Project Editor: Joshua Vapenik, History 470: Digital History, Spring 2008

Successful Members

For several members of Nebraska Crew, their experiences at Nebraska were only the beginning of what would become successful careers in the sport.

Lisa Rhode, a native of Hubbard, Nebraska, was one of the most successful. Rhode transferred from Nebraska to the University of Pennsylvania, where she met with much success, winning a silver medal at the National Women's Rowing Championships in the pair without cox in 1977 and a gold and silver medal at the same championships in 1976. Rhode went on to become a finalist for the US Olympic team in 1980 and won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic games as a member of the women's quad (Kelley, 1984).

Pete Zandbergen was one of the founding members of the men's team and also started the women's team. After rowing for Nebraska, he continued to practice and won fouth place at the 1985 World Master's Championships in the men's quad, along with Mark Stormberg. He went on to be elected president of the United States Rowing Association. He also became a certified official for Olympic rowing, one of only 12 people in the United States to be so qualified. Zandbergen also served on the 1980, 1984, and 1988 men's Olympic teams as manager/team leader for the rowing team (World Herald, 1994). He helped to start the Omaha Rowing Association, coaching and serving on the Association's board of directors. He remains active in the rowing community through advising and officiating to this day.

Mark Stormberg was another founding member of the team who not only rowed but also coached the men and women and later served as a coordinator and advisor for the team (Allan, 1983). Stormberg was a member of the varsity four with cox that placed fifth in the nation. He too continued to row after graduating from Nebraska, becoming a member of the National Team. He was a member of the men's double that placed third in the World Master's Championships in 1985. At the same competition he and Pete Zandbergen were members of the men's four with cox that placed fourth.

Ann Rains rowed for several years at Nebraska, after which she moved to Philadelphia and took a position as the head rigger/boatman of the Vesper Boat club. In this position she was responsible for overseeing care of all the club's racing equipment, a position of much responsibility (Newsletter, 1977). At the time Vesper was one of the most successful boat clubs in America and its members were regularly seen on the National and Olympic teams. Rains also captured silver at the 1977 National Women's Championships as a part of the Vesper quad without cox.