F-M Crew History
The F-M crew club was founded in the Spring of 2004 when a small but growing group of interested athletes, supported by their enthusiastic parents, formed a new rowing club. The team has quickly become a recognized force on the New York State scholastic rowing scene. Having accumulated NYS Championships is each season since its formation, the club continues to grow and find new success each season.

The begining of F-M crew
Our first season
Season two
Season three
Season four

The Beginnings of F- M Crew

The idea of a Fayetteville- Manlius High School Crew Program began in April 2001 when parent Bob O'Leary became aware of the success the sport enjoyed at other high schools. As Manlius Town Justice, O'Leary believed a Crew program would help connect students with their school and provide positive opportunities for those not currently involved in a high school sport. At that time only a handful of F- M students had ever tried rowing. Judge O'Leary first met with Fayetteville- Manlius Superintendent of Schools Philip Martin and Athletic Director Rich Roy in April 2001 to discuss starting a team. O'Leary recalls being asked in that meeting whether he believed there would be enough interest among the F- M students to fill one eight-person shell. Without any proof to support his belief that there was interest among F- M students, Judge O'Leary set out to create support for the program. Judge O'Leary and his wife Ellen sent questionnaires to more than 100 parents. The O'Learys attended numerous meetings with F-M school officials and regularly called School Board members to generate support for the idea. The O'Learys also spoke to F-M parents that they knew to attempt to drum up support for a Crew team at F-M High School. The O'Leary's son Rob, then in 8th grade, tried Crew at the Cazenovia Rowing Club during that summer and enjoyed it. Rob convinced his friends to also try the sport. A growing number of F-M students began to talk about a F-M High School Crew Program.

In May 2002 Judge O'Leary organized an informational meeting to introduce more F-M students and parents to the sport of rowing. Judge O'Leary approached F-M parents Ann and Andy Madsen and convinced them to assist efforts to start a F-M High School Crew team. Judge O'Leary and the Madsens organized a public meeting at the Village Center in Manlius to test the interest level in developing a Crew program. The Madsens put together a promotional campaign entitled "Is Crew for You?" Four by eight foot signs were hand painted by O'Leary's son Rob and daughter Caitlin and placed at the "triangles" in the Villages of Fayetteville and Manlius announcing the meeting. The Madsens persuaded local businesses, Burger King and Little Caesar's, to provide free refreshments and invited the media to cover the event. A panel of crew experts was invited to speak and flyers promoting the meeting were posted throughout Fayetteville and Manlius. At F-M High School, Ryan Madsen and Molly Pruski circulated petitions to raise awareness about the Crew meeting. The two students also dressed in Little Caesar's costumes and waved signs the day of the event to encourage attendance. At that time the Madsens lacked any experience with the sport but they understood that Crew could be a positive addition to F-M High School. A packed auditorium of 128 F-M parents and students attended the public information meeting in June 2002. Judge O'Leary credits the Madsens' efforts in promoting the public information session as the breakthrough event that proved that there was sufficient interest to sustain a Crew program at F- M High School.

As the Crew movement gained momentum other parents worked for its approval. Other early supporters included David Schneckenburger, Rich and Caren Konys, Rich Neal, David Schnall, David Jureller, Steve Miller and Mike D'Erita. Assistance was also provided by Saratoga Rowing Association's Coach Chris Chase who provided information and cost estimates for the F-M program to counter arguments relied upon by skeptics.

F-M Athletic Director Rich Roy negotiated an agreement with the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club to allow the F-M Crew program to utilize the Chargers' equipment and facilities at Onondaga Lake. Through the hard work of a small group of concerned and determined parents with the support of then Fayetteville-Manlius School Superintendent Philip Martin and School Board members, the Fayetteville-Manlius Crew program was created in the Spring season of 2004 as a "club sport" and a $250 per student co-pay was charged.

The Fayetteville-Manlius Crewsters, Inc. ( the " F-M Crewsters") was formed in 2004 by parents and supporters of the F- M Crew program to assist with hospitality, fundraising and other activities to promote the sport of rowing at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Today the Crewsters exists as a 501(c)(3) entity. The F- M Crewsters adopted a policy urging the F-M School District to use efforts to make Crew at F-M High School as inclusive to students as possible.

The F- M Crewsters Purpose Statement is:

"A sports booster club to support the Fayetteville-Manlius Rowing Club that provides race day support for rowers and their families. Generally promotes the sport or rowing. Provides, when possible, small supplemental equipment purchases to help support the team and the coaches. Act as a conduit or vehicle to facilitate large donations to the School District or the program. Handle purchases of rowing apparel or other team uniforms, conduct an end of the year awards ceremony. Help to disseminate program information (including off-season training) through an e-mail listserve and website."

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The First Season: 2004:

Forty- Five (45) students comprised the inaugural F- M High School Crew teams. The majority of the Boys and Girls that comprised the First the F- M Crew team had absolutely no prior experience in the sport. The largest concentration of Boys on the 2004 team were juniors. The majority of members of the Girls team were freshmen and sophomores.

The Boys and Girls teams competed in the Novice Division at the New York State Championship Regatta in May. Incredibly, both the F-M Boys and Girls teams won two New York State Championships; the first as the Novice Scholastic Division Champions and the second as New York State Championships of the Club Division. These victories marked the first time that the Boys and Girls from one high school had won the New York State Novice Championships in the same year.

Following the New York State Championship Regatta the F-M Boy's "A" boat went on to race in the Junior Varsity division for the remainder of the schedule finishing a strong second of 7 in the Syracuse Invitational and 11th of 36 in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia. The F-M Boys Novice "B" boat finished a strong 3d at the New York State Championship Regatta and won the Novice Division at the Syracuse Invitational Regatta.

David Schnall served as the Program Director.

Patrick Mahardy served as the Boys' Head Coach. Cy Cramer and Rob O'Leary served as the Boys' Captains. Ryan Madsen was named Most Valuable Player on the Boys' team.

Aaron Lachant served as the Girls' Head Coach. Kate Jureller and Molly Pruski served as the Captains of the Girls' team.

The F- M Crew Team had only three seniors during its first season. Two of these seniors went on to row in college: Kate Jureller to the University of Connecticut and Molly Pruski to University of Charleston. Only one boy Chris Johanson graduated after the first season. Chris elected to not row in college.

An end of the year banquet was organized by Margaret Jureller at which former Syracuse University Men's Crew Coach Bill Sanford spoke. Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro attended the awards ceremony and presented a Proclamation to the School District recognizing the accomplishments of the fledgling team.

Parent Dr. Denis Branson produced a 23 minute video recap of the first season which was sold to the rowers and their families.