Coaches | bedfordcrew

Coaches:

Randy Ford, Water Coach

I have been coaching for Bedford Crew since 2013. I started my rowing career at UNH and have continued rowing and coaching through the years at high school and collegiate levels. I have coached at UNH, William's College, St. Anselm's College, Central HS, and Amoskeag Rowing Club. I live in Bedford with my wife, Anna, and two children, Jordan and Sydney.

Anna Petrella, Water Coach

I have been coaching the girl's team since the fall of 2015. My rowing career started at UNH in 1980, continued competitively after my college rowing years and also coached at Mt. Holyoke College. I continue to compete in masters events. I live in Bedford with my husband, Randy Ford, and two children, Jordan and Sydney. I work full time at my chiropractic practice in town. I am looking forward to another great season with Bedford Crew!

Jeff Upton, Water Coach

I started my coaching career with Bedford Crew as a volunteer in Spring 2021. In Fall 2023, I signed on as a full-time coach. I learned to row back in college on Cornell University’s Heavyweight Team where I rowed for 4 years, participating in events like the Eastern Sprint, Head of the Charles, and IRAs. I've lived in Bedford for 20+ years with my wife Sheila after relocating from Pennsylvania (Go Birds!). We raised our two children, Andrew and Emily, here in Bedford where they both participated in Bedford Crew as rowers and coxswains. Go Bulldogs!

Joan Lord, Water Coach

Joan Marie Lord started coaching for Bedford Crew in the Spring of 2023. She learned to row and cox at the University of Rochester, New York. Her favorite race is the Head of the Charles, for the technical difficulty of the race for the coxswains. After graduation for a couple of years, Joan continued to race at the HOC with group of women from Undine Barge Club. Joan lives in Merrimack and works at Memorial Elementary school.

Sydney Ford, Water Coach

Sydney Ford is a 2016 graduate of BHS, beginning her own rowing career right here at BHS. After high school, she competed in Division I rowing and served as team captain at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. During her tenure at Marist, she helped her team win Head of the Charles and two consecutive MAAC conference titles, earning the team back to back automatic bids to compete at the NCAA Championships. Sydney has also trained and competed at the elite level at Riverside Boat Club in Boston and ARION in Saratoga Springs, NY. Outside of rowing, Sydney works in the marketing and communications field.

Jennifer Williams, Water Coach

Jennifer is a US Rowing Level 2 Certified Coach and began coaching for Bedford Crew in the Fall of 2019. In college, she rowed for Colgate and Cornell University and has continued to row competitively for several clubs since then including Cascadilla Boat Club, Norwalk River Rowing Club, Portland (OR) Boat Club, and Amoskeag Rowing Club. She has achieved success at the national and international level, winning numerous races including the Head of the Charles, Masters Nationals, Canadian Masters Nationals, and Head of the Fish. She also competed in the 1996 Olympic trials. She runs the New Hampshire Championship Regatta in October and works for a medical device development company when not involved with rowing-related activities.

Rich Branch, Water Coach

Rich has been involved with rowing since his high school days and began coaching when he was in graduate school at Boston College. Rich has coached at the club, high school, collegiate, and elite levels. Rich is originally from Canada and lives with two rowers: his wife Annie and daughter Emma. Rich is usually joined by his assistant coach Solo, a goldendoodle pup who knows a ruff catch when he sees it.

Amy Klagges, Water Coach

Amy attended Michigan State University where she rowed for four years. She is excited to share her love of the sport with the students at BHS. Amy lives in Bedford with her husband, 3 sons, and 4 dogs. Her oldest son, Colin, is on the BHS Crew team. In her free time, Amy enjoys hiking in the White Mountains, spending time on Lake Sunapee with her family, mountain biking, skiing, CrossFit, and volunteering at Motley Mutts Rescue.

Jane Wirch

Jane started rowing in high school, for the Tabor Academy varsity team, and competed twice in the Head of the Charles. She has rowed at the club level off and on since, in Switzerland, upstate New York and Boston. Jane has degrees in designing curriculum, teaching, and leadership. She teaches English and French at NHTI in Concord, and is a BHS parent to rower Conrad Wirch ’27.