Coaching Staff
JP Sekulich, Director & Head Men’s Coach jpsekulich@ucsb.edu
Justin Loranger, Men’s Novice Coach justingloranger@ucsb.edu
Originally from Mission Viejo, CA, Justin grew up playing many different sports, including soccer, baseball, cross country, and tennis. He began his rowing career as a walk-on novice at UCSB in 2019, and quickly grew to love the sport. Justin served as team president during his senior year and recently graduated from UCSB with a BS in Financial Mathematics and Statistics. He is excited to transition into a coaching position within the team and help to shape the next generation of rowers at UCSB.
Brooke Downes, Women’s Varsity and Novice Coach bdownes@ucsb.edu
Brooke is from Boonton, New Jersey where she began rowing in high school for Row NJ (formally known as Mountain Lakes Rowing Club). She then went on to row all for years at USC and served as the captain of the team her senior year. She primarily sat in stroke seat of the 2V8, with a few races in the 1V8, and qualified twice for NCAAs. After graduating in 2019, Brooke moved to Oklahoma to train at the Olympic Training Center with OKCHP team, primarily training in the women’s single and double skulls, and raced at the US Olympic trials event in 2021. She’s raced internationally in coastal rowing, and placed 9th at her first endurance World Rowing Coastal Championship in 2021, and earned 2 silver medals at the COPA America Cup in 2023. Brooke is still training for both flat water and coastal events, and is excited to take her experiences and help grow the UCSB program.
Emmaline Debecker, Women’s Varsity and Novice Coach emmalinedebecker@gmail.com
From Cool, CA, Emma grew up playing basketball and riding horses. She joined the UCSB Rowing team as a freshman walk-on in 2019. Emma served as the Varsity Women’s whip for two consecutive years. Emma’s rowing career highlights include winning medals in 2023 in the WV4+ at WIRA and the WV8+ at ACRA. She was also accredited the American Collegiate Rowing Association’s All-American award as a junior and senior. Emma graduated from UCSB in 2023 with a double major in Environmental Studies and History of Art and Architecture. Emma is excited to return to the team to coach the women’s novice and varsity squads.