From Humble Beginnings to National Success
A story of how Embry-Riddle rowing and the Halifax Rowing Association partnered to lay a lasting foundation for rowing in the Daytona Beach area
Since becoming a varsity sport in 2017, Embry-Riddle rowing has already achieved much success. The women have earned three straight NCAA II National Championship berths and claimed two consecutive Sunshine State Conference titles while the men won back-to-back Varsity 4+ championships at the annual Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association regatta. Even though it appears to be a rapid rise to success, it actually took many years to develop and required a partnership with a local non-profit organization.
The Embry-Riddle Rowing and Halifax Rowing Association (HRA) partnership began three decades ago. Denis Shelley, Paul Quinn, and T.P. Plimpton laid the groundwork for a building that would help grow rowing in a southern city that had little exposure to the sport.
Early in the 1990s, a small group of scullers began meeting every Saturday morning to enjoy a morning row. The group would launch from the shore and would row the canal leading up to the Halifax Harbor Marina. It was there that the founding trio of the HRA first connected.
Plimpton was an avid rower for years up north and lived by the motto “any boat, any seat, any water, any weather.”
“He reminded me so much of my old rowing coach in college,” said Shelley. “Quiet and reserved but bigger than life. When he spoke, you listened, especially about rowing.”
Shelley, a former collegiate rower, was a local attorney. and Quinn, a professor at Embry-Riddle, was busy trying to start a rowing club for the university. Previously, he was a rowing coach for years at the U.S. Naval Academy and was looking to ignite the sport at ERAU. Undaunted by the challenge and with no funding, Quinn convinced the Naval Academy to give him dated equipment. However, Quinn was unhappy with the current situation of having to keep boats on outside racks and using old, heavy equipment. He wanted a boathouse.
In 1993, Shelley, Quinn, and Plimpton sat down at Stavro’s Pizza House on Beach Street. At the time, the city of Daytona Beach was renovating City Island, so the group approached the city manager about purchasing a plot of land for the boathouse. The city was willing to provide the land, but only if the trio could raise $250,000 in the short span of six months. The Ponce Inlet Port Authority was willing to provide funding, but it was only matching funds, meaning the group still needed to raise $125,000 on its own, now with just three months until the deadline.
Two more months passed and only $10,000 was raised. The situation looked bleak. Eventually, the group returned to the Ponce Inlet Port Authority to ask about any available alternatives. Thankfully, the port’s director mentioned that the City Island Renovation Project had matching money available that would qualify as a match for the Port Authority funding.
Though the concept of building a boathouse in Daytona Beach was saved, there was another road block. The city could not directly lease property to Embry-Riddle. An independent non-profit organization needed to be created to contract with, and the HRA was born.
With the funding from the city of Daytona Beach in hand, the group returned to the Ponce Inlet Port Authority hoping to secure the final round cash needed. Unfortunately, the Ponce Inlet Port Authority approved every applicant who applied for its available funding. However, the HRA still received the full match of $125,000. Quinn’s dream was finally becoming a reality.
Initially, the plans for the boathouse, which now stands at 201 Jackie Robinson Parkway, included a second floor with a mezzanine. However, with construction underway, the city of Daytona Beach reallocated some of the funds that were assigned to the HRA into another project, removing $40,000 from the boathouse budget. A second floor was no longer an option, and the bathrooms were left unfinished, but the group remained positive.
“We had a nice boathouse with boat racks and a floating dock,” Shelley said. “Despite what happened, it was still unbelievable.”
Additional funds were raised to finish the bathrooms, and finally the boathouse was complete. It took a team effort to build a foundation for rowing for ERAU and the Daytona Beach community, and Shelley credits Quinn as the primary driving force behind the whole operation.
“Embry-Riddle has a nice boathouse to use because of Paul Quinn. Embry-Riddle rowed as a club and received a little funding through the university. The student-athletes parked cars and did row-a-thons to raise money. Paul begged for more used boats from Annapolis and spent his free time repairing and rigging them. Through all the trials and tribulations, Paul never gave up. He constantly pushed for more funding as well as Varsity status for the program. He lived in Titusville, which was a 50-minute drive to the boathouse. Five to six days a week, he would arrive before sunrise for an early morning practice and leave after evening practices, long after sundown for his long drive home. I don’t know where he got his energy to do all this other than his love for rowing and more so for the kids he taught. He left us a legacy of rowing in Daytona Beach and especially at Embry-Riddle that never would have happened if it wasn’t for Paul. He was truly a gentle giant who loved his God and expressed that love in the sport of rowing.”
