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Returning to training after their most successful year to date, Dallas United Crew (DUC) rowers are ready for another great year of championship racing. Like running, rowing is a year-round sport with two seasons:  five-thousand-meter “head” races (5K) in the fall, and two-thousand-meter “sprints” in the spring.  

In October, DUC will return to the world’s premier 5K race, the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA, having qualified both its boy’s and girl’s varsity crews in 2021. Regionally, DUC will journey to the Oklahoma Regatta Festival for daylight competition at Oklahoma City University’s Head of the Oklahoma and twilight’s OGE Night Sprints, a five-hundred-meter gut-buster on the world’s only lighted rowing course. Regional competition will also include Austin’s Head of the Colorado and the Waco Rowing Regatta.

To introduce Rowing to those new to the sport, DUC invites the community to an Open Row on August 20th. Participants will get “hands on” with land and water-based training, tour the DUC boathouse and learn more about the team culture and competition.

DUC partners with school districts to extend their students’ athletic opportunities through Rowing. These partnerships may include

  • Off-Campus P.E. credit eligibility
  • Varsity letter eligibility
  • DUC/Rowing highlights in school newsletters
  • Eligibility for National Letter of Intent signing ceremonies

Having started with four rowers in 2002, Dallas United Crew is now the largest youth rowing team in North Texas, boasting six Texas Rowing Championship titles in 2022 and 36 cumulative USRowing Central Region titles, including five consecutive titles in the Women’s Varsity Eight. Rowing opens college doors, too. Since 2019, half of DUC’s seniors have matriculated to collegiate varsity teams.

High School team registration is underway. Visit DallasUnitedCrew.org to learn more.

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Oklahoma City, OK - Dallas United Crew (DUC) added seven regional titles, including those of Rowing’s fastest events – the Girls and Boys Eights – to its legacy. Held May 7th and 8th, the USRowing Central Youth Championship is one of seven regional qualifiers for USRowing’s National Youth Championship to be held in Sarasota, FL June 11th through 14th.

 

As nearly eight hundred athletes representing twenty-four clubs from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas gathered in the OKC Boathouse District, the expected racing format was time trials (tandem starts for the best time) on Saturday in which the top six crews would qualify to compete in head-to-head finals over the two-thousand-meter course. The weather did not cooperate. Winds picked up Saturday afternoon, gaining strength overnight with gusts between 25 and 35 mph on Sunday. Such conditions are unsafe, especially for crews in windward lanes. By mid-morning, officials canceled the finals, and Saturday’s time trials now decide the winners. DUC’s coaches prepared their crews and race strategies with Sunday’s forecast and its likely impact in mind. 

 

Four-time defending champions in the Eights the DUC Varsity Girls knew they faced a challenge at regionals. Having won prior match-ups, Austin’s Texas Rowing Center (TRC), was seeded first in the Girls Varsity Eights, ahead of DUC. Despite a slower lane assignment, the DUC girls surpassed expectations, laying down a one-second faster time than TRC and claiming their fifth consecutive title. DUC’s Varsity Four, powered by three of four oarswomen from DUC’s 2021 Youth Nationals top-ten crew, bested the field by a whopping twenty seconds – the equivalent of seven boat-lengths.

 

This year saw the DUC Varsity Boys return to the top of the podium in the Eights. They turned the tide with a blazing 5:49 down the course, besting the field by a definitive six seconds. DUC’s Under Seventeen (U17) Boys, having placed in the top ten at Youth Nationals in 2021, crushed the field, finishing ten seconds ahead of the second place crew.

 

DUC, the largest rowing team in North Texas with athletes hailing from 26 schools, showed the depth of its crews, taking gold in three additional events: The Boys Under Sixteen (U16) Eight, the Girls Under Fifteen (U15) Coxed-quad and the Boys U17 Eight for a momentous fifty-one individual gold medals. DUC earned silver medals in the Boys Second Varsity Eight, Girls U17 Eight, Boys U15 Coxed-quadruple and Girls U17 Four, adding twenty-eight individual medals to the haul. Add twenty-four Bronze medals for the Boys Novice Eight, Girls Second Varsity Four, and Girls Novice Eight, and DUC’s individual medal count astounds at one hundred three.

