Coaches

Coach Love started his rowing career with St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, PA. At the time, he rowed out of the Penn AC boathouse on historic Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River. He competed in the varsity eight his sophomore through senior seasons with his crews having much success. He earned two gold medals in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta along with a bronze, silver, and eventual gold medal in the National Championship Regatta. As a result of winning gold in the Nationals his senior season, his crew earned the opportunity to compete internationally at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta on the Thames River in England. He spent much of his time at the river over the course of his high school years learning from some of the best coaches in the country while rowing for St. Joseph’s Prep as well as Pennsylvania Athletic Club (Penn AC). 

Michael went on to row for Syracuse University under a full athletic scholarship and competed as a member of the varsity eight his sophomore through senior seasons. His collegiate highlight came during his sophomore season when his varsity eight crew fought their way to an undefeated regular season. That same season they went on to place third in the Grand Final at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship (IRA Regatta). This result earned his Syracuse crew an invitation to the National Collegiate Rowing Championship. His crew fell just short of a medal in this event finishing fourth behind the University of Wisconsin, Harvard, and UCLA.  At the close of his senior season while at Syracuse University, he once again had the opportunity to head back overseas and compete in the Henley Royal Regatta in England.

Coach Love is married with 3 children. He enjoys volunteering his time by staying actively involved in coaching his children’s sporting activities. He has coached youth baseball, basketball, football, soccer and crew. Michael really enjoys watching those he works with develop confidence in their athletic endeavors.

Michael is a US Rowing Level 2 Certified Coach

Sathy Gunawardhana rowed competitively in Sri Lanka at Royal College, an all-boys school, from 1988 to 93. During that time, he competed in the Hong Kong Amateur Rowing Championships in 1991 and obtained his high school colors by winning in the Senior Sculls category in 1992. He also rowed in the Sri Lanka Nationals, winning in the Intermediate Sculls category in 1992 and was runner up in the Senior Sculls category in 1993. He became a US Rowing Level 2 Certified Coach in 2019.

An avid athlete, Sathy has pursued scuba diving and long-distance running for many years. He has completed ten Marine Corps Marathons, and is a member of the Marine Corps Marathon Runners Club. Additionally, Sathy has run many other races and distances in the region, including half- marathons, marathons, ultra-marathons, and relays. He has captained four teams for the overnight races in the Ragnar Relay series, winning first place in their category in 2017 in Washington, DC. Sathy branched into long-distance walking in 2019, completing the Kennedy 50-Mile Walk with his girlfriend, Vicki. 

Sathy received his President’s Scout award, equivalent to an Eagle Scout award, in 1992 from the Sri Lanka Scout Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1998 from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a Master of Business Administration in 2005 from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has been living in Loudoun County since 2006 and is the father of one daughter, who attends Broad Run High School and training to become an oarsman herself. 

Sathy is a US Rowing Level 2 Certified Coach.

Adam is originally from Spokane, WA and moved to Arlington, VA for work in 2013.  He attended college for two years in Madrid, Spain before completing a Semester at Sea program and graduating from Eastern Washington University in 2012.  He did not have the opportunity to row in high school nor college but found the sport as an adult with the DC Strokes 2015 novice class.  He rowed with the competitive program the following years, and volunteered to help cox learn-to-row and novice classes. 

In 2019 Adam started coaching for high school novice programs and coached for DC Strokes post COVID.  He loves introducing the sport to novices and seeing the ah-ha moments when concepts click. 

Now Adam both lives and works in Loudoun County (as a data analyst for the Loudoun County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Developmental Services department), he is excited to start coaching high school again. In his spare time he enjoys taking his dogs for hikes with his husband and getting out on the water to scull or sweep when possible.

Rick grew up in Arlington, Virginia and attended Washington-Lee (now Washington-Liberty) High School (1986-1990) where he began his rowing career under Coach Charlie Butt.  During spring crew season, the team would run from W-L to the Potomac Boat Club before practice past the Exorcist Steps (used in the movie)!  His Lightweight-8 boat won gold at Stotesbury and silver at Nationals in 1990.  He also participated in cross country, indoor track, and football while at W-L.  Rick continued rowing for another year at George Mason University under Coach Bob Spousta.

Rick hopes each rower takes a moment to realize what they are experiencing.  Being in a shell on the water is unforgettable!  Striving and working together to go as fast as you can, and hearing the rush of the water on the hull while rowing in synchronicity can be addictive.

Rick now lives in Ashburn, Virginia with his family.  He enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, playing drums, kayaking, snowboarding (when it doesn’t hurt), eating, and traveling.  Some day he might even have a single of his own.

Cassie  grew up in Northern Virginia and attended Woodbridge Senior High School  (1996-2000).  Her rowing career began in 1996 as a freshman under Coach Angie Hart as a bow seat rower.  Her coach quickly realized she was better suited in the coxswain seat.  Her Napoleon Complex probably had something to do with that!  Her ladies 8 went on to finish 3rd in States and competed in Nationals.

After  high school, Cassie continued her rowing career at George Mason University under Coach Bob Spousta as the first female coxswain for the GMU men’s crew team.  She was also a member of the PWC rowing club as a coxswain during their summer seasons from 1997–2003.   

Cassie  further continued her education journey by earning her master’s degree  from Marymount University in Arlington, Va in social  studies education (M.Ed).  Graduating with honors, and a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society.  She now teaches for LCPS and enjoys various hobbies in her spare time.  She is a major fitness enthusiast and enjoys a daily gym routine, hiking, Pilates, and skiing to name a few. She also enjoys traveling, having even lived abroad in Europe for many years.