The Coaches

Xavier Aniton

Interim Head Coach

Xavier is a proud Shaker Heights graduate (Class of 2016) where he was part of the inaugural men's crew team and captain. He went on to row at Jacksonville University, where he was again a team captain and received a degree in Communication and Media Studies. Coach Aniton returns to Shaker after serving as an assistant coach with Dallas United Crew. He works as the Outreach Coordinator & Associate Rowing Coach for The Foundry.

Charles A. Richardson

Assistant Coach

Charles's coaching experience spans 15 years with Illinois clubs, including coaching juniors & masters at North Suburban Crew, Lincoln Park Boat Club (LPBC), Chicago Rowing Union, Chicago Training Center, and New Trier High School. In over 13 years at New Trier, Charles has taken boats to Youth Nationals and SRRAs. At SRAAs, his boats consistently made grand finals, medaling 6 times spanning the Lightweight 8+, Freshman 8+, Junior 8+, and Junior 4+ categories. Charles learned to row in high school and reunited with the sport as a masters rower in Boston and later Chicago. He is an original member of the Black Coaches and Rowers Association, which was formed to increase access, participation, and inclusion of black people in rowing on all levels. Coach Richardson has a BS in Computer Science from Northeastern University.

Natalia Miklos

Assistant Coach

Natalia is a proud Shaker Heights graduate (Class of 2020) who went on to row at Marist University, where she was a team captain and broke program records in 2K and 6K. She has a degree in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science and experience as an outdoor education instructor, lifeguard, coach, mentor, and camp counselor.

Jake Wade

Assistant Coach

Jake is a rower and coach for WRRA and has coached for JCU.

Morgan Clark

Assistant Coach

Elinor Bragaw

Assistant Coach

Elinor is an Associate Rowing Coach at the Foundry with a USRowing Level Two Coaching Certification. She assists the SHHS team on a part-time basis.