GR Crew Coaching Staff

Amy Burton, Varsity Women's Coach
amy@grrowing.org

Amy Burton rowed for Carlson High School for four years. During the summers she rowed for the Wyandotte Boat Club with rowers from other schools. During her last summer of rowing she placed in her women's double at the National Championship race.

5 years ago Amy Burton started to help GR Crew as a volunteer. She quickly became the novice coach, and has now coached varsity for 3 years. She also teaches 4th grade in Cedar Springs at the Creative Technologies Academy.

Amy Burton has Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.

Landon Bartley, Varsity Men's Coach
landon@grrowing.org

Landon Bartley was a varsity rower and executive board member for Michigan State University Men’s Rowing for the 2002 – 2005 seasons. In that capacity he eventually achieved a USRA Level III coaching certification, and also holds the distinction of being the largest person to ever cox a junior 8+ shell, one fateful day in Summer 2004.

He currently works as City Planner for the City of Grand Rapids, and received both a B.A. in Linguistics as well as M.A. in Urban Planning from Michigan State University. Landon is also the President of the Grand Rapids Rowing Association.

Tom Postma, Novice Girls' Coach
tom@grrowing.org

In the fall of 1999, Tom met Diane DeLuca, an elite master women's rower. The story of that meeting and the magic of his first rowing strokes with her is one that he has shared with many parents and rowers. If you haven't heard it, please ask.

From 2000 to 2004, Tom's focus was on training and competing as a master rower (over 27 years of age). Dustin Ordway shifted Tom's focus toward coaching in the spring of 2004 and he began coaching novice rowers out of the Jupiter boathouse in the fall of 2004.

Tom still trys to row his single 350 to 500 miles each season with 2 sprint races and 2 head races. He train on the ergometer during the winter with a goal of 500,000 meters in the off season and at least one indoor race. He also attends all coaching clinics in the Midwest and has enjoyed 3 sessions in the past 5 years at Craftsbury Sculling Center in Vermont.

Tom left the teaching profession in 1980. GRCrew has called him back to education and he is committed to using his skills to train novice rowers for their transition to varsity rowing. Tom is currently the Secretary of the Grand Rapids Rowing Association.

Eric Kazmierski, Novice Boys' Coach
eric@grrowing.org

Eric Kazmierski, OBE (born 5 May 1972) is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Kazmierski is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have two children: a son, Croyde (born in 2004), and a daughter, Kiki (born in 2009). In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport. He is also a trained geography teacher, as stated in an episode of BBC comedy quiz School's Out.