Quinn passed away in 2018 at the age of 93, but his legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the impact he made in the community through rowing. The boathouse stands tall on the Halifax River as a testament to the lengths three individuals were willing to go in order to grow the sport they loved, and grow it has.
What humbly started as an Embry-Riddle sculling club has blossomed into a community rowing environment housing ERAU’s two collegiate rowing programs, and HRA Masters and Juniors rowing programs. Embry-Riddle rowing continues to flourish, bringing in student-athletes from around the world and competing in the sport’s most prestigious races. The HRA has also flourished and continues to grow. Its Masters and Juniors rowers have competed at the regional, national and world levels.
Sami Bay, the Embry-Riddle Assistant Coach for both the men’s and women’s rowing programs, has been a long-time Masters rower for the HRA.
“I remember my very first day in the boathouse,” Bay said. “I was wearing a United States Naval Academy sweatshirt, and one of the older members grabbed my elbow and led me to a poster of Paul Quinn. As I was reading his accomplishments, one stood out – the years he coached at Annapolis. He coached my oldest brother at the Academy! Rowing is such a small community. The camaraderie and caring nature of rowers and coaches is what keeps me passionate about this sport and everything it has to offer to our youth and seniors.”
In 2024, the HRA will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Annually, the club hosts a summer regatta which brings in athletes and families from around the Southeastern United States. The HRA’s three decades of operation are all thanks to the original efforts of Shelley, Quinn, and Plimpton, who gave their time, talent, endless energy, and effort to lay a lasting foundation for Embry-Riddle rowing and the Halifax Rowing Association.
Hailey Jackson was a part of the Embry-Riddle softball program from 2017-18. She earned her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as a MBA from Embry-Riddle.
Why did you choose Embry-Riddle?
The moment I stepped foot on the Embry-Riddle campus, it was clear the culture was all about hustle. Everywhere you look, you see students completely dedicated to their craft. I saw pilots dedicating themselves to learning how to fly an aircraft, athletes spending countless hours refining their skills, scholars spending long nights in the library, and ROTC military members pushing through early morning workouts. Students were relentlessly dedicating themselves to growth both personally and professionally. This is why I chose Embry-Riddle. I wanted to surround myself with others that were devoted to development.
What’s your fondest memory about your time as an ERAU student-athlete?
The fondest memory that sticks with me to this day is when we played a tournament in Alabama, and after our last game we stopped at the University of Alabama and toured the university and talked to the staff. It was memorable seeing the alma mater of our head coach, Kelsi Dunne, and visiting the place where she had played college softball.
What do you remember most vividly about your time at ERAU?
Home field game days at the ERAU softball stadium were so fun that I can still vividly remember the pregame work up. Before the game, the whole team would get ready in the locker room while dancing to pump up music. Once we took the field for warm up, the energy would remain high as we did our batting practice and infield/outfield work. Coach Kelsi would always bake cupcakes and I would eat multiple while I was helping prep the pitchers. The excitement and energy were clearly visible, and that’s why home games will forever be great memories.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
The busy lifestyle of class, practice, study hall, and constantly hanging around your teammates were things that got me up every morning. Each day, the structured schedule allowed me to grow as a teammate and student. I found my happy place amidst this constant grind. Although days were long, the balance of both academics and athletics was enjoyable because we were doing it with a purpose.
What was your major?
Interdisciplinary Studies (Business, Entrepreneurship, Communications) and a Masters in Aviation Business with a focus in Leadership
What did you do right after graduating from ERAU?
Post graduation, I attended Florida A&M College of Law and received my Juris Doctorate and state/federal law license in the state of Idaho. I practiced as a Criminal Defense Attorney before serving the U.S. Air Force.
Tell us a little bit about what you’re doing now?
