On Feb. 3, ZLAC Rowing Club in Pacific Beach will be honoring several of its finest rowing members who have gone on to compete in the Olympics and attain national prominence in competition.

“ZLAC women have been making history on the water since 1892 when four adventurous young women decided to start a rowing club for women in San Diego,” said Susan Rezner, ZLAC’s vice president.

She added, “The club is famous for being ‘the oldest women’s rowing club in the world.’ Now, as the world prepares for the 2024 Paris Olympics, ZLAC will take an afternoon to celebrate club members who have taken part in the Olympics (and medaled), with the kickoff of a speaker series on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 3-6 p.m. at 1111 Pacific Beach Drive.

Rezner pointed out that eight ZLAC members, representing three generations, have played a role in the Olympics since women’s rowing was introduced to San Diego in 1976. Six members have rowed for the US Olympic team, and two are currently competing again in the selection process for a seat in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“We also have two members who were Olympic officials,” noted Rezner adding, “Four of these members will be present live (on Feb. 3), to share their experiences and backstories and the celebration will conclude with a ‘Go-Get-Em’ toast to our two 2024 Olympian hopefuls.”

For more information, visit www.zlac.org.

ZLAC members to be honored Feb. 3 and their roles in the Olympics:

1. Lynn Silliman Reed (Crew XIII) won bronze coxing the Women’s 8+ in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. This was the first time the Olympics opened rowing events to women.

2. Patricia Stose Wyatt (Crew VIII) ran the rowing venue on Lake Casitas for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics because of her ability to run a regatta efficiently and on time. She was co-founder of the San Diego Crew Classic, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary on Mission Bay.

3. Kelly Rickon Mitchell (Crew XIII) was selected for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but was unable to compete because of the US boycott. In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she won silver in the Woman’s Quad as the coxswain.

4. Susan Francia (Crew XV) rowed to gold in the Women’s 8+ at both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.

5. Kerry Simmonds (Crew XV) won gold in Women’s 8+ at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

6. Tracy Eisser (Crew XIV) placed fifth rowing in the Women’s Quad at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and took 10th rowing in the Women’s Pair in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She is a current 2024 Paris Olympic hopeful.

7. Megan Kalmoe (Crew XIV) the only four-time Olympian in US rowing history, won bronze in the Women’s Quad 2012 London Olympics, fifth place in the Woman’s Double 2008 Beijing Olympics, fifth place in the Woman’s Quad 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and 10th in the Women’s Pair at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She is currently competing for a seat in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

8. Debby De Angelis – Olympics assistant women’s team manager for 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Olympics, Olympic USA delegate 1988 Seoul Olympics, Olympic national official 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Olympic international technical official 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics.

SAN DIEGO CREW CLASSIC

The story of the San Diego Crew Classic begins in the late 1960s. Regattas, such as the San Diego Invitational and Pacific Coast Championship, were already being conducted in San Diego, but

Patricia (Patty) Stose Wyatt thought they might be improved to create a more positive experience for young rowers. Patty Wyatt’s energy and love of the sport were pivotal in bringing the San Diego Crew Classic to fruition.

Along with her fellow members at ZLAC Rowing Club, the oldest women’s rowing club in the world, Stose Wyatt had already successfully held two local regattas, “Rowing is Growing,” and “Knowing Rowing” in 1968 and 1969, respectively.

A high priority from the beginning was to showcase the sport and expose junior rowers to collegiate programs. The intent was a fun and fair winner-take-all competition for bragging rights between traditional and up-and-coming rowing powers from across the country. It was programmed to be fast-moving and on-time, with elements to keep the spectators interested. That the San Diego Crew Classic would continue for 50 years and grow in scope and importance as it has is a testament to that early vision, careful planning, and generous support.