The Stockton Women's Eight Rowing team with, from left, William Gormley, Stan Bergman, Kevin Duffy, John Bancheri and Sean Gormley.
Additional boats to be dedicated Saturday during the Atlantic City Stakes races
ATLANTIC CITY - Two varsity eight boats named for local rowing legend and coach Stan Bergman of Ventnor and supporter and former State Senator William Bill Gormley of Margate were doused with champagne at an official naming ceremony at the Atlantic City Boathouse on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The Bergman boat was made possible through a generous donation by Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey, which is also listed on the Bergman boat. Director of Sales, Labor and Gaming Kevin Duffy said the company's goals include promoting women's health and wellness. He said the Stockton women's rowing team members are role models for the community.
We are happy to help this program become national champions, Duffy said.
Bergman said good coaching is about bringing out the best in everyone.
It's all about the athletes, he said. I hope the boat goes fast and you have fun, grit and perseverance.
Bergman coached for 22 years at Holy Spirit High School and the University of Pennsylvania. A long-time chief of the Ventnor Beach Patrol, he also coached the Viking Rowing Club.
The Gormley boat was a surprise for the local attorney, whom President Harvey Kesselman said has been a tireless supporter of rowing in Atlantic County.
He has spent the last 25 years behind the scenes, Kesselman said.
Gormley said support for the teams is about looking to the future of rowing in the area.
This isn't about nostalgia, it's about tomorrow, he said.
Kesselman thanked the area community for its support of the rowing teams. He said he hopes the expanded program encourages local rowers to stay in the area and row at Stockton.
Atlantic County has some of the best rowers in the United States, he said. There is no reason why we shouldn't have the NCAA championship.
Stockton rowing coach John Bancheri said interest in rowing has quadrupled since he arrived last year. We are headed in the right direction," he said.
The women's rowing team placed third this year in the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championships, their best finish ever, and also finished third in the DIII Varsity Eight at the Dad Vail Regatta. They were recently accepted to row in the Women's Collegiate Eights at the 2019 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston on Oct. 19-20.
Ceremonies will be held to name six more boats Saturday, Sept. 28, during the Atlantic City Stakes boat races in Atlantic City.
At 9:45 a.m. boats will be named for coach Bob Kerstetter, Ray D'Amico '81, Stockton trustee Madeline Deininger '80 and Stockton First Lady Lynne Kesselman '82.
At 11:15 a.m. boats named for Elizabeth B. Alton and R. John Alton will be dedicated. The Alton boats were made possible through a donation by Elizabeth Endicott and the Alton family.
The Alton Student Lounge on the second floor of the new Stockton University Academic Center, 3711 Atlantic Ave., will also be dedicated at 2 p.m. Saturday following the boat races. Elizabeth Alton was a founding member of Stockton's board of trustees and a tireless advocate for locating a state college in South Jersey.
The public is invited to attend the boat races and dedication ceremonies.
