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A great team in the extra mile.
ARION is comprised of up to 16 athletes, up to 3 coaches, and the entire SRA community.
Showing up for one another.
Recognizing the roller-coaster journey that is elite rowing, ARION strives to embrace the idea of good friends in the extra mile. We believe gains live in that extra mile and should be a fun adventure. Having friends alongside us—pushing, carrying, and relying on us—enhances the experience. ARION rowing is a team experience, and we consider our team to include everyone on the journey with us.
Our themes on this journey are gratitude and vulnerability. In all things, we are grateful for the community behind us, the friends alongside us, and the competitors who push us. With so much to be grateful for, we are also willing to be vulnerable and put our best selves out there without an excuse or a safety net. We practice, train, and race—vulnerable to failure, frustration, or whatever is thrown our way—and are grateful that our team is by our side.
We believe our best selves are not achieved if parts of us are held back and left unexamined. We also believe our team is at its best when we are grateful and vulnerable with each other.
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Meet Coach "Cat" Catalano
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The ARION program is coached by Eric "Cat" Catalano. Cat has coached inside the USA Jr Development system and has also taken trials boats to World Championships. Most recently, Cat assisted the US team at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Olympics with the women's sculling squad. Cat began coaching the fledgling club of Saratoga Rowing Association in 1998 and helped bring the club to national attention as a high school program. Following a brief stint at Harvard/Radcliffe in 2004-2007, Cat returned to SRA as the executive director and head coach. In 2016, following the Olympic Trials, Cat started the ARION program.
Cat is a frequent presenter at coaching conferences on teaching technique and rigging. He believes that the best experiences are found when the challenges and skills are appropriately balanced from the middle school rowers all the way to the Olympians, and his coaching philosophy is "teach, train, select," both in order and emphasis.
Cat coaches on "themes" to the group as a whole, and gives individual coaching to athletes within the theme of the practices or if specific technical changes for that individual are on the verge of a breakthrough. Best success is found under Cat's coaching by the athlete who can direct and hold focus, is willing to the the mental work of making changes and willing to be patient but persistent as some changes take time. It also helps to catch him outside of practice time when you can. He stays pretty busy, but he loves sharing knowledge/insight and brainstorming when asked.
The ARION Team
Lauren O'Connor
Hometown: Belleville, WI College: University of Wisconsin - Madison Major(s): Biology, Environmental Sciences Teams: 2023 Worlds 4x, 2024 Olympics 4x, 2025 Worlds 1x Career Highlights: 10th 2025 Worlds 1x, 2022 & 2025 Lottman Challenge Winner, 1st 2022 Summer Nationals 2x, 1st 2022 Green Mountain Head Personal: Loco or Leo is our resident midwestern dad and she embodies this with her love of a local Wisconsin cheese, building shelves, and driving the trailer on our winter trips. She is known for her pre-practice lizard time, which may be the secret to her speed. On the water, you can spot Lauren sporting a bright colored boat, with her recently switching from a spicy pink to a fresh teal blue single. Don’t let the colorful boat fool you, she is an epic competitor and may have a chill exterior, but will definitely come after you on race day. She was voted most likely on ARION to win the Hunger Games and has a knife tat to prove how tough she is. Lauren is the epitome of good vibes and always brings a fun and appropriately chaotic energy to the group.
Savannah Brija
Hometown: Lemont, IL College: Ithaca University Major(s): Clinical Health Studies/DPT Teams: 2022 Worlds 4x Career Highlights: 1st place 2022 Summer Nats W1x and W2x Personal: Dr. Savannah, better known as Sav, is our resident PT specialist and dinosaur enthusiast. Sav radiates confidence and has never been one to let barriers hold her back. Though she is an artist, plant lover, and has a yoga corner, she is also the first one many would call to back them up in a fight. Sav is the first to engage in a little bit of verbal sparring and you’d be hard pressed to find a challenge she won’t accept. She is also a firm believer that a little rage rowing can take you a long way, sometimes all the way to the National Team.
Hannah Paynter
Hometown: Lyme, CT College: Princeton University Major(s): Psychology, Teacher Prep (Social Studies), African American Studies US Teams: U23 W4x 2019, Senior Spare 2022, 2023 Pan Am Games (2-,4-,W8+, Mixed 8+) Career Highlights: Ivy League Champions 2018 & 2019 Personal: Hannah is the self-proclaimed hype-train who lives up to the hype. As a classic Enneagram 7, she brings the energy and excitement to any situation, often through the form of her beautifully crafted Instagram reels. Her bold personality is reflected in her love of bright colors and fun fashion choices. Hannah is always the one to spend extra time on the small things, whether that be the warmup and cooldown or creating a detailed plan for a trip. She embodies the just go for it energy and encourages others to do the same.
Lauren Miller
Hometown: Saint Cloud, MN College: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Major(s): Undergrad: Neuroscience, Art Minor; Masters: Business Administration US Teams: 2023 Pan Am (W4-, W8+) Career Highlights: 2nd Club W1x HOTC 2022 Personal: Miller, L. Millz, Father Mills, Miller Lite; all of these names reference the one and only Lauren Miller. She is best known for her ability to crush low rate pieces and her job in corporate America all in the same day, after consuming approximately a liter of coffee (exact amounts consumed are unknown). Lauren puts most of us and all of corporate America to shame with her organization and work ethic. If ever a spreadsheet is needed she will have one color coded and ready to go. Same goes for a workout buddy, if you ever need someone to get you through a hard erg workout she will be a strong, steady presence beside you. Miller brings determination and consistency to everything she does, including cooking where she will consistently put eggs on anything and everything she eats. Level-headed, but with a strong competitive side, Lauren Miller brings an energy to the team that makes every workout better.
