National Rowing Hall of Famer Mike Wherley is coming to the Ocean City Free Public Library to talk about his sport, display memorabilia from his career – including two trips to the Olympics, and discuss the best-seller “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown.
The event, free and open to the public, will take place on Sunday, September 4 at 2 p.m. in the Chris Maloney Lecture Hall.
Wherley’s appearance is just one aspect of the OC Reads program, designed to being community members together to encourage them to read the same book and exchange perspectives on it.
“We thought this book was a good fit for Ocean City given the great crew teams we have had and the interest in the sport,” said the Library’s Julie Brown. The Boys in the Boat examines the unlikely Olympic gold medal-winning performance of a group of Rowers from the University of Washington.
On Monday, August 29th, Ocean City resident Bob DelBene will lead a lively discussion of the book to take place in children’s activity room. The Ocean City High School boys and girls crew teams will be coming to the Library (at a date to be announced) to meet members of the public, and on Sunday 18th at 2 p.m. there will be a screening of the PBS film “The Boys of ‘36” a documentary about the gold-medal winning Olympic crew team.
There will also be a video presentation of author Daniel James Brown’s thoughts about the book on August 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Wherley’s appearance will be a highlight of the events. The 44-year old native of Waconia Minnesota was a member of the U.S. National Men’s 8-plus coxswain crew that won three consecutive world championships from 1997 through 1999. He also placed fifth in the Men’s 4 at the Sydney, Australia Olympiad of 2000 and 10th in the Men’s 4 in Athens, Greece in 2004. Following g his career at the University of Minnesota, Wherley raced for the Penn A.C. of Philadelphia, which he currently serves as its President.
In 2008, Mike achieved another career high point when he was a member of the Oxford University’s winning crew over Cambridge in the 154th edition of their fierce rivalry, known simply as the Boat Race. Wherley was the oldest rower in the history of the event.
In 2014, he was elected to the Rowing Hall of Fame.
“We are looking forward to gaining his insights into the sport and the Olympics, but also to hear his impressions of The Boys in the Boat,” Brown said.
People are encouraged to read the book as soon as possible, to join in the fun of the discussions and films, Brown said. The book is available for loan at the Library and for purchase at The Bookateria Two, 1052 Asbury Ave., and Sun Rose Words and Music, 756 Asbury Ave.
For more information on OC Reads, contact Brown at 399-2434, extension 5222 or visit www.oceancitylibrary.org
