Crusader Rowing: 2023

The WN4 getting lined up by Coach Paul from Granby. The breeze made this a difficult task but we seem to be on it (maybe except for our bow seat!)

We rowed three crews today on the Lafayette River in a four-school scrimmage (us, Granby, Maury, and Norfolk Collegiate.) The day was windy and only the MV4 crews got in three heats. The M2V4 (using a borrowed NC boat) had a good start in the third heat but encountered a wind-blown stoppage in the last race and did not finish. Our WN4 did get in two passes down the course before the breeze got too high to race.

Everyone learned a lot. Congrats to Sophia in coxing her first races and to Zoe who was recognized by the safety officer as her "favorite coxswain." Some parents cheered from the Lakewood bridge as the crew passed underneath (about 200 m from the start.)

Sophia steering under the bridge

Our MV4 put in three solid performances, but after leading each race out of the blocks and for the first 300 meters, fell to Granby by a half a boat length in each heat. That particular Granby crew is ranked as one of the top MV4 crews leading into the EVSRA championships next week so we should be strong also. One thing is obvious from the video below: the Granby crew in lane 1 (closest to the camera) is rowing at about 30.6 smp and our guys (leading the event in lane 2) are at about 33.8 spm. Good for a sprint but technique degrades quickly as the lower rate and more consistent strokes of Granby win out.

MV4 at the 100 m mark

No times were recorded but the finishes were:

MV4 2-2-2 M2V4 5-4-DNF (both crews in the MV4+ five-boat event)

WN4 4-4 (The novice crew competed with three varsity crews)

Sam took a lot of video with his high-end camera and I'll include it when he processes it. The video above was from my phone. Sorry about the quality! If anyone else has pictures or video, send them my way.

Oh, yeah - that same night the seniors and juniors went dancin'!

Catholic High School Rowing Manual (revised Spring 2023)

Background Information

Rowing, a.k.a. “Crew” is the sport of rowing a lightweight boat (shell) as fast as it will go! At Catholic High School, our shells are powered by four or eight sweep rowers and are steered by a coxswain (cox-n). In sweep rowing, each rower handles one oar in a shell approximately 42 feet long (for a 4-person shell) or 65 foot long for an eight. Sculling is done with two oars by one person in a "single" or two people in a “double.”

Rowing as a sport has several unique characteristics. While teamwork plays an important role in all "team" sports, it is absolutely critical in rowing. A sweep boat's success is dependent on all the boat’s rowers putting forth 100% effort, in unison. Rowing as part of a crew is as much a mental endeavor as it is a physical one; the psychological pressure not to let your team down can be astounding. This concept of teamwork serves team members well, in school and throughout life.

Physically, rowing requires a near-perfect blend of power, coordination and endurance: power in the delivery of each independent stroke, coordination in the timing of the delivery of the strokes, and endurance in the ability to sustain that output for up to 1500 meters. The integrated delivery of the legs, back, upper torso and arms for each stroke, up to 35 strokes per minute over a race lasting 6 minutes is unlike any other athletic endeavor. Post-event exhaustion can only be partially overcome by the satisfaction of a job well done and the occasional thrill of victory. See the appendix for a list of rowing terms.

Rowing also imparts a serious sense of discipline, which seems to carry over to better performance academically by requiring careful budgeting of time between sports and schoolwork.

Catholic High School Rowing

The CHS rowing program was established in the spring of 2000 and continues to grow in size. The beginnings of the program were related in a recent post on the team website:

http://catholiccrew.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-look-back.html

We will continue to build on the experience and success of last year when we sent one of our rowers to the state championship and he finished third. Last season we also acquired five additional singles beefing up our sculling program, all of which increase the rowing opportunities for the team.

Goals

The CHS rowing program has established the following goals that reflect the nature of the program as a varsity sport and the needs of the program over time:

1. To have everyone row as often as possible in as many regattas as possible.

2. As a team, to have all members compete in a crew at every regatta.

3. To acquire additional equipment, in particular ergs and oars, to provide additional rowing opportunities for students.

4. To promote a spirit of camaraderie, enjoyment, responsibility and dedication where students learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, in addition to learning to row.

