing.org for more information. The positions to be voted on at this year’s meeting are:

President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer • At-large Board Members

Spring Racing Season Arrives

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Mar 062024

*The winning foursome of Kam Kennington, Steven Lyons, Randy Beltran, and Dominic Flores Shafer*

State of the Team – Spring Racing Season Arrives!

The Aztecs are in the thick of the Spring racing season, coming off a solid showing at Parker Cup. With the Men’s Varsity four and Women’s Novice four both taking first, the Men’s novice 8 taking 2nd out of 4 to Irvine, and a half novice-filled Varsity 8 taking 3rd. To see more about what’s going on with the current team, take a look at their pretty amazing February 2024 Newsletter.

Crew Classic and Beekley Foundation Annual Meeting

The 51st Annual San Diego Crew Classic will take place April 5-7th at Mission Bay. The Aztecs will be racing and have a tent for relaxing and catching up with alumni and friends. On Sunday the Beekley Foundation will have lunch available for the athletes and donors.

The Annual Meeting is an important discussion of the state of the program and foundation, and is key to helping carry on the positive impact of the Foundation. This year’s annual meeting will tentatively be held Sunday April 7th at 1:00 PM Pacific (depending on the team’s race schedule) onsite at the SDSU tent and simulcast on Google meet. We will not be posting a public link to the meeting, so please RSVP with an email to info@beekleyrowing.org and we will send you a link to the virtual meeting.

The Foundation is always looking for people willing to help, and who would like to serve on the board. If you’re interested in running for a board position, please send an email to info@beekleyrowing.org for more information. The positions to be voted on at this year’s meeting are:

President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer • At-large Board Members

Crew Classic Banquet

Join the team on the Friday of San Diego Crew Classic weekend, April 5th, 2024 from 4:30 PM until 7:30 PM at Scripps Cottage on the SDSU Campus for a night of food, friends, awards, and fun. In addition, they will be hosting an auction at the banquet! Don’t miss your chance to secure featured items such as San Diego Cruise Tickets, Kendra Scott Jewelry, or an SDSU oar! Every bid will support their goal of sending a boat to their National Championships (ACRA) in Tennessee. Secure your spot by clicking HERE for an unforgettable evening! This past year the team has focused on fostering a tighter and more meaningful relationship with the alumni. In addition to the team’s astonishing recovery from the debt accrued during COVID, there is much to celebrate and even more to be excited about moving forward. In preparation for the team’s centennial anniversary in 2025, they aspire to promote a presence from their alumni base that affirms to the current student athletes that the program has a rich and valuable history. As a big show of support, please touch base with fellow alumni and friends to extend this invitation! The team would love to see the community show up and come together for a weekend of Crew Classic racing. If you are unable to attend, please consider sponsoring an athlete’s ticket. Feel free to reach out to sdsucrewpresident@gmail.com with any questions.

6th Annual Golf Tournament Was A Swinging Affair

We held our 6th Annual Beekley Foundation charity golf tournament on Saturday February 24th. 32 golfers drawn from alumni, friends, and current athletes hit Mission Trails golf course for a prolonged day of golf and camaraderie. The winning foursome was alumni Kam Kennington, Steven Lyons, Randy Beltran, and current athlete Dominic Flores Shafer with a 65 (6 under par!). The Longest Drive contest was won by Steve Lyons, while the Closest-To-The-Pin was won by Mitchell Ingstad.

We had some great raffle prizes donated by alumni, including a basket of artisan jams from Jackie’s Jams (courtesy of David and Risa Baron), as well as some high quality golf accessories from the Southern California Golf Association (courtesy of alumnus Matt Pawlak).
It was a very fun occasion and we look forward to seeing even more golfers at next year’s event!

Team Mentorship Program is Active

We’ve had a good response from alumni ready to take a rower under their wing and give them advice about various career paths, but we can always use more! The rowers have been given the contact information of their mentors, and will reach out to arrange a meeting (either in person, by phone, by email, or whatever works best). We’re always looking for more folks willing to help guide an Aztec towards the next steps in their careers.

Get more information and sign up here.

100 Years of SDSU Crew – Donate to the 1925 Club!

As SDSU Crew’s 100th anniversary approaches we’d like to invite you to join other donors in the 1925 Club. This is our primary revenue generator for supporting the team and their mission. We’ve recently used donations to buy the team much-needed boat parts, as well as to reserve the SDSU tent at this year’s Crew Classic. Please join your fellow alumni in donating: The 1925 Club.