Katy Flynn
Hometown: Churchville, NY College(s): Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(Undergrad), University of Virginia(Masters/PhD) Major(s): Electrical and Mechanical Engineering US Teams: 2019 U23 W4x, 2025 Worlds 4x Career Highlights: 1st 2019 ACRA & Dad Vail W1x Personal: It is difficult to put an icon such as Katy Flynn into words, but this is our attempt. Katy is humble and kind, with a wicked competitive side and resilience few possess. Often referred to as the brains of the group, she managed to train full time while also working towards a PhD in Engineering. That being said, we do believe that she has consumed enough coffee that it is now in her bloodstream. Katy operates under the premise that this is nothing that she cannot learn how to do and anyone who has met her would wholeheartedly agree with that. Whether it’s sculling, sweeping, erging, or creating an entirely new invention, Katy takes on every challenge with a growth mindset. Katy Flynn is someone who will succeed at whatever she puts her mind to, both in rowing and in her daily life, and she inspires the rest of us to do the same.
Audrey Boersen
Hometown: West Olive, MI College: Grand Valley State University Major(s): Psychology, Neuroscience US Teams: 2022 Worlds LW4x, 2023 Worlds LW2x spare, 2024 LW1x, 2025 Beach Sprint Worlds Mix4x+ Career Highlights: 2nd LW1x World Cup 3 2024, 2nd 1x Holland Becker 2024, 8th 1x Worlds 2024, 1st Beach Sprint Worlds Mix4x+ Personal: Audrey is the library of the ARION team. Looking for a romantasy book, she probably has it. Need a recommendation she'll have a suggestion.
Sophia Hahn
Hometown: Braselton, GA College(s): Yale, University of Cambridge Major(s): B.A. International Relations & German Studies; MPhil Political and Economic Sociology US Teams: U23 Worlds 2021, U23 Worlds 2022 Career Highlights: 2-time World Champion in W8+, 2024 Henley Royal Finalist in Remenham Cup Personal: Sophia loves reading, photography, watching movies, and exploring new places with friends. She also loves cutting shapes on the dance floor!
Amanda Triebensee
Hometown: Plymouth, WI Colleges: University of Wisconsin Madison, Gonzaga University Major(s): B.S. Kinesiology, M.S. Sport & Athletic Administration US Teams: 2024 World University Games Career Highlights: 1st 8+ World University Games 2024, 1st 2x Canadian Henley Personal: Amanda vehemently loves cats, watermelons, and hugs! She says these are the three things she needs to survive. She also loves running, and in her free time naps and sleeps like she hasn't slept in ten years. Getting to know Amanda you'll find that she is either very intense and reserved, or a little crazy...but aren't we all?
Zoey Goodness
Hometown: Saratoga Springs, NY College: Boston University Major: Health science US Teams: Career Highlights: 2025 All-American, 2024&25 CRCA athlete to watch, three 1st place finishes at Canadian Henley 2025, BU lightweight erg record holder, 1st LW8+ HOCR 2024, three top 3 finishes in LW8+ at Eastern Sprints. Personal: Zoey loves doing anything outside, rowing, biking, hiking, skiing, running, exploring. She loves good food and cooking in her free time, especially with friends. She's obsessed with the Dave Matthew's Band and live music, her latest Spotify wrapped said her listening age was 71 years old! Zoey also collects lucky pennies.
Sydney Freiberger
Hometown: East Rochester, NY College: Florida Institute of Technology Major: Aerospace Engineering US Teams: Career Highlights: 3-time Dad Vail Champ in 4+, 3-time ACRA champ in 4+, 1st 2- Summer Nats 2023, 1st 2- Canadian Henley 2025, holder of 2k, 5k & 6k records at FIT Personal: Syd walked on to the FIT team in 2021. Before finding rowing Syd was a NY Section V tennis and basketball champ. She enjoys music, reading, video games, crochet, exploring, and enjoying a pink of Ben & Jerry's The Tonight Dough.
Sophia Ortega
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA College: University of Wisconsin - Madison Major(s): Psychology US Teams: Career Highlights: Personal: In her time off of the water, Ortega likes to relax by painting, reading, baking, traveling, and camping.
Oona Zilavy
Hometown: Seattle, WA College: University of Wisconsin-Madison Major: Geography US Teams: Career Highlights: A Finals at 2025 Fall Speed Order Personal: Oona is happiest when she's backpacking. She loves to be in the mountains, and enjoys spending her time knitting, drawing, and painting.
James Schmidt
Hometown: Niskayuna, NY College: Drexel University Major(s): International Business & Finance US Teams: 2024 U23 Worlds 4x Career Highlights: 1st U23 1x Summer Nationals 2023, 1st 2x Summer Nats 2025, 1st 4x Summer Nats 2025, 2nd 2x Canadian Henley, 1st V8+ Dad Vails 2023 & 2024 Personal: James enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and his dog. Outside of rowing he enjoys being competitive in skiing, biking, and lifting.
Are you an aspiring Olympian?
Apply today and join the team!
ARION has a running application process and is interested in finding the right athletes who will fit with the program socially as well as in capacity for work and potential to compete at the international level.
Email eric.catalano@saratogarowing.com for more information.
Believe in our mission? Consider donating!
We're grateful for the support of community partners like you. Donations enable us to compete internationally, purchase needed equipment (boats, uniforms, oars) and so much more.
