Marybeth Harrington – Golden Warriors Coach
Marybeth feels she is lucky to have found the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix dragon boat team in 2006. She started out with the intention of becoming healthier and meeting new people, instead it became a life changing experience!
Marybeth has competed with PFP in the Club Crew World Championships in both Italy and Hungary and with Team USA Senior C Women at the Dragon Boat World Racing Championships in China. As part of PFP Marybeth was a crew captain and continued her commitment to the team by serving a two year term as President. She now finds herself in a new and exciting role as Assistant Coach to the Golden Warriors crew working with an amazing group of over 50 athletes.
Jackie Gutmann – Against the Wind Coach
What started as a way to stay fit became a passion!! Jackie started dragon boating 10 years ago thinking that she would paddle twice a week for 45 minutes. Instead, she spends several hours a week at the river paddling (dragon boat, outrigger, and marathon canoe) and coaching and loving it!!
Jackie has competed with PFP in Italy and Hungary at the 2014 and 2018 Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships, had the honor of representing the United States at the 2015 and 2017 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Canada and China as a member of Team USA’s Senior B Women’s Crew, and raced with PFP Canoe Team in Hawaii. What a great way to spend time with friends, meet new people, and see the world! Jackie has had the privilege of coaching Against the Wind (ATW), PFP’s breast cancer survivor (BCS) team, since 2016. ATW paddlers, who are survivors ranging in age from 30 to 80+, are an inspiration to Jackie and the whole team!!
Jackie Gutmann – Against the Wind Coach
What started as a way to stay fit became a passion!! Jackie started dragon boating 10 years ago thinking that she would paddle twice a week for 45 minutes. Instead, she spends several hours a week at the river paddling (dragon boat, outrigger, and marathon canoe) and coaching and loving it!!
Jackie has competed with PFP in Italy and Hungary at the 2014 and 2018 Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships, had the honor of representing the United States at the 2015 and 2017 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Canada and China as a member of Team USA’s Senior B Women’s Crew, and raced with PFP Canoe Team in Hawaii. What a great way to spend time with friends, meet new people and see the world! Jackie has had the privilege of coaching Against the Wind (ATW), PFP’s breast cancer survivor (BCS) team, since 2016. ATW paddlers, who are survivors ranging in age from 30 to 80+, are an inspiration to Jackie and the whole team!!
Betty Solley – Against the Wind Coach
Betty has been paddling with PFP/ATW since 2003. She has raced all over the world as a member of PFP, Against the Wind and Team USA Senior C including International races in Vancouver, CA, Caloundra, Australia, Peterborough CA, Sarasota, FL, Florence, IT, Ravenna, It and Szeged, Hungary. Betty enjoys coaching Against the Wind and the Fairmount Park Commodores mixed team. She especially enjoys introducing new paddlers to the sport of dragon boat racing.
Janet Rutzel- Premier
“Let your dream be bigger than your fear”
Janet has been a member of PFP since 2012 after her friend thought it would be fun to join a dragon boat team. She has been a part of ATW, Premier and OC6 crews. Her proudest paddling moment was being part of a crew that won a silver medal in a Sr. A small boat 2k at the 2014 World Club Crew Championships in Ravenna Italy quickly followed by having the opportunity to race at the 2018 Queen Lili’uokalani OC6 Canoe Race in Kona Hawaii. Janet is currently the coach for the Premier Crew.
Cynthia Barth – Golden Warriors and Fire Coach
Cynthia has been dragon boating since 2005. 2019 was her third season as a coach of PFP’s Fire Crew. She assumed a co-coaching role of the Golden Warrriors’ team in 2024. She enjoys paddling and racing both dragon boats and outrigger canoes. She competed with PFP in Italy and Hungary at the 2014, 2018, and 2024 Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships and was a member of Team USA’s Senior C Women’s Crews representing the United States at the 2015 and 2017 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Canada and China. She loves introducing new paddlers to dragon boating and helping experienced paddlers grow in the sport!
Rosemary Murphy – Outrigger Canoe Coach
Rosemary started paddling in 2006. In 2007 she competed in several OC6 races including the Kent Island OC6 relay which initially provided opportunities for extra training in preparation for IDBF World Championship Racing in Australia. Since then, she has competed in national and international racing and feels honored to be involved in paddling sports. She is grateful for the gift of every new day and every new challenge.
Jan Cairone – Meet-up, Golden Warriors & Fire Coach
Jan’s journey with PFP started in 2007 and since then dragon boating has become a passion for her heart and soul!
This journey led to a greater passion, to create and coach a dragon boat team for middle school students, the Healthy Dragons. Jan continues her journey by coaching meet-ups, community teams and competitive PFP athletes. Jan has competed with PFP in the Club Crew World Championships in both Italy and Hungary and with Team USA Senior C Women in 2015 at the Dragon Boat World Racing Championships in Canada and in 2024 in Italy.