Port Rowing Coaches

At Port Rowing, we combine over 100 years of coaching experience under one program. All coaches work together to help our athletes to develop into rowers, as well as build an appreciation for the sport, become young leaders and develop a strong work ethic. Rowing is one of America's oldest sports, and it began here in New York. We work to continue that great history and help each child develop his/her own legacy.

Steve Panzik - Executive Director / Head Coach

Steve started rowing during his senior year in high school in Tallahasee, FL. He rowed on the 1993 USA Jr. National team and competed in the World Championships in Arungen, Norway. He then went on to row at Temple University, where he won two Big East titles and four Dad Vail championships, captaining the 1997 Temple team that ranked in the top 5 in the country. He was a member of the USA Sr. Development camps in 95-97.  He has coached rowing at the high school level for the last 15 years.

Steve has a degree in Exercise Physiology and received his Master's of Science in Physical Therapy from The University of Miami. He owns and operates Power Ten Fitness Club in Port Washington and resides in Manhasset, NY. Steve is married to Shaz and has three children:  Hunter, Logan, and Shea.

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Katherine Byrns - Assistant Coach

Katherine is a graduate of Manhasset High school and a four year high school varsity rower.  She was Team Captain her senior year. In college, she was also a four-year rower and Senior Captain at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Ma.  Katherine competed in the first and second varsity eights.  She was a two-time silver medalist at the New England Rowing Championships (2009, 2010), and a bronze medalist in 2008.   She was a three time bronze medalist at the Patriot League Championships (2008, 2009, 2010) and achieved two Grand final qualifications at the ECAC National Invitational (2008, 2010). Katherine competed at the 2008 Henley Women’s Regatta in England with Holy Cross.

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Mark Cruz - Assistant Coach / Head Strength Coach

Mark comes to us as a five-sport high school varsity athlete at Wilbraham & Monson  Academy in Massachusetts. He went on to receive his B.S from C.W Post and has been a certified personal trainer for over 6 years. During this time, Mark has trained multiple collegiate athletes as well as members of the National Champion C.W. Post Lacrosse team. Mark is an amateur body builder, capturing 3rd place in the NPA Mr. New York in 2011. He currently resides in Port Washington, NY and trains at Power Ten fitness.

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Taylor Ferrara - Assistant Coach

Taylor began rowing at Manhasset High School. While at Manhasset, she was a New York State champion, New Jersey State champion, and a 5 time Long Island champion. Taylor captained the Manhasset Crew her senior year. After four years of rowing for Manhasset, Taylor continued her career at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She is now a senior at Hofstra University.

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Darren Gary - Assistant Coach

Originally from Arlington Texas, Darren began rowing his sophomore year in high school at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In college, he rowed for The University of Wisconsin where he won two bronze medals at the IRA National Championship, a gold from the Eastern Sprints Conference Championships, and a gold medal at the Royal Canadian Henley in St. Catherine's, Ontario. After graduating in 2009, Darren worked as a Boatman/Rigger for the Wisconsin Rowing teams rigging and repairing damaged boats. Darren has completed the American Birkebeiner, a Cross-Country skiing marathon in Northern Wisconsin three times.

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Calli Giannopoulos - Assistant Coach

Calli began her rowing career at Manhasset High School. While at Manhasset, she was a 7-time Long Island Champion, New York State Champion and New Jersey State Champion. Calli also rowed in the Varsity Eight for Row New York which reached the semi-finals at the US Youth National Championships.  Calli was recruited to row at Syracuse University where she rowed 7 seat, helping the boat record first-place at the Kittell Cup against Boston University, the O'Leary Cup versus Harvard and Dartmouth, as well as winning a Gold Medal at the Big East Championship. Calli started her coaching career in 2009 as an assistant at Row New York.

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Briana Pittman - Assistant Coach

Briana is from Pittsburgh, PA and began rowing the summer before her freshman year at North Allegheny High School. She has two silver medals from the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, along with a bronze medal in the quadruple sculls at the USRowing Youth Invitationals. She placed in the top 15 internationally and top 10 nationally at the C.R.A.S.H.-B. World Indoor Rowing Championships. In 2006, Briana was chosen to be a member of the United States Junior National Team, competing in the quadruple sculls in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She went on to row at the University of Wisconsin for four years and was elected team captain her senior year. During her college career, she acquired four Big Ten Medals and was part of the first ever Big Ten Championship team in Wisconsin history. She placed 2nd in the Varsity 4+ at the NCAA Championships, marking the highest nationally placing boat in the history of Wisconsin rowing.  In 2010, she was a member of the Varsity 8+ that placed 10th at NCAAs, resulting in a 7th place overall team finish, which was the highest the team has ever finished at NCAAs. She has spent the past fall and winter living in Madison, helping to coach the women's freshmen team at Wisconsin, and completing her first half marathon.

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Michael Small - Assistant Coach

Mike rowed for SUNY Albany from '86 through '88. During the summers of '86 and '87, he also rowed for Al Borghard at Sagamore Rowing in Huntington, competing and medaling in several NY Empire State Games. More recently, Mike assisted with Port Rowing's 2011 Summer Programs. Throughout the summer you could have found him in his single either chasing an 8 or being chased by an 8. For the Fall of 2011, Michael assisted Port Rowing's developmental program. Mike currently resides in Port Washington, NY with his wife and 3 children.  His son Austin rows on the Port team.

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Mitch Tamkin - Assistant Coach

Mitch is a two-time High School National Champion with Kent School in Connecticut, and a two-time member of the US Junior Team. He was a silver Medalist in the 1976 World Championships in the Coxed Four. Mitch continued his rowing career at the University of Pennsylvania under Ted Nash, where his Freshman Eight won the National Collegiate Championship. He is currently involved in the National Rowing Foundation (NRF) and a resident of Port Washington. His daughter, Eva, is currently on the Port team.  Mitch is the president and one of the founders of Friends of Port Rowing.