 

“We are very proud of the eleven crews that qualified for the National Championships next month” reflects DUC Program Director and Head Coach, Steve Perry. “This weekend produced the best DUC results in our twenty-year history. I am so proud of our rowers, and I want to thank their parents and our partners at the City of Dallas for their dedication to these amazing kids and  the sport of Rowing.

Would you like to try rowing? Dallas United Crew offers Beginner Summer Camps. This fun, four-day camp teaches boys and girls in grades 6-12 the fundamentals of rowing. And, those who love it can keep rowing with DUC's Intermediate Rowing Camp so that they are ready for High School or Advanced Middle School Rowing in the Fall.

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Team boats are the heavy metal of competitive rowing. Eights and Fours, like the musical genre, are fast, powerful and complex, and that is why they were selected for collegiate competition. At last weekend’s Texas Rowing Championships, Dallas United Crew (DUC), true to its mission, focused on Eights and Fours races, earning gold or silver in six events for a combined seventy-two medals awarded.

First up: Gold for DUC’s Women’s Four, led by seniors Ellie Rodriguez, Abby Fowler, and Alaina Ruggiero. Rodriguez will join 2021 NCAA Division I National Champions, the University of Texas, in the fall, and Fowler will join the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University, now ranked thirteenth in the College Rowing Coaches Association poll. Ruggiero will row at Monmouth University, a new NCAA Division I program. DUC’s First Eight took silver behind Austin’s Texas Rowing Center, and DUC’s Under -seventeen (U17) women earned another silver behind White Rock Rowing (WRR).

In the Men’s Varsity Eights, DUC’s took gold in every event. Regatta host, WRR, was the only other club competing. Finishing just seconds apart, the cross-lake rivals thrilled spectators as the crews sprinted for the lead. In the First Eights race, WRR took a lead early, but DUC was unrelenting, moving continually on WRR and overtook them in the final five hundred meters. DUC went on to win the race by open water. With five sophomores in the boat, seniors Archer Smith, Sam Tharp, Peyton Lewis, and Caroline Craycroft led a crew that foreshadows more DUC titles in the years to come. Tharp is recruited to Columbia University Men’s Lightweight Varsity crew and Lewis to Saint Joseph University Men’s Varsity crew.

The Men’s Second Varsity Eights contest was particularly close. WRR held half a length’s lead through the first fifteen hundred meters, but in the final one hundred meters, DUC pushed from behind to best WRR in the final strokes of the race. Then, DUC’s Mens (U17) Eight edged out WRR by four seats over the last two-hundred and fifty meters..

Northerly, gusting winds made for fast times on the course, and sustained surface chop challenged the set and sync of the boats. Despite these conditions, DUC’s Under-fifteen (U15) Women’s and Men’s Quadruple crews took gold in this first-ever event. “It makes my heart sing,” smiles U15 Coach Cherie Farmer.

Such closely contested races beckon fans to USRowing’s Central Region Championship held May 7th and 8th in Oklahoma City, OK, a qualifier for USRowing’s Youth National Championship. There, DUC and WRR will face Jesuit Crew, winner of the Men’s Varsity Eight regional titles since 2017.

“At Dallas United, we believe rowing teaches athletes more about life on the water than they will ever learn off the water and holds the keys to opportunity,” reflects DUC Head Coach and Program Director, Steve Perry. “Hosting this regatta in Dallas enlightens our neighbors about this unique option in youth athletics. We thank White Rock Rowing for hosting and commend USRowing for sanctioning the Texas State Championships this year.”

Born of a desire to shape adolescents through championship rowing and to open college doors, Dallas United Crew is the largest sweep youth rowing club in the state of Texas. Now in its twentieth year, DUC draws athletes from twenty-eight area schools and celebrates twenty-two USRowing Regional Titles and sixty-three rowers recruited to row in college.  Starting in June, DUC will offer four-day Learn to Row Summer Camps, introducing more kids to rowing and the athletes within themselves. Visit DallasUnitedCrew.org for more information or email info@DallasUnitedCrew.org for more information.

