New coach guiding North Allegheny rowing into season

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 22, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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The North Allegheny rowing team has some rebuilding to do, but as far as first-year coach DJ Civiletti is concerned, the Tigers control their own destiny.

“We started discussing goals on the first day of tryouts,” said Civiletti, a former Tigers assistant who took over after Dan Jefferies stepped down to accept a coaching job at Duquesne. “Every athlete wrote down (their) goals.

“The consensus is to replicate last year and find a lot of success at (regionals) and make a run for some national titles.”

The Tigers were left with two big holes in the boys lineup.

Aidan Donovan and Arie Kalcevic placed second in the 2017 Scholastic Rowing Association of America Regatta in lightweight varsity double sculls and earned the Tigers only national medal in three seasons under Jefferies.

Kalcevic was in a varsity quad that took first place in the Midwest championship. Tim Appleton and Nick Hladio also departed from that boat.

Junior Gearoid Ridenour returns and, in the first meet of the season, claimed third place in a single in the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta Sept. 16 in Cleveland. Ridenour covered the 4,800-meter course in 19 minutes, 10.26 seconds.

Senior captain Manny Mouganis and junior Ethan Mattson are other top competitors for the Tigers.

The Tigers girls side has gaps, as well.

Among the losses was Emily Chadwick, who won a gold medal in regionals as part of a varsity double. Chadwick competes for Duquesne.

Senior Faylyn Kalchthaler, junior Megan Kelly, sophomore Kellie Smith and senior Rachel Hopey claimed the Tigers only boys or girls victory in the Head of the Cuyahoga in women's open quad.

Smith replaced senior Brooke Gauntner, who was injured.

Kalchthaler is impressed by Civiletti's style.

“The boys team was coached by DJ last year and made substantial improvements,” she said. “I am convinced our team as a whole will be successful.”

Mouganis said Civiletti has great attention to detail and is technically focused.

“So far, DJ has been very organized,” he said.

Senior boys rower Chris Schmitz said Civiletti likes things done on a timely basis.

“He knows what you are capable of and expects you to do it,” Schmitz said.

North Allegheny Rowing Association vice president Jennifer Bakkenist said Civiletti, 23, a former Pitt rower, was the leading candidate to head the program.

“When we started discussing replacing the head coach, we immediately wanted to offer (the position) to him and did not even consider looking for anyone else,” she said.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Allegheny