Masters Coaches
Coach Sean Hall
With nearly 40 years in the sport of rowing, Sean has a distinguished career as both an athlete and a coach. He began his coaching journey in earnest in 2001, immediately after completing his third Olympic appearance as an oarsman. From 2001 to 2004, he worked alongside Igor Grinko, a distinguished USRowing coach, at the Augusta Training Center. During this time, Sean developed the trials-winning LM4x, which went on to achieve a remarkable 4th place at the 2004 World Championships in Banyoles, Spain.
In 2005, Sean embraced an exciting opportunity as the Head Women’s Coach in Fujian province, China. There, he led the team to its first-ever medal in the W8+ at the Chinese National Games, a groundbreaking achievement that earned him an invitation to return three years later.
After the 2009 National Games, Sean moved to Hong Kong, where he contributed significantly to the HK National Team and later the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. He made history as the first coach to bridge the gap between club, university, and national teams through his University Elite Program. This initiative allowed Hong Kong university athletes to race for the first time in the West at events like the San Diego Crew Classic, with several going on to qualify for the HK National Team.
After a brief coaching stint in Taiwan, Sean returned to the U.S. to take on the role of Head/High Performance Coach at Penn AC. When he joined, the program had only six athletes and had not seen a Trials victory since 2006. By the end of 2016, however, Penn AC athletes achieved remarkable success, winning prestigious events such as Henley, Canadian Henley, US Nationals, the Head of the Charles, and the Head of the Schuylkill. From 2017 onwards, Penn AC athletes began winning World Championship trials for the first time in over a decade. Between 2017 and 2021, his athletes competed at three World Championships, and four World Cups, also earning accolades at Amsterdam and Henley.
As a three-time Olympian and five-time National Team athlete in both sculling and sweep, Sean’s impressive background reflects his dedication to the sport. He began his rowing career at Washington-Lee High School under the mentorship of Charlie Butt Sr. and graduated from Rutgers University, where he trained alongside fellow Olympians Bob Kaehler, Jeff Klepacki, and Jim Neil. Sean’s extensive experience and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to the rowing community.
Coach Art Post
Art brings a lifetime of rowing experience and an impressive track record to our team. With roots in the rowing community dating back to the 1960s, he has achieved success at every level of the sport. As a high school athlete, he rowed for Groton School in Massachusetts before continuing his journey at Dartmouth College, where he competed in the men’s varsity 8+ for four years. After graduating, Art made his mark at Philadelphia’s Vesper Boat Club, where he competed at the elite level for nearly a decade, capturing multiple National Championships in both sweep and sculling events. To this day, Art can be found rowing his single on the Schuylkill, embodying his lifelong passion for the sport.
Art’s coaching career is as distinguished as his rowing history. He has mentored a wide range of athletes, from high school novices to collegiate varsity competitors and world-class teams. If you’re familiar with Philadelphia’s scholastic rowing scene, you’ve likely witnessed the success of Art’s crews, particularly during his 19 years as Associate Head Coach at Malvern Preparatory School. Under his guidance, more than 20 crews have become National Champions, and over 40 of his rowers have gone on to compete at Division I varsity programs.
Additionally, Art has made significant contributions to the sculling community at Lower Merion High School and has assisted at Bryn Mawr College for five years. His expertise extends to the national level, where he has worked with six National Team crews. Notably, Art played a key role with the 2019 USA Men’s Quad, the 2021 Men’s Olympic Team Quad, and the 2022 Women’s National Team Lightweight Quad.
For over ten years, Art has also coached the Whitemarsh Masters, further showcasing his versatility and commitment to the sport. His extensive experience and dedication to developing athletes make him an invaluable asset to our team, inspiring the next generation of rowers to strive for excellence both on and off the water.
Coach Susan Hermann Seybolt
Susan began her rowing journey at the University of Texas in 1989, where she earned a B.S. in Kinesiology. After college, she shifted her focus to sculling, training and competing while also taking on various coaching roles throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Her passion for coaching spans all levels, having worked with high schools, universities, and clubs, including Vesper, the University of Pennsylvania, Episcopal Academy, Lower Merion High School, and Drexel University.
As head coach at Germantown Academy for 14 years, Susan made a significant impact, developing young athletes and fostering a love for the sport. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her expertise to coaching juniors and masters at Whitemarsh Boat Club in Conshohocken, PA, where her leadership continues to inspire rowers of all ages.
An active member of the Philadelphia rowing community, Susan has volunteered as an organizing committee member for multiple regattas and has guided her teams to win numerous medals over the past 30 years. Her extensive experience and commitment to fostering talent make her an invaluable asset to the rowing community.
Coach Matt Sidlowski
Matt Sidlowski has been coaching here at WBC since the spring of 2022. He began his own rowing journey in 2016 and has since participated in the Head of the Charles Regatta twice, as well as competing at the Youth Nationals. Over the past two years, Matt has made a significant impact by sending 15 young athletes to the Youth Nationals, with an impressive 10 of them returning home with medals. Currently, he is involved with WeCanRow, where he is helping to prepare an 8+ crew for the inaugural survivor event at HOCR, showcasing his commitment to expanding competitive opportunities for his rowers.
Coach Kirk Beckman
Kirk rowed as a member of the Michigan State University men’s Rowing Team from 1979-1983, where he was the captain of the Men’s Heavyweight team, Rowing Club President, and a coach on the Learn to Row Program. He attended the National Team Rowing camp in 1981-1983. After moving to Philadelphia in 1983, Kirk became a member of the Vesper Boat Club and began rowing on the Senior Elite Team until 1987. In 1988 he became a Vesper Boat Club Master’s Men’s Rower and continues to row with Vesper Boat Club, where he also served as a fifth term Board of Directors member, Vice-President, and President. Kirk has rowed in and won numerous regattas throughout North American as well as in Monaco. Outside of continuing to row, he works with Boy Scouts of American troops and has been the Head Coach at Lower Merion High School since 2008.
Coach David Kaess
Dave began his rowing career in 2004 at St. Augustine Prep High School. He later rowed as a member of Franklin & Marshall College’s Men’s Varsity Rowing Team from 2009-2023. he led the team to the only Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference victory in the school’s history in 2012, and was later named team captain. Dave also joined Penn Athletic Clubs u23 team during the summer of 2012, posting victories at the U.S. Rowing Club National Champsionships in the intermediate and senior level. Dave joined Whitemarsh as a member in 2014 and has actively participated in the club. In addition to being a member of the Master’s Race Team, he has proceeded to coach the Whitemarsh Middle School Technical program, Adult Learn-to-Row program, Circuit Training, and most recently the Whitemarsh Master’s program. He appreciates sharing his passion for rowing by helpig members of all skill levels develop and learn. Outside of rowing, Dave enjoys taking part in strength training, CrossFit, and running. He is currently engaged and is planning his wedding for June 2025.