The Catholic High School Rowing Program

The sport of rowing (a.k.a. “crew”) is a relatively new addition to interscholastic athletics in the Hampton Roads area. Both public and private high schools and some clubs participate in rowing. CHS will compete against scholastic teams from Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk Academy, Cape Henry, Maury, Cox, Granby, Hickory, Great Bridge, First Colonial, Princess Anne, and James River (from Richmond). Club teams include the Williamsburg Boat Club, River City Club and the Virginia Coastal Rowing Club programs. Rowing has strong support from the administration, the athletic director, and the Crusader Club. The majority of the support for the program, however, comes from the student/athletes and/or their parents. The contributions of the both the student/athletes and their parents in time and transportation are the cornerstone of the program's success.

Inventory of Equipment

CHS’s rowing program has benefited from the dedication and commitment of student/athletes and parents. We have 4 eights, 4 fours, a double, and 8 singles. We have acquired the following inventory:

2 WinTech shells (4+), new in 2007. One is a LW (Synchronicity) and one is a MW (Nike).

3 older Vespoli shells (8+). Two are LghtWght (J.A.B.) and one is a MidWght (Badger).
1 older Kaschper shell (8+). MdWght with wing riggers (Wildcat).

1 older Vespoli (4+) HvyWght (Four Mile Run)

1 older Vespoli double (2x) (yet to be named)

With the COVID -19 virus restricting rowing platforms we are in a position to row “socially distanced” singles. To that end we now have:

Lightweight singles: 1 ancient Fugi (Wooden it be Nice) and 1 newer Hudson (yet to be

named)

Midweight singles: 1 older Hudson (Single Minded), 1 older Alden 26 (yet to be named), 1

older Drew Harrison (Betty Anne), and 1 newer Pinert (yet to be named,)

Heavyweight single: 1 newer Hudson (yet to be named)

Two old training singles (Alden Stars)

32 sweep oars & 16 sculling oars, 11 ergometers, a dry-tank two-position “Swingulator.”

3 outboard motors, 3 safety boats: one Jon boat and two wakeless launches.

1 trailer capable of holding up to 12 shells and considerable support equipment (life vests, gas cans, spare parts, etc.) Boats and equipment are maintained by the coach and coxswains.

We also have two older Schoenbrods: a 4+ (Veni-Vidi-Vici) and an 8+ (The Unnamed Eight) currently hanging in the cafeteria. All boats are painted white (to minimize heat distortion) and display green deck chevrons and striping.

Transportation

Transportation to practice at Lakewood Park in Norfolk and the regattas at Botanical Garden is the responsibility of each family. Junior and senior members of the team often form carpools. Up until this season the school had a bus that can transport rowers to the afterschool practices for a nominal fee (there was no return bus to school, however.) How transportation is to be provided this 2021 season, is at all, is yet to be determined. Ultimately transportation to and from practices and local regattas is the responsibility of individual families. The school will provide transportation to “away” regattas.

Rower's Equipment

The equipment required for the rower consists of running shoes, workout clothes, and a water bottle. Suggested clothing include: polypropylene or spandex pants or shorts, long underwear shirt, wool or fleece hat, long running tights, wool socks, a polar fleece jacket, sweats (tops and bottoms), and a hat for sunny days. Weather in March, April and May can be very cold. Racing uniforms shirts for the boys and girls are provided by the school. To help offset boat equipment, each rower and coxswain is assessed a $50 “equipment fee,” payable to CHS in the business office (memo rowing.)

Fall Training

Learn-to-row training will take place in the fall. Scheduled sessions will be arranged to accommodate students’ availability. The boat will often consist of a mixed crew (boys and girls). There are a couple of long “head races” in the fall in which we hope to enter our most experienced crew.

Off season Conditioning

The off season conditioning and weight training begins after we return from Christmas break. Winter conditioning is optional for those students who are not involved in a fall or winter sport at Catholic HS. It is highly recommended for all other rowers and is a very important part of the program. Off-season conditioning will consist of 2-3 days of ergging and aerobic conditioning per week. A completed VHSL Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form is required before participation in winter conditioning will be allowed. There is an indoor “erg race” sponsored by the Hampton Roads Rowing Club in early February where team members can compare their conditioning with other high school students on indoor rowing machines.

