KNOXVILLE -- The East Tennessee Rowing Organization (ETRO) Youth program recently wrapped up three days of competition at the US Rowing Southeast Regional Championships in Sarasota, FL. It was during this event that the Youth program earned its first bid to the Youth Rowing National Championships.
The National Championships took place on Lake Natoma in California this year and featured more than 1,500 youth (high school) rowers competing in 18 events for National Titles.
ETRO’s Grace Headrick and Diamond Hurst, Juniors at Maryville High School, claimed the Bronze medal in the Youth Women’s 2- (pair) at this year’s Southeastern District championships in Sarasota, FL. With their podium finish, these ladies became the first boat in East Tennessee Rowing’s history to claim a birth at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Rancho Cordova, California. Currently the ladies are training with ETRO to compete at the USRowing Club National Championships held in Oak Ridge, TN beginning July 16th.
Many of our successful athletes from the Maryville/Knoxville high schools are headed to college, aided by their time invested with the ETRO Rowing program. Past athletes including Ms. Liza Raider and Lauren Krawczyk are currently rowing for the University Of Tennessee Division 1 women’s program and have seen great successes in their post ETRO careers. Mr. Devin Baked and Nathan Dubs, Maryville High School Graduates, have also continued their rowing careers at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Clemson University respectively.
This scene repeats every year for many ETRO graduates. In a typical year many athletes will go on to row in college and for some being part of a team sport - Rowing, is the key to admission at an elite academic institution, especially when grades and/or test scores might have been insufficient. Many will receive full or partial athletic scholarships, other forms of financial aid or a combination of athletic and academic assistance. For example, Ivy League schools and Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but instead offer creative financial aid packages that significantly lower costs and replace the athletic scholarships. Student athletes may also choose to receive a more robust academic scholarship, instead of the athletic counterpart.
Andrew Krug, the ETRO – Program Director/Head Coach, a former Division 1 Oarsmen at Gonzaga University and decorated rower, said that rowing provides "an opportunity for a scholarship … but it takes a great deal of hard work and diligent communication with the college coaches." Coach Krug makes it a priority to keep in constant communication with the athletes and their parents to assist them in understanding how the recruiting process works, as well as keeping open relationships with the regions College coaches.
Not every high school rower receives a scholarship, of course. College coaches look nationally and internationally to find promising prospects, “they’re looking to see what your potential is and the contribution you will make as a student athlete… character does matter." Coach Krug said.
Although most colleges with rowing programs have men's and women's teams, the gender-equity guidelines of Title IX funnel most of the scholarship monies to women. Still, there are scholarships for male rowers. As can be seen in the an article at blog.ecollegefinder.org/2012/06/11/want-an-athletic-scholarship, the chances of a Rower receiving a College Scholarship far outweighs all other sports.
To learn more about the Olympic sport of Rowing, East Tennessee Rowing Organization will be offering both Youth and Adult Summer “Learn To Row” Camps. These will be held in the month of July for 2014, with the Youth Camp ( age 12-18) will be from 5:30-8:00 pm July 14-18 and Sat 19th Camp session from 8-10 am. The Adult session’ will be over a 2 week period Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday July 22nd, 24th, 26th, 29th, 31st and the last day Sat August 2nd. These camps are the perfect opportunity to introduce Youth and Adults who desire a different fitness experience…the sport of Rowing. In addition to learning to row on the water, the camp instructors will review proper water safety, basic rowing technique with ergometers (rowing machines), physiology and conditioning fundamentals, core strength development, nutrition, teamwork and racing strategy, college scholarship opportunities and local fitness opportunities with the sport.
Camp size will be limited so please sign up early or reach out with your questions. The cost for each camp is $175, which includes, Tee shirt, Gatorade, water and light nutritious snacks following each day. The East Tennessee Rowing Program Director/Head Coach- Andrew Krug and his experienced assistant coaches will conduct the camps.
Learn to Row camps are held at the Smoky Mountain Rowing Center Boathouse, 3452 Louisville Road. For more information, visit www.igetrowing.com.