 

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On March 26th and 27th, HP Crew, rowing with Dallas United Crew, traveled to sunny San Diego, California  to race top West Coast crews. After a two-year hiatus, the San Diego Crew Classic returned to Mission Bay as ninety-nine juniors, collegiate and masters clubs raced at this, the traditional start of USRowing’s sprint season. From floating starting docks near Sea World, crews sprinted 2,000 meters north, to Crown Point Park where crowds cheered from sandy beaches strewn with festival tents and palm trees.

DUC showed the strength and depth of its program with more than sixty-three athletes competing and top ten finishes in three powerhouse events, including the Women’s Varsity Eight, the Men’s Under 17 Eight, and the Men’s Junior Varsity Eight. 

Seniors Ellie Rodriguez and Aby Fowler, recruited to the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University, respectively, led DUC’s Varsity Women. In Heat 1 of the Gilman-Mulliken Cup, DUC’s crew edged out regional rival Texas Rowing Center to take fourth place, just three tenths of a second off Long Beach Junior Crew in third. In the second Final, the DUC women poured on the power to take third, with an overall ranking of ninth. 

Competing for the Shimano Rowing Dynamics Cup, DUC’s U17 Men took first in the second final with a blistering ten-second lead over their closest competitor, finishing seventh overall. 

In the heats for the Men’s Junior Varsity (JV) event, the Jean Jessop Hervey Cup, DUC’s crew walked from behind to challenge Sammamish Rowing for third within 250 meters of the finish. Then, a misplaced blade in choppy water decimated the rhythm of the crew, landing DUC in fifth place. Showing their resilience and cohesion, the DUC JV men raced a razor-straight line through crosswinds and tidal flows to take third place in the second final and tenth overall.

DUC’s Varsity Men, racing in the San Diego Rowing Cup event, took fourth in their heat to earn a place in the second final. While Orlando Area Rowing Society (OARS) emerged as the clear leader, the competition was neck and neck among the other crews. Ultimately, DUC’s men missed placing in the top four in the heat, and top ten overall, by 1 second as they were edged out by Capital Crew.

"I was very proud of the teamwork and genuine camaraderie our crews are showing. Each boat fought very hard in their racing and demonstrated some very impressive poise," reflects Girls Head Coach, Amanda Perry.

With over one hundred athletes from more than 40 secondary schools, Dallas United Crew is the vanguard of competitive youth rowing in Dallas. DUC serves youth rowers ages 11 to 18. DUC invites those who would like to try rowing to DUC’s Summer Camps, which are open for registration. In these four-day camps, teens will have a chance to get hands-on with a boat, learn about equipment, the basics of the stroke, and why “there is nothing like the start of an eight.” Learn more at DallasUnitedCrew.org.

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Ten weeks of 2022 have passed. New Year’s resolutions have become habits – or not, and bathing suit season is just around the corner. So, it’s a good time to either reward yourself for setting and meeting goals, or take a hard look at reasons you don’t exercise and come up with another plan. 

 

If yours is the latter case, you’re not alone. According to the Heart Foundation, only five percent  of adults in the U.S. exercise the prescribed 30 minutes a day. Rather than return to the scene of past, failed regimens, consider a change of scene – one that addresses the reasons why you do not exercise regularly. Dallas United Crew (DUC), a non-profit offering rowing at White Rock Lake, has an adult program that sweeps away the most common excuses.

 

Physical fitness and physical literacy may be the most common barriers to exercise. The good news is the basics of rowing are easily learned, and intensity can be graduated to match your fitness level. Speed in a rowing shell comes from technique and power in each stroke, not quickness or agility. Anyone who has successfully ridden a bike or used common exercise equipment, like a step machine can readily row. Those with joint pain or injury will be pleased to learn that rowing does not involve the impact of running, nor the side-to-side cutting motions of court and field sports. In rowing, you can build leg strength without agitating old injuries.

Joining DUC’s adult rowing program, known as DUC Masters, can change how you feel about exercising, too. Gone are the boredom and isolation of endless repetitions on an exercise machine. Crews consist of eight rowers and a coxswain, so rowing comes with a built-in social group. “The team encourages each other, and there is a soft expectation about attendance. We can’t row unless everyone is here, and to get faster we need to practice together,” reflects DUC President and rower, David Slear. “Once you feel it all come together, you’re hooked, and you want to be there.”