Practices

On-the-water practices are currently held on the Lafayette River from the Sigrid Robertson Rowing Center at Lakewood Park in Norfolk. When on the water, the shells are accompanied by a safety boats manned by the coaches and containing life jackets and other safety gear, such as blankets. The safety boats remains within 100 yards of the shells at all times. Megaphones are used to communicate between the safety boat and the shells. All student/athletes must pass a swim test to demonstrate their ability to handle themselves in case of an accident. The coaches at the start of the season hold demonstrations on safety and recovery.

Weight training and conditioning practices are held in the CHS weight room, in the gym, or on the track. When students are not on the water they should be working out with their crew. Distance running is a team effort headed by the team captains.

Boat Selection

The coaches select individuals for boats based on many factors. Rowers demonstrate their physical ability on rowing machines called ergometers. The coaches also look for good rowing technique in the boat, which is developed over time and with concentration at practice. Attitude and attendance at practice play a role in boat selection as well. In all cases, the coaches reserve the right to use a certain amount of subjective judgment in making these decisions. It is the intent of the coaches that all team members compete in the regattas as a member of a crew.

Student/Athlete Standards

The Catholic High rowing program adheres to all CHS athletic standards. In order to participate in crew, the student/athlete must subscribe to each of the following standards to remain eligible. These standards include, but are not limited to:

* Proof of a valid physical exam within the last calendar year. All physicals are to be turned into the Athletic Director’s Office.

* Demonstrated ability to pass a swim test that consists of swimming 50 yards and treading water for 10 minutes, fully clothed.

* Compliance with VHSL and crew program eligibility rules. This includes maintaining a 2.0 GPA to participate.

* Attendance at all scheduled practices. Only those absences approved by the coach will be excused.

* Failure to attend practices will affect team status.

* Missed practices may be made up at the discretion of the coach.

* Absolute compliance with CHS’s no smoking/alcohol/drug abuse policy.

* Completion of the EVSRA/USRowing liability waiver.

2023 Crew Season

Crew season officially begins March 1^st and goes through May. Practice during the season is held after school on weekdays and on some Saturdays. Regattas are held weekends (usually Saturdays.) The scheduled regattas typically include three EVSRA regattas (this year to be held in Elizabeth City, NC) including the EVSRA Championships, one or two regattas at Mathews, Virginia, a regatta at Richmond, and the state championships in Occoquan. The exact schedule is still in flux and will be posted on the team blog catholiccrew.blogspot.com once finalized.

Regattas are almost always on Saturdays and start as early as 7 a.m. and last for the better part of the day, ending around 3:00 p.m. “Away” regattas usually require either a Friday departure (for Occoquan) or a very early Saturday departure (for Mathews or Richmond.) All crew parents and family members are invited to cheer for CHS at regattas. You should bring your own lawn chairs, seat cushions and/or blankets.

Regatta Events

A regatta consists of races referred to as events. Events consist of different sizes, classes and configuration of shells. The events during a regatta include varsity and novice classes. Boys and girls compete is separate races. All schools in the area compete in fours. Most schools also field eights. Some school enter sculling events

Regatta Locations

Regattas are held at one of four locations. Locally, the Lake Whitehurst venue adjacent to the Botanical Gardens is the preferred site due to the sheltered conditions. Unfortunately for 2023 this venue is not an option. The Lafayette River regattas are held at the Robertson Rowing Center where we practice. We also travel to Elizabeth City (about a 75 minute drive from school),to Mathews, VA, near Gloucester, VA, (about a two hour drive north of school) and to James River High School, just west of Richmond. The school will provide transportation to any regatta out of the area

Lettering

To letter, a student/athlete must meet Catholic High's academic criteria, be in good standing and participate for the entire season. In good standing means participation in support activities, fund raising activities and helping to maintain the equipment. As a varsity sport, varsity letters are awarded according to standards established by the school and the coaches. As a general rule, varsity letters are awarded to rowers who compete in interscholastic competition. Because there is no “junior varsity” rowing team, even novices can be awarded varsity letters. All athletes who participate on the crew team for three years will also be awarded a letter.

Coaches and Parents

Our program is fortunate to have dedicated, experienced and involved individuals on our coaching staff. The head coach is Mr. Bousquet, a math teacher and senior class moderator at CHS. Mr. Bousquet is a US Rowing Level I certified coach. The assistant coach is Mr. Jay O’Brien. Assisting both are parents of team members. Parents are also needed to assist at regattas (as timers, skiff operators, even “go-fers.”) There is an opportunity for parent volunteers to receive free training in regatta positions and to become US Rowing-certified referees. Coach O’Brien has earned the referee certification and is a good point of contact on how to become a referee. Strong involvement from parents allows the crew program to grow and succeed.

