Elizabeth Ostermeier-Denecke

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Head Coach - Women's Varsity Coach

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Coaching Experience:

• Head Rowing Coach, Varsity Women’s  Coach, University at Buffalo (2018-present)

• Competitive Sculling Coach, BSRA (Summer 2017, 2018)

• Head Masters Coach, BSRA (2013-2017)

• Head Coach We Can Row Buffalo (2009-2012)

• Assistant Women’s Rowing Coach, University at Buffalo (2004-2013)

• Masters Rowing Coach , Augusta Rowing Club (2003-2004)

• Assistant Women’s Rowing Coach, Barry University (200-2002)

• Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, George Mason University (1999-2000)

• Assistant Boys Rowing Coach, Robinson High School (Spring season 2000)

 

Honors and Accomplishments:

• 2019 Coached UB Women’s Varsity 4 to gold at Head of the Niagara

• 2019 Coached UB Women’s Varsity 4 to silver medal at NY State Collegiate Championship

• 2018 Coached UB Women’s Varsity 4 to Gold at Head of the Genesee

• 2010 Coached UB Women’s Novice 8 to silver medal at Dad Vails; team won overall Women’s Point Trophy, Team CAA Conference Champions

• 2009 Coached  UB Women’s Novice to Gold at Dad Vails and the Novice 4 to Gold in the CAA Varsity 4+; Team won Dad Vail Overall Women’s Trophy and Combined Men’s and Women’s Trophy

• 2008 UB Women won Overall Women’s Point Trophy at the Dad Vails

• 2007 Coached UB Women’s Lightweight 8+  to Bronze medal at Dad Vails; gold Metro Championship; ranked 7th LtWt 8+ Poll

• 2002 Barry University qualified for the NCAA Championship for the first time

 

Education:

• MA, Sociology, George Mason University (2001)

• BA, Government and Politics with minor in Sociology, George Mason University (1998)

 

Rowing Career:

Ostermeier-Denecke was a walk on freshman at George Mason University.  She had no prior rowing experience.  She found a home with rowing and began to push harder and harder to be better. She held several leadership positions within the club starting sophomore year as the secretary of the club. Junior year she became President and helped the talks that led to the team being elevated to a Varsity sport in the fall of 1997. Spring of 1997 she helped the Mason Varsity Women’s 8 to come 5th in the final of the Varsity 8 at the Dad Vail. This was the first time for Mason. 

 

Ostermeier-Denecke earned a scholarship and stayed an extra year to gain valuable experience and strength in an effort to row at a higher level.

In the summer of 1997, she began sculling in a development camp on the Occoquan.  It was then she realized she wanted to pursue rowing at a higher level.  In 2002 she went to train with former National Team coach Igor Grinko full time in pursuits of a National Team Spot. While working to do this she earned many medals at the US National Championships.