Fox Chapel Crew, started on whim with 'crappy boat and ugly old trailer,' marks 25 years of success

It started with 13 rowers, no equipment and a self-described inexperienced coach.

Fox Chapel Crew, founded in 1995 by Mark Bellinger, has grown from a meager program into a thriving sport beloved and respected in the local rowing community.

“My first boat was a used piece of junk but now it’s part of our trophy wall,” said Bellinger, a pediatric urologist from Aspinwall.

“(Our longevity) is not a celebration of me, but of everyone who has helped us grow and prosper.”

As the team marks its 25^th year, Bellinger took time to poke fun at his younger self — a man with a ratty boat, an old, ugly trailer and a daughter who mentioned in passing that “it might be fun to have a crew team at school.”

With that, Fox Chapel Crew was formed with a roster of eight girls and five boys.

It since has grown to 50 rowers from Fox Chapel Area High School and Dorseyville Middle School and envelops more than fitness and competition. Staff pushes the development of discipline, leadership, teamwork and time management to develop student-athletes to their fullest potential, many said.

“I believe that the most significant impact of our program is that it gave most kids a chance to do something that was unique,” Bellinger said.

“Many kids have dribbled a ball or swung a bat. With rowing, many people discover it by accident. We take kids who bust their butts and develop a team mindset, and that’s more important than the trophies.”

Fox Chapel rowers are consistently ranked at the top of their classes and have a record of academic excellence and scholastic leadership, parent/volunteer Amy Meyer said.

“Despite being a challenging sport, rowing is one of the most rewarding activities that I have participated in,” said Ainsley Good, a senior and team captain. “Practices are rigorous, but races make it worth it.

”Dr. B. has always inspired me to dive headfirst into any aspect of life. He is always supportive and kind, but still knows how to keep us motivated to push ourselves.”

Along with a spring and fall season each year, the team offers a summer learn-to-row program for aspiring members, sculling camps for those more experienced and indoor erg training throughout the winter.

In 2019, the team celebrated a high-profile $200,000 move to a new boathouse at Aspinwall Riverfront Park. It was a crowning achievement for a club that started with no stretch of river to claim as its own, organizers said.

The partnership raises the rowing profile and helps to create an awareness of and thirst for a people-powered outdoor activity on the region’s greatest assets, its rivers, Meyer said.

“Dr. B. is out with the team with the sunrise on Saturday mornings and every weeknight through the season,” she said.

“We have become a respected team with superb coaching and graduates who hold coaching positions in collegiate and club programs across the country.”

For many, high school rowing triggered the development of time-management skills that empowered success in career and personal endeavors, she added.

Parents, alumni and current members participated in a socially distant open house at the boat house in late November to mark the team’s milestone of 25 years.

Women’s head coach Katie (McCarthy) Mamatas was a member of the crew team from 2004-2008, during which it was named Midwest champion two consecutive years. She went on to row for Ohio State University before returning to the area and being appointed FC women’s coach in 2012.

“My experience as a rower under Dr. Bellinger is rivaled by that of my experience coaching with him,” Mamatas said.

“He has the most amazing way of instilling confidence in everyone around him, and I accredit many of my successes as an adult to his mentorship. I just hope Dr. B. sticks around another 25 years so our (infant) son can row for him.”

Alumni Jesse Foglia is another whose experience with Fox Chapel Crew transformed into a passion and profession. Foglia rowed for Bellinger from 2000-2004, served as his assistant from 2005-2009 and currently works as assistant coach for the Harvard University men’s rowing program.

“Dr. B. would never describe himself as a rowing guru,” Foglia said.

But the introduction between the two in 1999 was the single-most impactful experience of Foglia’s life, he said.

“Since that day, rowing has never left my life,” he said. “It has taken me to Bates College, Columbia University and now Harvard, along with six summers of international travel coaching representing the United States at the U19 World Rowing Championships in Hamburg, Rio, Rotterdam, Trakai, Prague and Tokyo.”

High school training and technical instruction were simple, Foglia said, with a focus on understanding what it meant to be part of a team and contribute to collective success.

Bellinger’s singular focus was team effort, Foglia said.

“He was the last person to take credit for the team’s achievements but the first to arrive for practice and always the last to leave. He has volunteered all these years to create a meaningful experience for the athletes on the team.”

Foglia has tried to mimic Bellinger’s ways in his own career, striving to be unflappable during hectic races and the first to rest a hand on your shoulder, look you in the eye and remind you to have fun.

“I owe my livelihood and the person I have become to the four years I spent as an athlete under his watch,” Foglia said.

Bellinger said the best part of the 25th anniversary has been reconnecting with former team families who still talk fondly of the experiences they had and lifelong friends they made.

“You can remember the races, the travel and the medals, but the people are what make a team and they are the glue that holds us together and cements the memories into one long story of family,” he said.

One of the team’s greatest accomplishments is the scholarship program for students who can’t afford the expensive sport, Bellinger noted.

“In several cases, kids have gone on and gotten scholarships to schools they couldn’t otherwise afford.”

This year’s goal in their fundraising campaign is $15,000. Donations are welcome at foxchapelcrew.org.

In the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, the past year has been unusually difficult but Bellinger is hoping a successful spring season awaits. For now, winter conditioning will begin online — a strange twist for a sport that reeks of fresh air, cold water and exhilarating scenery.

“I am hopeful that as we progress into the spring, we will be able to remake our practices and racing into what will be even more meaningful for our athletes,” Bellinger said.

“If we continue to get the support and the coaching, we’ll be in good shape.”