Catholic High Crusader Club

The Crusader Club works with the school to support the Catholic High rowing program. The Crusader Club consists of parents of student/athletes who help support all the extra-curricular activities of the school. Parents who wish to support the crew team should join the Crusader Club to coordinate their efforts.

Liability Insurance

The United States Rowing Association (USRA) provides liability insurance to all involved in conducting its sanctioned regattas. Such insurance facilitates the conduct of regattas with the large number of volunteer workers without whom the events would not otherwise be possible. The EVSRA/USRowing waiver must be completed and on file with the coach before students attend on-the-water activities.

Directions to rowing sites

Robertson Rowing Center at Lakewood Park in Norfolk: From the I-264/I-64 interchange go north on I-64 towards Richmond (outer beltway or I-64West). Take the 2^nd Tidewater Drive exit (#277A, Tidewater Drive/Rte 168 South). Once on Tidewater, go about a mile and a half, through 4 lights and turn right onto Willow Wood Drive. The entrance to Lakewood Park is about 300 yards on the right. The Rowing Center is at the end of the driveway, on the Lafayette River.

Botanical Gardens. Take I-64 to the Norview Avenue/Airport exit. Head towards the airport, turn left on Azalea Garden road. Proceed about 1 mile and turn right into The Botanical Garden. The rowing site is on the left after crossing the bridge. There is a $5 per vehicle fee for admittance into the Botanical Garden.

Richmond, Mathews, Elizabeth City and Occoquan venues are away regattas and directions can be found on the team website catholiccrew.blogspot.com.

Glossary

Shell - The racing boat. Shells come for single rowers, pairs, fours, and eights. Fours are the most common type in local interscholastic racing. A four is approximately 42 feet long, narrow (about two feet wide at its widest point), and weighs about 180 pounds. Shells are finely designed and constructed pieces of equipment.

Oars - Longer than the garden variety type for rowboats - some 12 feet in length and like shells, lightweight and finely designed.

Riggers - The apparatus from the side of the shells upon which oarlocks are fitted to handle the oars.

Slide - Two tracks upon which the rower's seat is fixed. The seat moves forward and backward on the slide, enabling the rower to "gather up" his or her body at the start of the stroke and then use the combined power of the legs, back, and arms when actually executing the slide.

Sweep - A shell configured so that each rower has one oar. Oars on a sweep shell are normally alternated from side to side.

Scull - A shell configured so that each rower has two oars, one on each side of the boat.

Coxswain - The person who sits at the stern of the shell and steers, gives commands to the crew and generally acts as an "on-site" assistant to the coach. Because coxswains don't pull an oar, relatively lightweight people are sought for the position; however, a good coxswain will have as much competitive spirit as the rowers and can make a considerable difference to a crew's success.

Stroke - The stern-most rower in the boat that sits just in front of the coxswain. The stroke sets the pace for the rest of the crew, responding to the urging and encouragement of the coxswain.

Port and Starboard Rowers - In sweep rowing, the designation of a rower according to whether he or she normally rows with an oar on the port or starboard side of the shell.

Catch - The start of a rowing stroke. The crew literally "catches" their oars in the water while beginning the stroke.

Release - The act of getting the oar out of the water at the end of the stroke and beginning the recovery (gathering the body with the knees coming up) for the next stroke.

Crab - Not the hard or soft-shelled variety. A rower catches a "crab" when his or her oar doesn't enter the water properly at the catch, and the blade buries itself to varying degrees in the water instead of flowing smoothly through the stroke. Crabs slow a boat down and are to be avoided if possible, but all rowers experience them at one time or another.

Set - The term "set" refers to the extent to which the boat is balanced from side to side while rowing. A crew rowing in such a way that the shell is not dipping to port or starboard continually is said to have good "set" in its row.

Power 10- a set of strokes when the crew makes an extra effort to "get everything on the oar" and make the shell go faster. (Can be power 15 or 20 also). Used in a race to try and get a tactical advantage on the other crew(s).

Ergometer - A rowing machine. An "erg" allows beginning rowers to learn the basics of the stroke before going on the water and all rowers to develop their conditioning.