SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL ROWING
MEET THE COACHES
Assistant Coaches
Ted Bristol
Head Coach
Ted Bristol has been coaching crew at Sidwell Friends since 2008, first as assistant coach and for the last twelve years, as head coach. He recently led the Sidwell Freshmen boat to qualify for their first ever Nationals (2022), during which they made the semi-finals.
He has a long history of rowing on the Potomac River, first serving as co-captain of the rowing team at George Washington University where he was voted Most Valuable Oarsman his senior year. He then coached the GWU freshmen men for a season and has rowed as a member of the Potomac Boat Club. Ted now rows out of Thompson Boat Center and coaches part time at Capital Rowing Club in DC.
Ted is the parent of two Sidwell graduates, Hannah (’10), who rowed for Sidwell, and Daniel (’13). Ted was a principal at Faegre Drinker Consulting, where he headed the public sector practice team.
Colette Nortman
Colette Nortman was introduced to rowing in her first year at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM). After serving a season as a novice coxswain, she eventually transitioned to become a full-time rower and went on to compete in the 1V8. Her senior year, Colette was elected Captain and helped secure SMCM's first Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference title which led to the team's debut at the 2022 NCAA Rowing Championships in Sarasota, FL. Prior to graduating, she was additionally named SMCM's Female Scholar Athlete.
In addition to serving as an Assistant Rowing Coach for Sidwell Friends, Colette works as a congressional staffer for the U.S Senate on health, education, and labor policy.
Cecilia Laguarda
Cecilia Laguarda learned to row at Sidwell Friends and earned a seat with the varsity her freshman year. She was a four-year varsity rower, chosen to be team captain in both her junior and senior years. She graduated in 2013 and went on to row at Harvard for two years where she earned bronze and silver medals at the Ivy League championships.
After college, Cecilia became a science teacher in Colorado. She returned to Sidwell in 2021 as an Upper School biology teacher and assistant rowing coach. She and Coach Taylor helped guide the Freshmen 8 to the Scholastic Nationals in their first season working together.
Meet the 2025-26 Board
SFS Rowing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the Sidwell Friends School girls' crew team and raises the funds necessary to purchase and maintain equipment used by the team. The capital budget is amortized over ten years so that we can afford large purchases, such as new shells, without unduly burdening current families.
SFS Rowing's equipment currently includes two eights, two fours, a launch and motor, twenty+ ergs, three cox boxes, safety equipment, and lots of oars. We fund the capital budget with donations, primarily from current parents, and from large and small fundraising events.
Debee Yamamoto
President
This is Debee's fourth year on the SFS Crew Board. Her daughter, Emi Nyhan started rowing as a freshman in 2023. Debee has served as a clerk in several different areas within Sidwell's Parent Association and has a background in civil rights advocacy and international development focusing on food security issues. She has a lengthy, ever growing and aspirational list of books to read that she is always trying to tackle.
Matt Bockner
Vice President
This is Matt's second year on the SFS Rowing Board. The rowing community is an integral part of their family, with new friends and a deep respect for the dedication, sacrifice, and strength needed to compete in this amazing sport. When not attending regattas, their family enjoy sailing, skiing, biking, and hiking in Rock Creek Park.
Nick McQuaid
Treasurer
Indira Lall
VASRA Representative
This is Indira’s second year on the SFS Rowing board. Her daughter Nadia started on the SFS crew team in 2023 as a freshman. Indira is a corporate transactional attorney. In her free time, she loves spending time with her kids, reading, and walking.
Sapna George
VASRA Representative
Federico Asch
Communications and Media
