Meet The Team
Sharon Kriz - Director of Rowing
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.
Tom Rooks - Coach
Tom Rooks (Certified Level 2 Coach) is the high school boys coach. He 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
Bruce Lifka - 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 License
Other: Retired Pharmaceutical Executive, long time youth soccer coach, WBC Board Member since 2015