Providing a venue where athletes of all ages, talents and backgrounds have the opportunity to develop their rowing ability to their highest potential.

Mercer Spotlight

Emma Paxton, Novice Girls Coach

Emma Paxton is the newest member of the Mercer Junior coaching staff as the Novice Girls coach. However Emma is no stranger to Mercer Rowing having rowed in the Mercer Juniors Program for 3+ years and coached the Mercer Summer Camps, Adult Learn to Row as well as assistant coach for the Novice Girls during her Covid gap year before college. Read more about Emma here:

How/when did you get involved in rowing?

I played soccer and basketball growing up. After 2 concussions, my parents forced me to try a new sport and signed me up for the summer learn-to-row camp. By the 3rd day of camp, I loved it and I have been rowing ever since. 

What are some of your most memorable rowing moments?

I have many treasured memories from my time rowing at Mercer and Rutgers University. Most of my favorite moments are also really simple – like being in the erg room with the whole team and getting to jam out to the music while also challenging and encouraging one another. Some of my other memorable moments are just being on the water both during practice and racing. It was an amazing opportunity to row at both Mercer and Rutgers and I tried to enjoy every day of it. 

Do you have a favorite workout? Least favorite workout?

I enjoy erging long steady state pieces like 2x30’ and 2x8k, but I also enjoy sprint workouts like 8x250. I was never a runner growing up, but I also learned to enjoy long runs and track workouts when cross training and building fitness. I find that once I understand the purpose of each workout, it becomes easier to enjoy it.   

What is it like to come back to Mercer and coach?

It feels like a full circle moment. I have always had a lot of pride in Mercer and I always wanted to pay it forward. I coached at Mercer every summer since I was eligible to work. During my freshman gap year in 2020, I worked as an assistant for the girls novice team and I knew then that I wanted to coach full time after graduation. The head coach for the girls novice team at Mercer was my dream job and I am so grateful that I was given this opportunity.

STEM to Stern Fundraiser

at the Ivy Inn

On Wednesday, September 11 from 6 to 8 pm, the Mercer Junior coaches will be bartending at the Ivy Inn in Princeton. The bar is cash only with all tips going directly to PNRA/Mercer's STEM to Stern program. Come hang out and meet other Mercer parents and help our Outreach program at the same time!

There will be no Mercer Junior practice on this day.

Host a National Team Rower

Interested in hosting a National Team athlete? The Caspersen Rowing Center is a USRowing National Training site and athletes who come here to train are often looking for low or no rent housing options as they pursue their Olympic dreams. There is a new group of athletes coming to train at Caspersen at the end of September!

Click HERE to learn more about this great opportunity. Please reach out to Hilary if you are interested.

Caspersen Rowing Center Jumps Fully into Fall Season

Fall training began at the Caspersen Rowing Center this week.

Each weekday afternoon there are over 400 Athletes and Coaches participating in the junior programs run by Hun, Lawrenceville, Peddie and the Mercer Juniors.

As the sun comes up in the mornings, the Mercer Masters, TCNJ and occasionally some of the Junior programs take to the water to get some strokes in.

Two mid-mornings each week, the Barge Warriors venture out onto the lake. They are joined occasionally by groups from local corporations and organizations for team building activities (or maybe they are seeking an opportunity to play hooky from the office).

The National Team will be returning at the end of the month to begin the training for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Team USA brought home a gold (Men's 4-) and bronze (Men's 8+) from the Paris Olympic Games.

If you are interested in exploring the rowing opportunities at the Caspersen Rowing Center, please contact Hilary.

Mercer Represented at World Rowing Championships

Left to right:

Jamie Hamp, MJRC Varsity Boys Coach

Fran McGrath '25, MJRC senior

George Drago '21, MJRC alumnus

Julian Thomas '21, MJRC alumnus

Kris Grudt, PNRA Executive Director

Mercer rowers and staff were represented at the 2024 MegaWorld Championships in St. Catharines this August. Each rower earned a silver medal in his respective event, Coach Jamie coached the U19 Men's 4+ to a bronze medal and Kris Grudt was President of the Referee Jury for the event!

Fran McGrath was 2 seat in the U19 Men's 8+ that raced to a silver medal. Fran is a senior on the Mercer Junior boys team.

George Drago rowed bow seat in the U23 Men's 2- and earned a silver medal in a very close race for gold with Chile. George is a 2021 graduate from the Mercer Junior program. He currently attends the University of Pennsylvania where he is a member of the lightweight rowing team.

Julian Thomas rowed 6 seat in the U23 Men's 8 that earned a silver medal. Julian is a 2021 graduate from the Mercer Junior program and currently attends and rows for Dartmouth College.

Mercer Juniors Compete at Canadian Henley

The Mercer Summer Junior Program ended with racing at the Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ontario. There were 60 athletes who traveled to the Canada to compete. Here is what the coaches had say:

The Mercer Girls Summer Program had a great showing at Canadian Henley. With 24 rowers and 4 coxswains, the team put down a lot of exciting and competitive racing. Highlighting the quality of the racing, the team made 3 A-finals, which is our best showing since 2019. This week of racing capped off a great summer of working alongside rowers from Lawrenceville, Hun, Peddie, and the George School, and showcased the many weeks of hard work that went into preparing for the regatta.

-Sam Altier, Mercer Girls Coach

The Mercer Junior Summer Program Boys team made a splash at the Canadian

Henley, sending 29 rowers and 6 coxswains to the prestigious regatta. We

experienced a lot of racing, with many athletes racing multiple times in a day, and four rowers having their A final be their third race of the day. Many thanks to the Lawrenceville Prep athletes who complemented the Mercer athletes to complete our lineups. Our athletes showcased their skill and competitiveness, securing a place in the A final of every event that we entered boats in. This impressive feat highlights the dedication and talent within the program. Each race brought intense competition, and our rowers and coxswains rose to the occasion with determination.

-Brian Price, Mercer Boys Coach

Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Oktoberfest which will take place at the Caspersen Rowing Center on Saturday, September 28 starting at 5 pm. Dinner is included with purchase of ticket, you bring a beverage. This is open to all current and alumni Mercer families and is a great way to meet each other and enjoy a fall day on the lake.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Please note, this is for Adults only (21+).

Fall Race Calendar

• Sunday, October 13: Head of the Housatonic, Derby, CT

• Sunday, October 20: Head of the Charles, Boston, MA

• Sunday, October 27: Head of the Schuylkill, Philadelphia, PA

• Wednesday, October 30: Mercer Lake Challenge, Mercer Lake

• Sunday, November 3: Mercer Fall Classic, Mercer Lake



• Saturday-Sunday, November 9-10: Frostbite (Sat) & Braxton (Sun), Mercer Lake

• Saturday-Sunday, November 16-17: USRowing Speed Orders, Mercer Lake

Trivia Question: Name the coaches at the Caspersen Rowing Center who have competed for the USA in the Olympic Games. For bonus points which Olympic Games did they compete in.

Submit your answer at: info@rowpnra.org

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Mercer Team gear is still available - hats, scarves, umbrellas, shirts . . .

Show your Mercer Spirit!

Contact Hilary Gehman