West Potomac Coaching Staff
Welcome New Head Coach, Grace!
Grace Grimstead has been rowing at a D1 level for 5 years, both at the University of Washington and later at the George Washington University. She was a member of the crew at GW that won the 2V8 Atlantic 10 Championship in 2022 and was a captain in 2023 when the team won the A10 Championship and competed at NCAAs.
Other notable achievements include being a member of the 2017 3A championship-winning volleyball team in Washington State and a member of the University of Washington women’s team in 2019 when they swept NCAAs. Grace holds a degree in Organizational Sciences from GW. She has worked closely with kids of all ages to gain a better understanding of the sport and what it takes to succeed in it. Additionally, Grace is also a freelance event planner and coordinator. |
LESLIE SHINNERS — (retired 2023) Lead Coach, Women
Leslie has been a competitive sweep rower for more than 30 years, winning several Masters’ championship races with her team, Alexandria Community Rowing. Her daughters rowed at West Potomac and she coached here for three seasons from 1996–1999, taking over Head Coach duties from Chick Little in 1997–1998. Leslie returned to the team as Head Coach in the 2012 season, retiring from that position the 2023 season. She is thrilled to continue on as "Coach". Leslie was formerly a recreation administrator and adjunct professor at George Mason University’s School of Recreation, Health and Tourism. Contact: lgshinners@fcps.edu
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ALAN WEATHERLEY — Lead Coach, Men
STEVE DENNE — Assistant Coach
Steve started as a crew parent when his eldest daughter started rowing for TC Williams (now Alexandria City H.S.) in 8th grade and followed her to regattas all over the East Coast. He took a novice rowing program in Alexandria in 2004 and has been rowing as a master since. He lived in Little Rock Arkansas from 2008–16 where there were not enough rowers for an eight person sweep boat. He helped lead periodic learn-to-rows and improved his sculling skills on the Arkansas River. He returned to Alexandria and to competitive sweep rowing in 2016. Four years later he took the US Rowing coaching training but had to wait more than a year to coach because of COVID shutdowns. 2024 will be his fourth season coaching West Potomac women and Alexandria Community Rowing adult sweep masters.
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SHERI GIBSON — Assistant Coach
I’m a local girl. I went to Fort Hunt High School, joining the crew team my freshman year and continuing to row for all four years. I was the Junior and Senior women’s team captain and had the absolute pleasure of rowing for Coaches Joe Creed and Chick Little. After receiving a rowing scholarship, I rowed four years in college, also becoming the women’s team captain my junior year. One of my favorite memories in college was winning Mid-America‘s in Oak Ridge, Tennessee as a pair with my best friend from high school. Graduating college as a second lieutenant in the U.S Army, I served in the military for many years. I also continued to row on clubs and at one point coached for Robinson High School in Fairfax. After leaving the military I started working in the news business as photojournalist, which has sent me around the world. Eventually, I moved back to Northern Virginia with my husband, so we could raise our twins here. Realizing I missed coaching, I reached out to the amazing Coach Leslie Shinners several years ago and began my coaching career at West Potomac High School (formally my old school). I love working with the talented and dedicated coaching staff and the outstanding athletes of West Po. I have truly come full circle.
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ELEANOR RICHARDS — Assistant Coach
Eleanor is a retired Nurse and Project Manager. She started rowing 11 years ago and has rowed for 10 seasons with Alexandria Community Rowing and one season with the Prince William Rowing Community. She is both a sweep rower and sculler and has raced with ACR in local, national and international regattas. She has been a volunteer assistant coach with Alexandria Community Rowing and the Alexandria Crew Boosters Fall Rowing Program, completing Level 2 Coaching Certification in 2021.
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MACKENZIE NEER — Assistant Coach
Mackenzie was first introduced to crew her freshman year at The Ohio State University. She spent her freshman year learning to row and competing in the Big Ten conference and loving every minute of it. Even though that was her only competitive year, the sport held an important place in her history. Fast forward through 20 years of marriage to her Naval Officer husband, two children and nine different addresses, Mackenzie found herself in Alexandria as a teacher at West Potomac with an opportunity to get back to the sport she loved in college and to get back in a boat herself. She is excited to take on this new experience and to have a fun season with the West Potomac Crew!
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