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Harrison "Mariano" Richards

"The Kid"

Mariano lives on a houseboat right on the river in Providence, and used to pass the gondola landing on his way to working a side job at the mall during high school.  Applying at 17, Marcello told him to wait another year, and if he was still interested, to come down again.  One day the following season, Marcello spotted Mariano passing the dock, and remembered him from the year before.  A short conversation and he was committed to learning to row, and completed his training late in the season in 2015.  In 2016, Mariano quickly and firmly established himself as an integral part of the team, rowing over 500 trips that season, mostly when the teachers were unavailable in the spring and fall, but also quite a lot over the summer too.  He capped off a banner year by winning the gold medal in the solo obstacle course / slalom event at the 2016 U.S. Gondola Nationals, held in Stillwater, MN.  Forza, Mariano!

Maro, as he is affectionately called by Marcello, is currently a student at RIC, majoring in Political Science and taking a number of singing courses to be able to offer an even better experience to the patrons that he has on board.  Truly he is a dedicated and valuable member of the LGP crew.