2024 Golf Tournament Announcement

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Dec 212023

The H. Del Beekley Rowing Foundation cordially invites you to participate in our 6th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Saturday, Feb 24th at the Mission Trails Golf Course in San Diego.

The morning will start off with player check-in opening at 9:15 AM. At that time players will get a golf cart, have an option to grab some range balls, and take some practice swings at the driving range before our tee times begin at 10:00 AM. Then we’ll kick off our Scramble format tournament through the links. So, whether you consider yourself a pro or more of a duffer, you’re sure to have a great time and end the round with a solid score!

In addition to the tournament itself, we will have a couple of challenges along the course for anyone who elects to buy the Bonus Packs. The first will be the Longest Drive competition where you can unleash your best drive and put yourself in the running for a prize at the end of the event. The second challenge will require a bit more finesse as you take aim to get the closest to the pin on one of the shorter holes on the course. If the big drive and pin challenges elude you on the course, your bonus pack also buys you raffle tickets to put you in the running for prizes at the end of the event.

All net proceeds from the event will go directly to the H. Del Beekley Rowing Foundation. The success of this event depends on the involvement of many individuals as well as business sponsors who participate in the event and sponsor tees or raffle items. If you or your business are interested in sponsoring a tee or the event through in-kind items, or would like to make a straight donation, please contact the Beekley Rowing Foundation board by emailing info@beekleyrowing.org.

The following registration options are now open on our Square Checkout registration site. Online registration will close on Sunday, February 11th at midnight, so head on over and sign up for the event. Or better yet, rally up a foursome of your buddies and take advantage of reduced pricing for a Foursome with Bonus Pack. And remember, while this event is hosted by the Beekley Rowing Foundation, participation in the event is open to all! We’re looking forward to seeing you on the course!

Registration Options

Foursome or 3 Players + Sponsor an Athlete – $400
Includes golf and carts for 4 golfers. Only have a three-some? We’ll round out your threesome with a current team member.

Foursome Bonus Pack – $90
Includes 4 Closest to the Hole, 4 Longest Drive and 120 Raffle tickets

Single golfer – $105
Includes golf and spot in a cart to be grouped with 3 others

Single Under 27 Golfer or Athlete Sponsorship – $90
Includes golf and cart for people under the age of 27

Under 27 foursome – $350
Includes golf and cart for 4 people under the age of 27

Bonus Pack – $25
Includes Closest to the Hole, Longest Drive and 30 Raffle tickets

Tee Sponsor – $150
Includes a professionally made Tee Sign with your logo on the course and 30 Raffle Tickets

The Fall racing season is upon us!

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Nov 012023

State of the Team – Fall Racing Season Is in Full Swing

The Aztecs have been recruiting, training, and racing hard. As you read this the team has raced in the Rowing Cares Regatta in San Diego, and is training for the Pancake Regatta in Long Beach as well as the San Diego Fall Classic. Currently the team is racing a varsity 4, novice 8, novice 4, and a women’s novice 4.

In addition to training and academics, the team is planning many fundraising events, including: a letter writing campaign, working local events such as Bookfest, a Cane’s fundraiser at the Santee location Dec. 6 2pm-10pm, and an auction that will be announced soon (auction items will include cruise tickets, Kendra Scott necklaces, and museum tickets).
You can see the team’s schedule and fundraisers here.

Foundation Buys Much-Needed Boat Parts

Over the Summer the team requested help with the purchase of much-needed parts to service and repair their racing shells. The Board voted to approve, and committed to paying for over $5,000 in parts. Except for some back stays coming from Australia, the parts have been received and installed. The H Del Beekley Rowing Foundation is proud to be able to assist the team in getting race-day ready!

Padres Game with the Team

Past and present Aztec Crew members turned out for the Padres final home game win against the Cardinals. It was an exciting 12-2 battle that included lots of nods to the US military, including a flyover by two F-35 aircraft. There were many novices on hand to enjoy a day at Petco Park and meet the “old guys”. We’re all looking forward to another day at the ballpark next year! Special thanks to Assistant Coach Brett Stinson for organizing the event.

Homecoming Tailgate – On Hold

Initially we were planning on holding the annual Homecoming Tailgate on Saturday 11/4. Unfortunately the football team is having what we like to call a “rebuilding year” and interest in the homecoming tailgate has been thin. Thus, we will plan on coming back in 2024 with renewed vigor and – hopefully – a revitalized Aztec football team. Serendipitously this will give the team an opportunity to recharge after the Pancake Regatta, and be ready for the Alumni row and Fall Classic the following weekend.