I am an Attorney and First Lieutenant Officer for the United States Air Force serving the JAG Corps stationed in Tucson, Arizona. I am the Chief of Operational Law and Deputy Chief of Civil law at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
How did your experience at ERAU shape your career path?
During my time at Embry-Riddle, I recognized my passions that drove me toward the career I hold today. The large ROTC presence was inspirational, and I had many peers who were fully committed to serving the military. I had always wanted to give back to our country, as well as fight for justice an attorney. I craved a career where I could do both. This idea became reality as I commissioned into the Air Force as a JAG, and I haven’t looked back since. I have Embry-Riddle to thank for being a place of growth, inspiration, and opportunity. The coaches and athletics staff were incredibly supportive my goals and provided boundless mentorship and assistance to propel me toward my objective. Without the personnel and resources, I am certain I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What are some lessons you learned at ERAU that have served well in your life after college?
Leadership is a continuous progression. To be an effective leader, you must have a healthy relationship with yourself, be an effective follower, and live intentionally.
Each day our lives are filled with constant noise. Music, television, podcasts, and conversations This chatter is not just limited to what we audibly hear, it also includes the books we read, the content we consume, and information we learn. Amongst the chatter, the most important noise is the one that happens between our ears. Our self-talk is crucial when we are developing as a leader. We are fortunate to have support from others, but how well do we support ourselves? Growth transpires when we remain our own greatest cheerleader, not our greatest critic. This is especially true during times of adversity. It is important to keep ourselves accountable, however it is just as important to celebrate our small victories. ERAU taught me that you can only fill the cups of others if you are also filling your own cup.
To be an effective leader, we must be an effective follower. It has been said that we should be a listener twice as much as we use our own voices. We can learn valuable information from everyone around us, even those we may not have much in common with. Great leaders never stop learning, and their curiosity keeps them moving forward. I had the privilege to learn from several intriguing individuals at ERAU and built my knowledge by asking them questions and listening to their wealth of knowledge.
Lastly, intentional living is creating a life of purpose authentically built around your priorities. Rather than living to check things off a “to-do” list, good leaders move purposefully and are present in their actions. The decisions you make directly or indirectly reflect your priorities. It is also crucial to take the time to get to know those around you, as these conversations build rapport and trust over time. I practiced my intentionality daily at ERAU and continue to work on it to this day.
I have Embry-Riddle to thank for these lessons, and they continue to serve as an integral part of my life.
What personal or professional accomplishment are you most proud of since you graduated?
Ever since I was a student-athlete at Embry-Riddle, I wanted to be a JAG lawyer for the military. This ambition came from my passion of practicing law and serving our country. There were many challenges that came with this objective such law school, the Bar Exam, Officer Training School, etc. Four years after graduating from ERAU, I am blessed to have reached this goal.
With personal accomplishments, I was honored to be selected to compete in Miss Philippines USA in Los Angeles, CA. It was such an incredible experience associated with Filipino culture and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with other Filipina-American women. I was named top 10 and Best in Talent, and the entire pageant was an unforgettable and life changing experience.
What advice do you have for ERAU’s current student-athletes?
As a student-athlete, each day presents unexpected challenges, it’s a constant battle to find balance in a hectic schedule, and you may not have all the answers. However, there are also areas where you are in control. You control your own self-discipline, the way you treat people, and your authenticity. You control your ability to work through the challenges. And right now, you are in complete control how much you commit to the program at ERAU.
My advice would be to be all in. Trust your coaches, professors, and yourself to buy into the classes, practices, and critiques that are made along the way. Trust the process and keep the end goal at the forefront of your perspective. It’s easy to lose sight of the purpose behind all the effort, but your confidence in the process will create your success. Faith is walking up the steps even if you can’t see the whole staircase.
Ultimately, your future self will thank you for the hard work you are doing now. The habits and routines that you do on a daily basis will develop skills that will carry you forward in the future. These skills such as time management, a stringent work ethic, and grit will be incredibly useful down the road no matter what you choose to do after your time at ERAU. Success comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it, so buy all in and enjoy the ride.
What do you like to do away from work? Hobbies? Fun experiences/excursions?
