NAME:
David Cusano
WERE YOU CLUB OR VARSITY OR BOTH:
Club
YEARS YOU ROWED AT UB:
I began in the Fall 1994 and went thought the Spring of 1999, with my engineering co-op program adding the extra year.
WALK ON OR EXPERIENCED:
Experienced, having rowed three years for Liverpool H.S. and the Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club.
FAVORITE ROWING MEMORIES:
I can't imagine going through college without rowing being a huge part of the journey. It really was a "I can't, I have crew practice" kind of life. Made some great friends in the dorms and within my major, but almost all of my social activity involved people on the team. For me our sport has been the best kind of social networking, allowing me to meet some truly amazing people (too many to name for fear of leaving someone out), and has opened more doors and opportunities than I ever though possible. I remember most the training trips to Augusta each spring. Nothing better than a 14 hour drive in the old SA vans. While I'm sure we worked hard practicing twice a day, it's the non-rowing moments that are most vivid. There were some great memories made there and at West Side and Tonawanda Creek, and I'm glad to have kept in touch with my teammates. I'm grateful to Tom and Diane and Joe for coaching us back then. I also remember being so excited to finally get to race at the 1996 Head of the Charles, only to have it be the only year (so far) where the regatta was ever canceled due to weather. There were torrential rains that weekend and I remember walking through Magazine Beach in water well past our ankles. Although we made up for it years later rowing the UB Alumni 8+ in 2009 and 2013.
WHAT ROWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF:
Winning gold at the Head of the Fish in the Lightweight 8+ in 1996 and silver at the NYS Collegiate Regatta in the Lightweight 8+ in 1999.
MAJOR:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
CURRENT OCCUPATION:
My day job is the Head of Visualization in the Americas for Ramboll. On the side I am the Head Coach at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, as well as wearing multiple hats for the CHARGERS Rowing Club including Fall Junior Program coach, Boathouse & Equipment Manager, and Regatta Director.
ADVICE TO CURRENT ROWERS:
For me rowing is something I cannot imagine living without. I've been coaching for over 20 years now, and that passion to give back came directly from my time rowing in high school and college. Cherish the time with your teammates and keep in touch with them long after your last race together. And if possible, try and give back to the sport in some way if it made an impact on who you are. It's something you can do for as long as you are willing to get behind the oar or the erg handle. And don't let the current state of the world dampen your love for the sport. You may have to get creative, but there's always a way to stay connected to the rowing community if you look for it.
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