Fall Alumni Row

On Saturday, November 11th, come join the current team for the Fall alumni row. Meet the new athletes, strap yourself into a late model shell, and relive your glory days! The alumni row is always a fun event, bringing together generations of Aztec rowers to pull for a common cause and reminisce about their personal rowing experience. Afterward, chat with the current Aztecs over bagels and coffee. If you plan to attend or have questions, please visit the event Facebook page or email Info@BeekleyRowing.org.

The following day – Sunday, November 12th – is the San Diego Fall Classic, so you can make a weekend of it! No wires-to-poles, we promise! The race schedule and course map can be found in this Google Doc.

Become a Mentor To A Current Athlete

Get to know a current rower and impart some wisdom! Join the new Alumni Mentorship Program to get matched up with an Aztec, share your experiences and provide guidance about rowing, career development, or life in general.

Get more information and sign up here.

Alumnus’ Lightweight Quad Takes 3rd at Worlds

Aztec Crew alumnus and former Beekley Foundation president Bernard Aparicio and his lightweight quad earned third place at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia! Third in the world is pretty amazing. You can read about their adventure here.

New Online Donation Platform

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Aug 302023

Since our inception, the H. Del Beekley Rowing Foundation has managed our donations through a Donor Advised Fund at the San Diego Foundation. While nothing about that relationship has changed, the San Diego Foundation recently moved their secure online donation system to a new and improved platform called Blackbaud.

The great news for us is that

The new donation form is significantly easier to fill out, with a much cleaner design than the previous system, making it easier than ever to sign up for the 1925 Club!
It allows both Credit Card-based online donations as well as the ability to set up Direct Debit from a personal or business bank account

So, if you haven’t donated in a while, or have been looking for an excuse to join our highly successful 1925 Club, please head on over to our new donation portal and try it on for size!

Donate Online

Even small donations make a big difference over time. Most recently, they helped us to purchase $6000 worth of parts so that the team could start the year with the fleet working at its best.

The only bad news is that our existing 1925 Club patrons will need to re-enroll in the new platform in order to continue their support. So, we’ll be reaching out to work on getting all of our existing donors converted to our new system beginning in September.

The Fall season is just about here!

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Aug 112023

State of the Team – Boat Repair Day this Sunday!

Thanks to your generous donations to the H Del Beekley Rowing Foundation, the team was able to purchase some much-needed replacement parts to get the fleet ready for the 2023-2024 season. The coaches are requesting help at the boathouse on Sunday, August 13th between 8:00am – 12:00pm to continue getting the boats seaworthy. You can just show up, or email Coach Craig Doan if you’d like to help or have any questions!

Varsity practice begins the following day, with recruiting starting shortly thereafter. You can see the team’s schedule here.

Padres Game with the Team

Come join the new team and fellow Aztec Rowing alumni and their families for an afternoon at Petco Park! The Padres will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday 9/24 at 1:10pm. We’ll meet up for a pint or two at a nearby pub (TBD) before the game and then go cheer on the Padres. Reserve your tickets now by contacting Assistant Coach Brett Stinson.

Homecoming Tailgate

After a hiatus, we’re bringing back the Homecoming Tailgate! This year the homecoming football game is Saturday 11/4 so we’ll be celebrating in the parking lot of Snapdragon Stadium before the game. Mark your calendars to come meet the new crew and catch up with other alumni while we fire up the BBQ and get charged up for an Aztec Football game! More details will follow in a future newsletter, but feel free to reply in the meantime if you know you’re interested: info@beekleyrowing.org

Fall Alumni Row

On Saturday 11/11 come join the current team at the boathouse for the Fall alumni row. Meet the new athletes, strap yourself into a late model shell, and relive your glory days! The alumni row is always a fun event, bringing together generations of Aztec rowers to pull for a common cause and reminisce about your personal rowing experience. Afterward, chat with the current Aztecs over bagels and coffee. The following day (11/12) is the San Diego Fall Classic, so you can make a weekend of it! No wires-to-poles, we promise!

Alumnus Heading for International Competition

Aztec Crew alumnus and former Beekley Foundation president Bernard Aparicio is headed to the 2023 World Rowing Championships scheduled for September 3-10 in Belgrade, Serbia! His lightweight men’s quadruple scull won their final by more than 12 seconds, qualifying for Belgrade. Because their event is a non-Olympic event, USRowing does not fund any part of their training for, or competing at, the World Championships. Please consider donating to their Gofundme page: https://gofund.me/7b0b3c0a. Good luck, Bernie!

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