Like to win? Rowing gives you both individual and team goals. DUC’s training includes indoor rowing, which can measure individual speed and distance. Over time, the dedicated will see performance gains. Crews celebrate each P.R. because it means a faster team boat. DUC Masters crews race competitively, too. DUC regional regattas and as far away as San Diego and Boston.

Sunrises on White Rock Lake are another way rowing can change how you feel about exercise. Sunrise light is devoid of ultraviolet light (UV), but saturated with infrared light, which stimulates collagen and increases healing. About an hour after sunrise, UVA light enters the mix, triggering the production of serotonin and dopamine and releasing endorphins. The end result? You feel good.

A fresh group of beginning DUC Masters will start learning to row this Monday, March 21st at 417 East Lawther Drive. Visit www.DallasUnitedCrew.org to learn more.

 

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This past weekend, Dallas United Crew (DUC) concluded a successful American Youth Cup Series 1 (AYC1) Regatta at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL. The venue will once again host USRowing’s Youth National Championship, and the AYC1 offers crews familiarity with the course and a chance to face top-ranked teams.

AYC1 was DUC’s first regatta of 2022. Thirty-three clubs participated with over four hundred fifty entries. Top-ten crews from the  2021 USRowing Youth National Championships, including Greenwich Crew and St. Joseph Preparatory School of Philadelphia, PA (gold medalists in the Girls and Boys Varsity Eights, respectively), Sarasota Crew and Chicago Rowing Foundation set the standard for speed. Of the sixteen boats DUC entered, five crews finished amongst the top six boats in their event, and ten of DUC’s entries placed in the top ten.

 

"We now have a much better sense of where we are, and where we want to be,” reflects Girls Head Coach Amanda Perry. “Watching our crews, I could see nerves and jitters prior to the first race work out as the racing progressed, and their confidence grew. The Girls Varsity 8 was able to find a gel moment, and they learned the value of keeping their focus inside the shell with rhythm, rate, and ratio. The Girls Second Varsity 8, made of both under-seventeen (U17) and under-nineteen (U19) rowers from opposite practice times, was able to come together nicely and bring a lot of positive energy to the race, which definitely elevated the entire squad.”

Head Coach Steve Perry added "Overall, I was pleased with all of our DUC athletes. Everyone raced multiple times and demonstrated better results with each successive outing. I wanted to especially note our Boys and Girls U17 Eights who finished third and fourth, respectively, giving us our best results on the weekend."

DUC's next event will be the Heart of Texas Regatta in Austin, TX, on Sunday, February 27th. Selected under-fifteen (U15) and under-sixteen (U16) athletes will race in the Boys and Girls Novice Eights. The U17 and U19 crews will focus on the OKC Riversport Invitational on March 19th and San Diego Crew Classic March 25th through 27th .

Founded on the East and West Coasts, rowing is growing at 27% nationally and DUC is rowing’s vanguard in Dallas. For those wishing to try the sport, DUC’s popular Middle School Team is now registering for the spring season. High-schoolers and middle-schoolers are also invited to register for DUC’s just-opened and highly anticipated Learn-to-Row Youth Summer Camps. Space is limited, so register early.

With over 160 athletes from over 50 schools, Dallas United Crew is North Texas’s largest youth rowing program. The keys to their success are expert coaching, a strong team culture, and proven training. The results -– 22 USRowing Regional Titles and 61 collegiate varsity recruits -– are indisputable.

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In the coming weeks, Metroplex high school students will select their courses for the 2022-2023 academic year. Electives allow each student to tailor his or her high school experience, but graduation requires credit in a few key subjects. Language arts, math, social studies and science may reflexively come to mind, but let us not forget the favorite of some and bane of others – physical education. (P.E.)

For many, P.E. credit is a given, earned on the fields or courts of school athletics. For others, the path is less obvious. Sure, there’s the default: a year of calisthenics, dodge-ball, square-dancing, yoga, or whatever else has most recently captured the imagination of Coach. However, teens and parents should know that alternatives exist, including rowing with Dallas United Crew (DUC).

DUC’s high school program qualifies under the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Category I or Olympic standards, but don’t let that intimidate you. Most athletes come to DUC without any rowing experience, and DUC expertly crafts training for all fitness levels.  “Rowing requires a completely different skill set than most UIL sports,” offers DUC Program Director, Steve Perry.  “Some of our most accomplished rowers thought they were bad at sports before they found rowing. Now they compete for colleges nation-wide.”

