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Philip Grisdela
Phillip Grisdela, Jr.
Lightweight Men’s Eight
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Hometown: Great Falls, Va.
Current Residence: Hanover, N.H.
Club Affiliation: Community Rowing Inc., and Riverside Boat Club
Began Rowing: 2004, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Date of Birth: 5/23/90
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 155
High School: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Undergraduate Education: Dartmouth College, History and Biology ‘12
Current Coach: Dan Roock, Bob Gillette, Judith Vogel
Years on National Team: Two- 2011, Under 23; 2012, Senior
International Results: Finished 9th in lightweight men’s pair at 2011 Under 23 World Championships
National Results: Won the men’s lightweight eight at the 2012 World Rowing Senior Non-Olympic Championship Trials…Took second in the lightweight eight at 2012 Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships…Took second in the lightweight eight at the 2012 EARC Sprints…Won the lightweight pair at the 2011 USRowing Under 23 World Championship Trials...Finished third in the lightweight eight at the 2011 IRA Championships...Finished second in the lightweight eight at the 2011 Eastern Sprints...Finished second in the second eight at the 2007 Stotesbury Regatta.
Personal: Phil's hobbies include road biking, triathlons, and hiking...He always listens to "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine before races...Phil started rowing after his father described it as "the other endurance sport"...The most influential person in his athletic career has been his high school coach, Todd Jesdale...His personal hero is Eric Heiden, the road cyclist and doctor who was the winner of all five distances of speed skating (setting four Olympic records and one World Record) at the 1980 Olympic Games...After graduation, Phil hopes to make the senior national team and to become a military doctor.