From the Passaic to the Charles: Nereid Boat ClubContinues Its Tradition of Excellence
Submitted by: Zach Spitzer, Head Coach of Nereid Boat Club
There is something special happening along the Passaic River in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Nereid Boat Club returned from the 2026 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston with another remarkable chapter to add to its long history. And while the medals and race results are certainly worth celebrating, the story is also about the young athletes, coaches, and community behind them.
Held October 16–18, the Head of the Charles is one of the world’s most prestigious rowing events, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world, to compete on its challenging three-mile course. This year, Nereid entered six youth crews, with three finishing among the Top Ten in their respective events.
Another Gold for Nereid
Leading the way was Nereid’s Women’s Youth Coxed Four: coxswain Maggie Lee (Rutherford), Olivia Mendelsohn (Rutherford), Avery Voinov (Wayne), Julia Fila (Garfield), and Alexa Whitworth (Clifton). The crew captured first place in a field of 85, finishing more than ten seconds ahead of the second-place boat. This is the first time any crew from New Jersey has won this event.
The Women’s Under 17 Four—coxswain Clover Irminger (Rutherford), Burke Cooley (Rutherford), LenaThomas (Cranford), Elyana Negron (Nutley), and Avika Tyagi (Mahwah)—followed with an impressive fifth-place finish out of 34 entries.
The Women’s Youth Coxed Quad—coxswain Emily Sanchez (Nutley), Grace Saoud (Rutherford), Lucy Parker (Tenafly), Kati Bedner (Morristown), and Samantha Wainhause (Montvale)—placed eighth out of 48 entries.
The Men’s Youth Four completed the weekend with a 21st-place finish out of 85 entries. The Men’s Under 17 Four finished 23rd and the Men’s Coxed Quad finished 30th.
Behind each result were months of early mornings, demanding practices, and teammates learning to move together as one.
A Tradition That Continues to Grow
Nereid’s success on the Charles is not a one-year story. The club has been building an impressive record at this regatta over the past five years.
In 2022, its Women’s Youth Coxed Quad captured Gold, becoming the first junior crew from New Jersey to win an event at the Head of the Charles. In 2023, the Women’s Under 17 Four earned Bronze. The following year, Nereid brought home three medals, including Gold in the Women’s Under 17 Four.
In 2025, four Nereid crews finished among the Top Ten in their events. The Women’s Under 17 Four earned Silver, the Women’s Under 19 Four captured Bronze, the Men’s Under 19 Coxed Quad placed fourth, and the Women’s Coxed Quad finished 10th.
The 2026 gold medal adds another proud moment to a tradition that continues to grow.
The Work Behind the Results
Under the leadership of Head Coach Zach Spitzer and Nereid’s coaching staff, the program
emphasizes preparation, consistency, and long-term athlete development. In rowing, success is rarely the result of one extraordinary moment. It comes from learning to do the ordinary things exceptionally well, over and over again. That approach has helped Nereid build something lasting.
The program’s success carries well beyond Boston. At the 2026 USRowing Youth National
Championships, eight Nereid crews finished among the Top 20 nationally, including a third-place finish for the Girls’ Under 19 Second Varsity Quad.
A Club With Deep Roots and a Bright Future
Founded in 1868, Nereid Boat Club has been part of Rutherford’s history for more than 150 years. Generations of rowers have taken to the Passaic, and today’s athletes are carrying that legacy onto some of the biggest stages in the sport.
For Rutherford, there is something especially meaningful about seeing a hometown club make its mark among crews from around the world. The medals are wonderful, but so is the pride of watching young people represent their teammates, their club, and the community they call home.
For more information about Nereid Boat Club, visit www.nereidbc.org.
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