Megan Dirkmaat McCourt,
Megan Dirkmaat McCourt, a six-time member of the U.S. National Rowing Team and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics, is the new head coach for GPS. In other rowing news, the team’s varsity 8+ boat will compete in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
McCourt, who completed her collegiate career at the University of California Berkeley, was a member of the U.S. Women’s 8+ 2004 Olympic team competing in Athens, Greece, and was part of the Women’s 4+ US team that won the 2007 FISA World Championship.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to become part of the GPS Rowing family,” said McCourt. “I look forward to working with assistant coaches Whitney Standefer and Catherine Ingalls, as well as the girls. They are a great group of hard working and resilient student athletes with a dedicated school administration and an amazing parent support network.
“My goal is to provide a fun and safe environment where the girls can continue to grow both athletically and individually while working within a team structure in order to elevate the team’s performance to the next level."
McCourt has coached at many levels, from the prestigious Los Gatos Rowing Club in California and as assistant varsity coach at Stanford University, to camps at Princeton University and USRowing. She will continue to work with the rowing program at the McCallie School in addition to her new duties.
“I am pleased that our coaching search has uncovered an individual superior in experience and knowledge of the sport, and we are excited she has accepted the position of head coach,” said GPS Athletic Director Stacey Hill. “We feel great about the wealth of experience she will bring to GPS Rowing.”
The GPS rowing team will be traveling to Boston on Oct. 15 to compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta, one of the most prestigious head races in the world, a regatta that attracts around 11,000 athletes from around the world. The GPS Women’s Youth 8+ is one of 84 boats coming “from some of the best schools and clubs in this country,” says GPS assistant coach Whitney Standefer, who will coach the team in this regatta.
The Varsity 8 which will be rowing in the Charles includes seniors Nicki Backus and Tori Hicks; juniors Katie Brandao, McKaylyn Fults, Lili Anne McClanahan, Neely Schermerhorn, and Delaney Swann; and freshman Larkin Brown. Sitting in the coxswain seat will be senior Katie Brown. Junior Maggie Crump will be going as the alternate rower, and sophomore Anna Oglesby will be going as the alternate coxswain.
“While this crew is fairly young, it is one of the most talented and hard-working GPS has produced to date,” says Standefer. “They are the product of an entire varsity team of 26 athletes which has better depth and commitment than any I have seen come through the program.”