Outside of work, I absolutely love spending my time outdoors and doing anything active.
Anything from being on the lake to hiking a mountain, I love spending my weekends exploring around as well as catching up with my friends and family. Lately, my hobbies have included writing and traveling to new cities. It has always been my aspiration to write a book someday, so I also read 1-2 books a month.
Men's Golf
Despite the departure of one of the greatest student-athletes the program has ever seen in Ian Aldarondo, Head Coach Ken Staton believes his incoming class of freshmen will be a valuable addition to the team and make up for the talent lost. Additionally, Staton expects a few Eagles to have breakout campaigns during the 2023-24 season.
Men's and Women's Rowing
The 2023-24 season features a vast amount of new rowers and new regattas for both the men's and women's rowing programs. Assistant Coach Grant Maddock has high expectations for both teams, aiming for a top-2 finish nationally for the women. Meanwhile, the men are scheduled to compete at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship for the first time in program history.
Charles Hruda is a senior cross country and track and field teams. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering and is pursuing his master's in the same discipline.
To me four years ago,
When I look back at you, I see myself. Shocker, right?
In some senses it actually is. You hear stories all the time about how people changed a lot in college, seeing their former selves as completely different individuals to who they are now. But that isn’t the case for me. When I think about you and compare that to me now I see the same person. That doesn't mean you won’t grow, or develop into a more complete person. All it means is you don’t waver, what you value in life is consistent, and at your core you know who you are.
While it’s great to know what is constant and sure ground, I’m sure you have a lot of questions about what the next four years at Embry-Riddle will hold for you. A lot of lactic acid. And there is still plenty left for you to experience here. You won’t be leaving the school in May of 2023 like you planned to when you first stepped foot on campus. A little virus that doesn’t even exist yet will change that, and even through all the mayhem it will generate in your life it gives you the chance to do something special, something more than you thought you would or could. Four years in the future you will still have two years of school left. Before you start to freak out you do graduate on time (with a halfway decent GPA) in the Spring of 2023, but because of COVID you decide to stick around to do a master’s degree; or two.
As a freshman you will have no idea what Civil Engineering really is or what it holds for your future. I can tell you now it isn’t what gets you out of bed every morning, but you find an appreciation for the role it plays in the lives of billions, and learning about it interests you. Be confident in your decision to major in Civil. It’s a small tight-knit community at Embry-Riddle. The friends you make out of your classmates will lead you to memories that will last a lifetime. The trips to Washington D.C. for the Transportation Research Board conference where you will present, late nights spent working on a concrete canoe that you will be crazy enough to get in and row, and the many hours spent getting distracted and laughing while you’re supposed to be studying for a Foundations exam wouldn’t happen if you don’t allow yourself the chance to be open and friendly with your classmates. It’s harder to makes friends in class than high school – you actually have to pay attention in class, but it makes those friendships more genuine.
While your classmates will make you remember the good times about studying in college, your professors and advisors will provide you with opportunities that help put to ease on of your biggest fears. Your summer program in Colorado, and both internships you complete by the end of the summer following your senior year would not have been possible without their support and encouragement along the way. While you now fear the idea of being trapped in a job that may not suit you, four years from now you have every bit of confidence in the world that a career in Civil Engineering can offer the freedom and mobility you crave. At HNTB in a few years the 40-hour weeks you put in won’t feel like work, but a chance for you to learn and improve on what you were taught in the classroom around supervisors who trust you. Those same supervisors will stop by you station and laugh and joke with you about the project and then talk to you about tactics in the Tour de France too. Even now, I have a hard time believing an internship could feel like such a good fit, so I know to you it sounds made up. Present me writes this letter not knowing whether more school or a full-time job with HNTB will follow your time at Riddle, but know that you will find a place where you belong in your career going forward.
Academically everything pretty much fell in place for you once you decided investing in the Civil program was a worthwhile endeavor, but we both know you ended up at Embry-Riddle for track. There’s no shame in admitting that to yourself or to others. As an athletic department Riddle emphasizes being a Student, Person, Player; they want their student-athletes to be holistic. Being honest in the role athletics has played in your time here doesn’t undo their message because you took advantage of all the other opportunities Riddle provided you. Athletics opened this place up to you and it continues to do so, the reason you’re still here is because COVID allowed you two extra years of eligibility to run track, and you’ll quickly realize how much it means to be able to keep competing on a collegiate level.
