OUR COACHES
Here at Orange County we take pride in our ability to offer top notch coaching to our program participants. Our team of dedicated coaches are former high school and collegiate rowers with a passion for sharing their rowing knowledge with anyone who wishes to learn, and improve their abilities in the sport! Our coaches have lead crews to medaling performances at some of the largest regattas across the United States and Canada. In addition, they have had consistent success at local, state, and national youth championships as well.
We look forward to working with you! Join us today!
Megan Shedden
Program Director
Coach Shedden brings years of rowing and training experience to the table! Coach Shedden began her rowing career in 2002 , where she was a walk on rower for Boston University's Division I Woman's Rowing Team. During her time on the BU squad, Coach Shedden and her boat took third at Eastern Sprints, and bested crews from schools such as Dartmouth and Yale.
Following undergrad Coach Shedden enrolled in the Albany Law School. During law school she continued to row and learned to scull with the Albany Rowing Center.
Upon her graduation from law school Coach Shedden returned to Newburgh and became the Director of Masters Rowing for another local rowing organization. When she realized how much she loved coaching she decided to start OCRA and build a new club that offered a fresh take on rowing to the region.
While building the club up from scratch, she coached for Arlington Rowing Association, where she still coaches today. She started with the novice men's team, which won the HVRL novice championships under her guidance in 2012. She was then promoted in 2013 to the Head Coach of the Varsity Men's squad who won HVRL league championships for the first time in several years. In 2014 the men's program had two boats make it to finals at NYS State Championship, and one medal 3rd place, qualifying for nationals. This was the first time in the 60 year program history that Arlington had sent a boys boat to nationals.
Coach Shedden holds a BS from Boston University, an MS in Bioethics from Albany Medical College, and a JD from Albany Law School with a concentration in Health Law. She is an attorney that practices locally.
Eric Bruzzo
Head Youth Coach
Coach Bruzzo is a vital member of the Orange County Coaching Staff. With his years of experience at both the high school and collegiate Level, Coach Bruzzo adds extremely valuable insight to our program and athlete development.
Coach Bruzzo began his rowing career in 2007 when he joined the Newburgh Free Academy Varsity Crew Team. During his time with Newburgh he won a multiple local, and regional events.
Following his graduation in 2009, Coach Bruzzo was recruited to row for the men's heavyweight program at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. As a valued member of their varsity squad Coach Bruzzo and his boat went on to have medaling performances at large collegiate regattas such as the Knecht Cup and SIRA.
Coach Bruzzo began his coaching career here right here at Orange County! During his time with us he has worked closely with both our youth and adult programs.
As our Head Youth Coach, he is deeply involved with new/program development, assistant coach development, OCRA community initiatives, and looks forward to helping OCRA athletes reach their full potential in this sport!
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Coach Bruzzo holds a degree in Actuarial Science from the State University of New York at Albany
Matthew Scholl
Assistant Coach
Coach Scholl brings with him a very long and decorated rowing career. He looks forward to sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years with all of our members!
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Collin Resch
Assistant Coach
Coach Resch is a Newburgh native, rowing enthusiast, and recent addition to our coaching team. He is a decorated coxswain with years of experience!
While attending Newburgh Free Academy, Coach Resch was a valued member of their rowing team. He served as a varsity coxswain for his first 3 years, and rowed as a lightweight for the following 3. He was named captain of the boys team for two seasons in a row.
After graduating he went on to get his USRowing Level I Coaching Certification. Which he then put to use during his time as an Assistant Coach and Coxswain Coach of another local rowing organization. In addition to assistant coaching a local youth program, he assisted in creating and coaching the rowing program at SUNY Orange.
Coach Resch is extremely excited to join the OCRA coaching staff, and looks forward to sharing his experience with our rowers!
Coach Resch attended SUNY Orange and studied business administration. When he is not coaching, Coach Resch manages a local restaurant, Pamela's On The Hudson, located right here in Newburgh!