2024 High School Team - Summer Staff

Roger Huffman

Roger has been coaching for over 14 years at the college and high school level. He just completed his 12th year as the head coach of the MRC girls team and has taken multiple crews to nationals in each of the last four seasons. He began coaching at the University of Wisconsin in 2010-2011. He then coached with the heavyweight men at Princeton University (2011-2012). He also coached high performance camps at Princeton and development camps in Madison before landing at the Milwaukee Rowing Club in the fall of 2012. Roger rowed at the University of Wisconsin (Class of 2010) and at Orange Coast College.

Grace D’Souza

Her experience in rowing ranges from the Milwaukee Rowing Club to the US National Team. As a junior athlete, Grace rowed for the Milwaukee Rowing Club from July 2013 through July 2017. During her time as an athlete at MRC, Grace competed at The Head of the Charles, the San Diego Crew Classic, and most notably, Youth National Championships in the Lightweight 4+. Additionally, Grace served as the team captain during her senior year.

Grace was recruited to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Women’s Lightweight Team where she began her collegiate career as a Division I Athlete. While on the team, Grace set the standing Freshman and All-Time 2000m records for the lightweight team. In addition, Grace served as the Lightweight Team Captain during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons.

During her summers, Grace trained with High Performance groups around the country and competed for the US National Team in 2021 in the Lightweight Womens 4x. In 2018, Grace rowed at Vesper Rowing Club in Philadelphia, competing in US Time Trials (2nd in the LW 1x), Club Nationals, and Canadian Henley. In 2019, Grace was selected for the U23 US National Team Camp in Boston, MA, and again competed at US Time Trials (2nd in the LW 1x). In 2020, after being selected for the U23 US National Team Camp again, which was interrupted by COVID-19, she continued to train virtually with the team. Finally, in 2021, Grace trained at Mission Rowing in Santa Barbara, CA, where she qualified the U23 Lightweight 4x at US Time Trials. Later that summer, she placed 3rd in the LW 4x at U23 World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.

John Creighton

John started helping coach the high school crews in the fall of 2019. He learned to row as a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. He was a 3 year letterman at Penn and selected to the US National team sweep camps in 1981 & 1982. While attending graduate school at Bucknell in 1983-85, he helped start their rowing club and became their first coach. John has been an active member of the MRC since 1987 and raced in numerous regattas including Henley Royal Regatta, Canadian Henley, US National team trials, US Masters Nationals and at least 30 Head of the Charles regattas.  

Owen Spahr

Owen currently rows at University of Delaware where he will be a Junior this coming fall. Owen was a long-time member of the MRC youth programs as an athlete with our middle school and high school programs. He was a part of some of the most decorated boys team crews as the program built nationally competitive speed. He was seven seat in the first boys Varsity 8+ in history to qualify for youth nationals. Owen competed in back-to-back years at Youth Nationals in the Men’s Varsity 8+ in 2021 and in 2022. He is a natural leader and coach, and his wealth of experience at MRC and now in college has him well prepared to pass his knowledge and passion for the sport to our current rowers. Owen previously worked with our high school boy’s team for a couple of months in 2023.

Sarah Bradford

Sarah currently rows at UVA (Virginia) where she will be a Junior this coming fall. Sarah was a long-time member of the MRC youth programs as an athlete with our middle school and high school programs. At the MRC, she was part of strong varsity crews as she sat in stroke seat and six seat in the Women’s Varsity 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2021 and 2022. Sarah went on to compete with the US National Team in Italy in the summer of 2022, winning gold at the U19 World Championships in the Women’s 8+. She coached with the MRC last summer, working primarily with the middle school athletes and the learn to row program. Sarah has a lot of high-level rowing experience and we are excited to have her work at the MRC.

Will Densmore

Will currently rows at Williams College where he will be a Junior this coming fall. Will was a long-time member of the MRC youth programs as an athlete with our middle school and high school programs. He was a part of some of the most decorated boys team crews as the program built nationally competitive speed. He was 3 seat in the Men’s Lwt 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2019, and he was stroke seat of the Men’s Varsity 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2021 and 2022. Will has also found success rowing at Williams where he has rowed in the Men’s Varsity 8+ his freshman and sophomore years. His crew won the DIII National Championship in 2023 where he sat 6 seat. Will has great experience with the sport and has coached our middle school and learn to row groups. We are excited to have him work with the high school team this summer.

Sophia Simenz

Sophia currently rows at Columbia University where she will be a sophomore this fall. Sophia was a long-time member of the MRC youth programs as an athlete with our middle school and high school programs. At the MRC, she was part of strong varsity crews as she sat in 5 seat and 7 seat in the Women’s Varsity 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Her Varsity 8+ crew finished in 12th place in 2023 - the best result in club history in the event at Youth Nationals. Sophia served as co-captain of the girl’s team in 2023 before moving on to row at Columbia. Sophia is a great leader, and we are excited to have her work with our programs this summer.

Micah Whitefeather

Micah rowed with our high school program and graduated from our high school team in 2022. He was a strong part of the boys team in a crucial era as they built a solid foundation coming out of covid and grew to a nationally competitive level. Micah is a strong leader and has worked closely with middle school, learn to row, and high school athletes throughout his tenure on the staff at the MRC. He is eager to share his passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport. We are glad to have Micah continue with our staff this summer.