Meet The Team

Sharon graduated from Rutgers University in 1998 with a B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Studies and was a 3-time USA National Team member. During her college years, she led her rowing team to significant achievements, including a gold medal at the 1995 IRA Championship and a silver medal at the 1998 Under 23 World Championships. After college, she continued rowing while beginning her coaching career, achieving notable successes in various national and international regattas. Since 2000, Sharon has been coaching youth rowing, currently serving as Co-Head Coach of the Men’s High Performance Team and Director of Rowing Programs at Maritime Rowing. Under her guidance, her athletes have consistently excelled, winning multiple medals at the USRowing Youth National Championships and being recruited by top universities.

Kate Alexander joined the WBC coaching staff in the summer of 2024. She is coaching high school girls.

Casey is a WBC masters coach

Coach Bruce Lifka

Education: Fordham University - BS; University of Chicago - MBA

Rowing Experience: University of Chicago, Lincoln Park Boat Club, Carnegie Lake Boat Club, WBC

Coaching: 5 Years; Level 2 Rowing Certification

Other: Retired Pharmaceutical Executive, long time youth soccer coach, WBC Board Member since 2015

Coach Daniell Lawson

Education: Jamestown High School

Rowing Experience: 6th  grade; Level 1 Rowing Certification

Coaching: 3 Years; Middle School, HS, Masters Coaching

Other: Long distance runner

Tom Rooks started the WBC Juniors rowing program in 2014 with Graham Ludmer.  Under his leadership, the club has grown from a handful of rowers to around 100 rowers. He is a Certified Level 2 Coach. Tom is from Orlando, Florida but has lived in several states and on both coasts during his 22 years of service in the US Coast Guard. He began rowing in high school where he competed at the Scholastic Rowing National Championships. He met his wife, Michelle, rowing for the University of Central Florida. He has coached at Boone High School, Garfield High School, Sturgis Charter School, Prince William Crew, and Barnstable Rowing Club. He has coached winning crews at the New England Rowing Championships, the Head of the Occoquan, and various state and local regattas.

Coach Tom is driven to help every WBC rower find their own path to success inside and outside of a rowing shell

Other: WBC Board Member Since 2014; Currently the Director of  Safeguarding at US Rowing

Coach Alan Hochman

Education: University of Florida - BA, MEd 

Rowing Experience: WBC since 2018

Coaching: 5 Years; Middle School program Director, Level 1 Rowing Certification

Other: Elementary School Teacher 1994-1999, Director of Sales at GovSolutions Inc. WBC Board Member Since 2018

Coach Alex Rainey