Coaches
TJ Scarpa
Youth Men's Coach
TJ began his rowing career at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ, where he was a four year varsity sculler, winning a state championship in his sophomore year in the junior 2x. He was then recruited to row for Marist College's Division 1 Mens Rowing program where he also majored in Communications, with concentrations in Sports Communications, Journalism, and Business. While rowing at Marist, TJ worked his way up from the second freshman eight to the varsity eight in just two years. He was also a part of the Marist team that sent three eights to IRA's for the first time in school history.
In addition to his athletic achievements, TJ has spent the past seven years coaching rowing and in leadership roles. He served for five years as an assistant coach for his local travel baseball team, was the Learn-to-Row program director for St. Joseph High School from 2020-2022, and is currently the head Learn-to-Row and Juniors coach at Hudson River Rowing Association. In addition to leading the Westerville Crew Youth Men's program, TJ is enrolled at Ohio State University working on his Masters of Sports Coaching.
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Tolly Allen
Women's Coach
Coach Tolly began rowing at Middletown Rowing, (Connecticut), Kent School and Brown University. After graduation from the U. of Washington he served in the Army with his last assignment being as an economics teacher at West Point, where he also coached the varsity men’s crews, transforming a program that had not won a race in institutional memory into a college club powerhouse in just two years.
After leaving the Army, Tolly entered the corporate world and continued his own rowing in Cleveland, Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, and several clubs in south Florida. He also coached juniors’ crews in Florida, where, among other achievements, his crews won the Head of the Schuylkill, appeared on the podium at the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association, and in the finals at the US Rowing Club Nationals.
Along the way, he has coached men and women’s crews from novice to elite level, including a small group from their first strokes to the finals at the Elite Nationals.
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Howard Bruss
U14 Coach
Howard started rowing in high school and was team captain at St John's Toledo High School. He went on to row for The Ohio State University. His passion for rowing was re-ignited as 2 of his 3 sons rowed for Westerville Crew. Howard has been rowing for the Westerville Masters organization for the past few years. He is excited to leverage his rowing expertise and his previous experience teaching tennis at a high level to teenagers and adults. He most recently coached Buddy Up for Life a high-energy adaptive tennis and fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome .
Howard lives in Westerville with his wife Wendy and has 3 boys Howie, Ethan, and Aiden. He spent 27 years in technology, most notably as SVP and CIO of Ascena Retail and EVP and CIO of Safelite Autoglass. In 2022 he decided to follow his passion for fitness and opened his first 24/7 infrared fitness studio in Westerville called HOTWORX.
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Drew Brown
Coming Soon
Ben Harvey
Originally from Northeast Ohio, Coach Ben was a wrestler and baseball player in high school and did not pick up rowing until attending THE Ohio State University. The toughness, tenacity, and mentality required to do well in the sport was an immediate draw for him, and has kept him hooked ever since. Being vertically challenged, Coach Ben spent the majority of his collegiate career living in bow seat, and so grew a deep appreciation of the technical finesse of rowing. After college, he moved back to Cleveland and coached for Laurel School at The Foundry before returning to Columbus and coaching at an area team. In Fall 2022, his coaching career took him to Westerville as the Women’s Novice Coach.
Cory Henderson
When Cory began his rowing career at Shaker Heights High School he did not realize what amazing opportunities and love for the sport he would gain. Prior to rowing he had never participated in any sports but in 2017 his JV 4+ placed 11th in the SRAA National Championship and in his senior year he was captain of the team. Through this rowing experience Cory acquired values of discipline, diligence, and leadership which encouraged him to tap into his own potential and achieve his own set goals. After taking a year off he realized how much he missed and appreciated these values of rowing and joined The Ohio State team for two years. To keep the sport in his life Cory has now been giving rowers the opportunity to find these values in themselves through coaching, and continues to take strokes with the Westerville Masters Program.
Cole Brown
Bio Coming Soon
Chris Blazo
Chris has spent his entire life around rowing and Westerville Crew thanks to his family's involvement with the program since he was born. Although he only participated in Learn to Row when younger, he is currently an active rower with the Masters program. During High School he swam and was active in Marching Band where he learned the importance of teamwork, leadership, and dedication...all traits he brings to WRC.
Bruce Binnig
Bio Coming Soon