Jim Fitzgerald, Head Coach, NFCEP Coaching Principles, USRowing Level III

Jim is a retired 35 year Navy veteran and returns for his fourth year as head coach. His interest in rowing began with his son Michael (Bronze Medalist at The Stotesbury Cup, the Scholastic Rowing Association Championships and All-Virginia W. T. Woodson '02), who rowed for four years. Jim was a member of the W. T. Woodson Crew Boosters Board, holding the positions of Co-Membership and Communications. With the encouragement of Michael, he joined the Northern Virginia Rowing Club (NVRC) in 1999, and has rowed Masters since. Jim stroked the NVRC men's Grand Masters Eight to the Gold in the Grand Masters Division of the 2005 Head of the Occoquan Regatta, Champions of the Occoquan Chase 2006 and the Bronze in the Men’s Masters 30+ Division of the 2006 Head of the Occoquan.  Jim is currently coaching the women’s masters competition Eight for NVRC.

He is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science in Engineering Acoustics (Underwater Physics).

Jim is currently the Deputy Assistant Director Operational Concepts, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Vice Chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Undersea Warfare Division. Jim's other interests include his 1967 Corvette Stingray and his Florida Gators.

Cindy Seidel, Head Conditioning Coach, ACSM, CCS

Cindy returns this year for her third year with an updated conditioning plan for 2007-2008.  Much of last two seasons' outstanding performance can be attributed to Cindy’s program and dedication to the fitness of Woodson’s student-athletes.

Cindy has been in the fitness industry for over 20 years.  Her experience is extensive and includes everything from training athletes to seniors and gym management.  Until three years ago, she had never worked with 20+ athletes at one time before.  She brings her rich knowledge and enthusiasm to winter conditioning as she prepares the WTWoodson Crew team for on the water training.

“Working with a large team is an exciting challenge!  You have to bring your whole self to each workout and figure out how to motivate the individuals within the team.  Being flexible is key when working with high schoolers - I get to use ALL the training techniques and experience I have as a trainer and teacher to each workout.” 

Kitty de Jong, Assistant Coach, USRowing Level I

Kitty is the mother of a former four-year of rower with the Woodson Crew Team.  Her experience with rowing goes back to Kristina’s freshman year mostly as an observer but also doing her part as a parent volunteer and working with her husband who headed the equipment committee. Last season she jumped at the opportunity to become more involved and participated with the winter conditioning program and assisted coaches on the water. Kitty rows with the Northern Virginia Rowing Club and the Woodson Crew Team. While crew is a new sport experience for her, she is not new to working out and training.  She loves most physical activities, especially cycling, rollerblading and swimming. Kitty competed in an Olympic distance triathlon in Reston, finishing 4^th in her age category (an advantage of not being 25). She looks forward to another exciting season with the W.T. Woodson Crew Team.  Kitty was Woodson’s Women’s Coach of the Year for 2006 coaching the women’s novice Eight to the Gold at the Ted Phoenix Novice Championships.

Ashley Frese, Assistant Coach, USRowing Level II

Ashley returns for her second year as assistant coach for Woodson.  Ashley is a graduate of George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Ashley rowed four years for Robinson High School.  After graduation Ashley coached both Robinson women’s and men’s novices.  In addition to coaching, Ashley is a Registered Nurse in the Med-Surg ICU at Fairfax Hospital.  Ashley was Woodson’s Men’s Coach of the Year for 2006.

Julie joins us for her first year as a part-time assistant conditioning coach. She is a veteran volunteer with the WTW Crew Booster Club and proud mother of a third-year rower (and possibly a freshman, too).  Julie is a certified Pilates instructor training clients at studios in Fairfax, Dupont Circle, and from her home.  She holds full apparatus and mat certifications from BASI Pilates and from Quantum Pilates, and additional certifications through the PhysicalMind Institute, ACE, and AFAA, among others.  Her fitness career spans two decades and has included instruction in aerobics, step, weight training, yoga, and rebounding.  Julie is delighted to be participating in her first season rowing in the NVRC Women’s Masters Competition Eight.  She is an aspiring gourmand who enjoys needlework, reading, and kick-boxing.

Ken is Ashley Frese’s (formely Ashley Leech) husband.  Ken joins us for his first year as a part-time assistant conditioning coach.  He has two years of wrestling, and three years of track and field.   He also played football for a total of seven years, the last four at Gar-field HS.  He is a Registered Nurse at Fairfax Hospital in the Neuroscience ICU.

Meghan joins us for her first year as assistant coach.  Meghan is a graduate of Florida State University.  Meghan rowed four years at Robinson High School and three years at Florida State.  

Katie joins us for her first year as assistant coach.  Katie rowed for Bishop O’Connell High School and Thompson Boat Center and is currently a member of the George Mason University varsity women’s team.  Katie coached at Thompson’s Boat Center this past summer coaching both novices and intermediates.

Whit joins us for his first year as assistant coach.  Whit graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, and currently works with Gryphon Technologies as a subcontractor for the US Navy.  Whit rowed for Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, launching from the Bachelors Barge Club on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia.  He then went on to row in college on the Virginia Tech Crew Team.  Whit has raced in 2X, 4X, 4+, and 8+ events in the Head of the Occoquan, Head of the Tennessee, Head of the Schuylkill, Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Crew Championships, Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships, and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships.  He has rowed at the masters level in the Occoquan Chase, Head of the Old Town, Head of the Occoquan, and the Charm City Regatta.

Jessica joins us for her first year as a part-time assistant coach.  In high school, Jessica rowed for W.T. Woodson in the spring, as well as Northern Virginia Rowing Club  and Thompson's Boat Club in the summer and fall.  She was recruited to row for the University of Notre Dame.  During her four years on the varsity squad, Jessica contributed to four consecutive Big East Team Championship titles, raced in three NCAA Championship Regattas, and was named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar Athlete in 2007.  Jessica graduated from Notre Dame in 2007 and will begin law school in the fall of 2008.