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News
Vesper Boat Club and La Salle University Sign Landmark 10-Year Partnership Agreement
Vesper Boat Club and La Salle University are proud to announce the signing of a new 10-year partnership agreement that solidifies a long-standing and highly successful collaboration between one of the nation’s premier rowing clubs and a rising Division I rowing program.
“This agreement fundamentally seals our partnership,” said Sally Scott, Captain of Vesper Boat Club. “Vesper and La Salle work together daily to support each other’s goals in our sport. From our shared coaching resources to our aligned use of fleet and facilities, this partnership is designed to enable the growth and success of the La Salle Crews, Vesper’s Racing Team, and our expanding Masters program.”
Under the new agreement, La Salle University’s rowing teams will continue to call Vesper home, training out of the club’s iconic boathouse on Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row. The agreement also reflects a shared vision of excellence, inclusivity, and long-term investment in the sport of rowing. The contract began June 1, 2025, and runs through May 31, 2035.
“La Salle student-athletes and coaches bring tremendous energy and professionalism to our shared space, and this agreement allows us to deepen the mutual respect and coordination that have defined our relationship,” said Greg Ansolabehere, President of Vesper Boat Club. “We’re thrilled to partner with an athletic department that sees rowing as a strategic priority—and to work together to create more access, more performance, and more growth across the sport.”
The partnership comes on the heels of standout seasons for both La Salle crews, capped by historic performances on the national stage.
Men’s Rowing – 2025 IRA National Championship Results
- Varsity 8+: 3rd place in the C Final — #15 national ranking
- 3rd Varsity 8+: #18 national ranking
- 2nd Varsity 8+: #21 national ranking
Women’s Rowing – 2025 A-10 Championships & Dad Vail Results
- Varsity 4+: Bronze Medal at the Atlantic 10 Championships
- 2nd Varsity 8+: Grand Final appearance at Dad Vail Regatta
- Varsity 8+: Recorded one of the program’s fastest 2k times and closed the season with a strong performance at the ACRA Championships
“Partnering with Vesper Boat Club offers our student-athletes the opportunity to train at a historic, high-performance facility while being surrounded by some of the best rowers and coaches in the country,” said Ashwin Puri, Vice President for Athletics & Recreation at La Salle University. “This long-term agreement is a reflection of our confidence in the program’s future—and of our gratitude to the Vesper community for their commitment to our team.”
2025 Vesper Masters Sculling Camp — August 23–24
Train with Vesper coaches on Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row at our 2025 Masters Sculling Camp, held Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 24 at Vesper Boat Club. This two-day camp is designed for experienced masters rowers looking to sharpen their skills ahead of head race season.
The program takes a holistic approach to training—blending on-the-water technical coaching and video review with off-the-water sessions including functional movement evaluation, rigging, strength training, and mental preparation. You’ll leave with actionable feedback, personalized drills, and a deeper understanding of your rowing.
☕️ Expect early morning coffee, post-row happy hours, and a Sunday night gathering with Vesper members—we believe rowing is as much about community as it is performance.
Camp Fee: $600
🔗 Register here!
About the Coach
John Leekley brings decades of experience coaching rowers of all levels—from collegiate to masters. A six-time Coach of the Year with Washington College, John has also worked with the U.S. Naval Academy’s Masters Women’s Camp and founded Masters Rowing Camps. He is a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and seasoned competitor with medals from Masters Nationals.
Vesper Announces New Coaching Leadership
We are proud to welcome Ivo Krakic as Director of Rowing and Marqus Brown as Head Coach of the Racing Team, ushering in an exciting new chapter in the club’s long-standing tradition of excellence.
Ivo Krakic brings extensive international and collegiate coaching experience to Vesper. A former member of the Croatian National Team and standout athlete at Drexel University, Ivo most recently served as Head Men’s Coach at La Salle University. There, he led the program to unprecedented success, including national rankings, a Collegiate 8+ win at the Head of the Charles, and qualification for the Henley Royal Regatta. As Director of Rowing, Ivo will oversee athlete development across all levels of the club and foster a high-performance environment built on trust, rigor, and teamwork.
Marqus Brown, a Philadelphia native and La Salle University graduate, returns to Vesper with deep ties to Boathouse Row. He began rowing in 2008 and has been a camper, rower, and coach in the local community ever since. After competing at an elite level with Penn AC throughout the Tokyo Olympic cycle, Marqus transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach at the University of Washington and leading youth development programs in Texas. As Head Coach of the Racing Team, he will lead competitive training and race strategy for Vesper’s elite crews.
Membership
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Vesper Boat Club? Vesper offers various membership categories for rowers, and non-rowers alike.
You'll also find forms and waivers in this section.
Masters Rowing
Vesper offers a competitive program, and coaching for our masters athletes who are looking to compete at local Philadelphia races, Diamond State Masters Regatta, USRowing Masters Nationals Championships, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.
Vesper Boat Club has no affiliation with any other ‘Vesper’ organizations public or private.