Mike Vertullo is entering his 11th year as the Winter Park Women’s Head Coach. Mike began coaching at WPHS with the 1999-2000 season, and was named Florida Women’s Coach of the Year at the end of the 2001-2002 season. Mike has his own achievements as a rower. He rowed from the 8th through 12th grades and two years at Rutgers. In high school, he was a bronze medal winner in the Junior 8’s at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta.
Coach Vertullo received a Bachelor of Arts-Statistics from Rutgers University in 1991 and the NYS Provisional Certification in Mathematics education from SUNY at New Palz. Mike teaches AP Statistics and Geometry at Winter Park High School. He also currently coaches in the morning for the Orlando Rowing Club for their Masters Program. Mike and Heather are the proud parents of son Nicholas, born in 2003 and Lucas born in September 2004 – during a hurricane!
Coach Vertullo’s accomplishments at Winter Park include:
- V8: undefeated (FL) and State champs 2 years in a row 2001-2003
- V8: 4 straight years in the V8 final at Scholastic Nationals (only program in the US to accomplish this), winning bronze in 2003
- Lightweight 8: bronze at Stotesbury in 2001
- Team: undefeated 1st-3rd V8′s in 2002
- Freshman 8 in finals at Stotesbury and Nationals in 2004
- W Jr 8 takes silver at Stotesbury
- 2006 – WSr8 & Ltwt8 take silver at Stotesbury
- WSr8 takes bronze at Nationals and competes at US Rowing National Youth Championships for the first time
Contact Coach Vertullo: michael.vertullo@ocps.net
Steven Freygang is entering his first season as Men’s Head Coach for Winter Park. Steven began rowing for Winter Park in 2002. He rowed in the V8+ during his Junior and Senior years, winning two State Championships and Winter Park’s first V8+ National Championship in 2005. After graduating, Steven attended the University of Washington where he began coaching for Sammamish Rowing Association. In 2008 he returned to Winter Park as the Men’s Assistant Coach.
Coach Freygang has a Bachelors degree in Management from the University of Central Florida, and also works as a Wilderness Instructor for Outward Bound.
Coach Freygang’s accomplishments at Winter Park include:
- 2009 Junior 4+ 6th place at Stotesbury Cup Regatta
- 2010 3V8+ State Championship
- 2010 F8+ 1st place at Stotesbury Cup Regatta
Contact Coach Freygang: wp1793@hotmail.com
Brett Peckham is a former rower and coach for Winter Park, and is returning as the Women’s Assistant Coach.
Contact Coach Peckham: brett.peckham@ocps.net