You’ll experience some of the highest of highs because of track: you’ll become an All-American in indoor track your freshman year, break the indoor 800m record your junior year (getting a hug from Hopfe in the process), and receive the highest honor a student-athlete can be awarded at Embry-Riddle, the Steve & Vicky Ridder Endowed Scholarship. In between those moments you will face moments that have you question why you run. The day before you’re supposed to race at NCAAs freshman year the country, including the meet will be shut down because of COVID. Your sophomore year you won’t be able to run for two months because your Achilles is shot, and every step you take in the morning is stiff and painful. Senior year you’ll have chest pain and miss all of indoor season waiting to be cleared, before never having it click that season in a race. Those questions, that uneasiness, is normal and just about every other athlete you meet, whether they go to Riddle or not will feel the same thing. College athletics isn’t meant to be easy; every practice you have isn’t meant to be fun. That’s part of the beauty you learn to appreciate in your journey with athletics. Part of what will keep you going is the promise you made to yourself when you signed in high school, give everything you can to track while you can because it’s a fleeting experience you cannot let pass you by.
The other thing that keeps you going are the teammates and coaches you see every day. Hopfe will be like a father to you in your time at Riddle. Arguments and disagreements come with the territory, but without him you would not have blossomed into the athlete you will be. He and Roso will place trust in you to be a leader and a mentor to those after you, even when you don’t trust yourself.
During the next four years you will have the pleasure to train alongside All-Americans in Cal and Paul, friends who you can call at the drop of a hat with any kind of news like Bryce and Paris, and even a national champion in Ukeyvia. There are so many more than just those five, too many to name here, but be appreciative of every person that comes into your life through the track and cross country teams. They feel the pain you do in practice, cheer with you in victories, and find their way through college life with you.
Earlier I mentioned at your core you are the same. I am grateful to admit you do learn. You learn how to do your own laundry, cook your own meals, pay your own bills. It isn’t without its hiccups though. You will set off the smoke detector more times than you can remember, chase girls very unsuccessfully for two years, do incredibly stupid things on weekends at Legacy and Razzles. There are days you will feel lost, unmotivated, and overwhelmed, but that’s okay. It’s normal. It’s college. It’s being an adult.
But through it all you will find your way. You won’t meet the perfect woman in college because you’ve already met her. You (so far) haven’t burned down your apartment. You’ll win awards and scholarships for the research you do with the school.
Four years from now you will be amazed at everything you accomplish, academically and athletically. That journey wasn’t done alone. The friends, professors, supervisors, teammates, coaches, family in your life will make it possible, but it is up to you to finish the job. Be confident, be humble, be open minded, work hard, and have fun. These next four years will be the best so far.
Your older, faster, smarter self,
Charles Hruda
Male Athlete of the Month
Tanner Rosolino - Men's Cross Country
Men's cross country senior Tanner Rosolino captures the Embry-Riddle Male Athlete of the Month honor after being the top Eagle runner at all three meets in which he competed in. Rosolino came in second place in the 8K at the FSU Invitational on Sept. 29, as well as in the 6K at the 2023 FSC Mocs XC Kick-Off on Sept. 1, setting a program record of 18:56.0 in the process. In addition to this, Rosolino was Embry-Riddle's top finisher at the Mountain Dew Invitational, finishing in 12th place overall.
Female Athlete of the Month
Jaden McBride - Volleyball
The Female Athlete of the Month award goes to volleyball’s Jaden McBride, with the junior outside hitter winning the award for the second time after her contribution to ERAU’s 11-3 start. In the month of September, McBride accumulated 202 Kills (4.0 per set), a .270 hit %, 22 aces, 160 digs (3.2 per set) and 33 blocks (0.7 per set) in 50 sets played. A standout performance for McBride came on Sept. 15 in a win against Florida Tech when she had 26 kills, 55 total attempts, a .400 hitting percentage, as well as 17 digs and three blocks on defense in five sets.