Having been in the sport of rowing since 1958, Coach Dennis Kamrad has brought a lot to the crew teams at UCF, as well as many others in Florida and across the nation. Some of these teams include the University of Alabama, Edgewater High School, Florida Athletic Club, Orlando Rowing Club, Florida Institute of Technology, Michigan Technical University, Northern Michigan University, and Washington College. He has served numerous times on the U.S. Rowing Board of Directors, the Lightweight National Committee, and aside from forming them, the FSRA, FIRA, and SIRA. Coach Kamrad has been inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame and the Rollins College Sports Hall of Fame.
Though some may disagree with parts of his method, his workout plans involve his own ideas, as well as the students’. He tried to let the team make their own decisions, stating that "everyone helps paint the picture." Picking the oars back up at UCF to help out one of the programs he began, Dennis Kamrad’s enthusiasm and passion for the sport has spread like a wildfire amongst those he coaches, and the spark has been created again within our own team. Coach Kamrad tells us that he guarantees that his "life long membership will be used to the fullest." We don’t doubt it, and we hope that that goal will take many, many years to accomplish.
Kristen Larson began her rowing stint at UCF in 2000 under the guidance of Dennis Kamrad. Prior to rowing Kristen began her UCF career on the women’s basketball team as a red shirted freshman. Without having ever set foot in a boat she came across the crew office and never looked back. During the ’02-’03 seasons she served as co-captain to the Division I team and in the following season of ’03-’04 served as team captain. In 2003 she left to train competitively in Illinois and Indiana at The Chicago Rowing Center. Kristen has rowed under Dennis Kamrad, Vicky Summerfield, Michael O’Gorman and Leanne Crain. In 2005 Kristen served as an assistant coach to Central Florida’s Club men’s novice crew and from 2006 to current time has served as the inaugural coach to the Central Florida women’s club team.
In May 2007 Larson graduated from UCF with double degrees in Spanish and Interpersonal Communications and a minor in criminal justice. More than likely if you come across one of Kristen’s practices she will be doing the workout right along with the athletes. She believes in coaching through example and always wants to teach people to push their limits both on the water and on the erg. To this day Kristen continues to train and aspires to teach anyone who has any interest in the sport that she considers to be the greatest thing she has ever come across.
Dan is from Neptune Beach Florida. He graduated from Fletcher High School in 2004 number 7 in his class. Senior year he was a co-capitan of the baseball team. He is double majoring in History and Political Science. Dan started rowing in Fall of 2005 and loves the challenge that it presents.
Originally from New Jersey, Brodie is a Mechanical Engineering major in his 3rd year at UCF. It is his 2nd year on the team and his first year as Treasurer. Brodie was also one of the first place rowers in the Men’s Lightweight Novice Four at SIRA’s this past Spring.
Steven is from Bradenton, FL. He graduated from Manatee High School where he was Captain of the Cross Country team his senior year. In his second year at UCF he is double majoring in Political Science and Economics. He joined the rowing team in the Fall of 2005 and enjoys the spirit of teamwork that the sport has to offer.
Allison Murphy started rowing in the summer of 2001 at a Space Coast Crew summer rowing camp. She spent her Novice year learning how to row and cox from Brice Crossley, UCF Alum/Coach. Allison spent the next three years as the Head Varsity Coxswain for the Women's Program at Space Coast. Allison joined Central Florida Rowing in the Fall of 2005. She is a junior and majoring in Organizational/Interpersonal Communications.
A Junior at UCF, Erin is majoring in Anthropology, with a focus on the forensic branch. She joined Central Florida Rowing in the Spring of 2006 as a Coxswain for the Men's Team. Erin is also involved at UCF as President for the Honors Congress, the student organization for the Burnett Honors College; the research project, ChinaVine; and as a graduate from the LEAD Scholar's Program, where she served as a mentor. Born and raised in Orange Park, Florida (just south of Jacksonville), she is an avid swimmer and absolutely loves the water.
Born and raised in Stafford, Virginia, Michelle started coxing for Central Florida Rowing in the Fall of 2005. Now a varsity coxswain for the Men's team, she placed first at SIRA's in 2006 in the Men's Lightweight Novice Four and ninth (semi-finals) at Dad Vails in the Men’s Lightweight Varsity Four in 2007. She is a junior at UCF and double majoring in Spanish and Psychology with a certificate in American Sign Language. While at UCF she has graduated from the Lead Scholar Program, and was a mentor to a freshman class; she is also a member of the National Collegiate Scholars Association at UCF since spring 2006.
This is Jackie's first year rowing. She graduated from Coral Shores High School in the Florida Keys in 2006. She is a sophomore at UCF and is pursuing a degree in Biology. In High School she was captain of her senior softball team, played volleyball, and competed and coached gymnastics for many years. Jackie is anxious to get the Women's Club team off the ground again this year.