2012 Team captain: J Conor Kelley (Loveland, OH)
Conor has been a member of the team since the spring of his freshman year. He played football in the fall rowing seasons his freshman and sophomore years. During his freshman year Culver had only eight novice boys and the Novice 8+ raced in only the first regatta before one of the members experienced a season ending shoulder dislocation. The CMA Novice 4+ placed third at the 2009 Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championship and was 17-5. Conor raced in the 3 seat of that Novice 4+. As a sophomore, Conor raced in the Varsity 8+ (5-4) and raced some of the races of the Junior/2nd Varsity 4+.
During the fall 2010 season Conor increased his level of involvement in rowing by being part of the team during the fall season also. Conor gained some experience sculling including placing third in the Junior Men's quadruple scull and racing unopposed to first place in the Open Men's quadruple scull at the Head of the Rock (Rockford, IL) Regatta. During the spring of 2010 Conor was the top athlete on the team in the rowing ergometer. He earned scores of 6:25.2 at a national Junior Team talent identification 2000 meter test improving from an earlier C.R.A.S.H-B performance of 28th place in the Junior Men's category of 6:33.5. Conor raced in the Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and Varsity 4x. The Varsity 8+ was 8-1 (its only loss at the first regatta). The team was also strong in the Varsity 4+ (undefeated prior to the Midwest Scholastic Championship, a 3/10 of a second loss in the finals of the Midwest Scholastic and a sixth place finish in the Scholastic National, and then three more races at the USRowing Youth National where they finished last in the C-final with a final record of 30-20) and the Varsity quadruple scull (10-1, second place at the Midwest Scholastic).
Conor begins the 2011-12 school-year as a Master Sergeant in Company B.
"This past spring season has been absolutely transformative. Our team went from being a solid Midwest power to being recognized and congratulated at national championship regattas. As part of a great team, I was the beneficiary of great rowers and coaches. Now as the captain, I want to impart my enthusiasm and motivation to my teammates and get us back to Nationals. Coupled with our coaches' and team's competitive spirit, I know we can get it done. I'm counting on it."