Category I off-campus P.E. (OCPE) offers another popular bonus – a shorter school day. “Because kids are consistently training at the boathouse, they are excused from one period, usually at the end of the day,” says Perry. 

Organizations must be approved by school districts to offer OCPE, and DUC has actively sought certification. Dallas United Crew is an Approved Agency (certified) at Dallas, Richardson, Highland Park, Plano, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Frisco, and Carroll Independent School Districts. Many private schools also work with DUC to offer P.E. credit for rowing including Bishop Lynch High School, Shelton School, Parish Episcopal, and Trinity Christian Academy. “DUC rowers come from 27 different high schools. Once they understand what we do, most schools work with us because they see the enormous impact we can have for their students,” concludes Perry. Full details of OCPE programs are available on each school’s or district’s website.

With 22 regional titles, DUC has successfully shown teens that they can ditch the court and field, earn P.E. credit at the boathouse, and find belonging in athletics. For those interested in learning more about rowing in high school, DUC will host an information meeting on February 15th at 7:30. For details, visit DallasUnitedCrew.org.

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Regional Rivals Race Top 10 Crews

at White Rock Invite Regatta

 

On November 20th, Dallas rowing rivals Dallas United Crew (DUC), Jesuit Preparatory College, and White Rock Rowing faced off against visiting crew, Chicago Rowing Foundation (CRF). With exemplary results at USRowing’s 2021 Youth National Regatta, including three top 10 finishes in rowing’s fastest boats, Chicago elevated the competition for local crews.

 

Christening a temporarily installed seven-lane racecourse at White Rock Lake and coming off of head-race training, where crews row longer, 5,000-meter distances, the teams kicked off sprint training with 1,000-meter races -- half the distance that will decide the national championship. CRF brought only their top crews, while local clubs DUC, Jesuit and White Rock fielded multiple boats. Heats leveled the finals, sorting the fastest crews into head-to-head racing. CRF was the crew to beat, and they won each of the Varsity races, leaving local contenders to fight for second place; DUC answered the call.

 

Showing how they earned four, consecutive USRowing Central Region Eights titles, DUC’s Varsity Girls commanded seven-second leads over White Rock in both the eights and fours. 

 

The Varsity Boys races were hotly contested. In the eights, DUC followed CRF with a one-second lead over Jesuit and a time of 3:26 to Jesuit’s 3:27; White Rock was a distant 3:31.20.  Jesuit opted out of the fours event. White Rock is more competitive in the smaller boats. Vying for local bragging rights, it was neck-and-neck for DUC’s and White Rock’s top fours. They finished less than a second apart with DUC in the lead.

 

In the Junior Varsity (JV) and Novice events, DUC’s Boys JV eight took first place, besting Jesuit and White Rock. DUC’s Novice Boys Eight overwhelmed the field, leading them by two lenghts, and the DUC Novice Girls Eight trailed White Rock by just two seats for second place.

 

“Across the board we were pleased with our final Fall competition.  All of our boats finished ahead of our regional competitors which is a great set up as we head into the winter months.” assessed DUC Head Coach and Program Director, Steve Perry. 

 

Do you know a teen who would like to try rowing? DUC will offer a two-day rowing clinic December 18th and 19th for those new to the sport. No prior rowing experience is expected. (On average, collegiate rowers started their sport at age 14.) With 22 regional rowing titles and 60 collegiate recruits since 2012, DUC coaches show kids how to turn possibility into passion. Register now to get started!

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Dallas, Texas – Dallas United Crew (DUC) sent 37 athletes, hailing from twelve high schools – it’s largest contingent to date -- to Cambridge, MA, on October 24, to race in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), the largest three-day rowing regatta in the world. On a picturesque day, the Charles River vividly reflected cerulean skies, colorful turning leaves and historic buildings. The chop was mild with winds at or under 12 mph.

The Head of the Charles is the premier international rowing Head race. Crews race a time trial format over a 4.5km challenging course best known for its bridges and hairpin turns with boats, some as long as semi-trailers, jockeying for position. Competition is fierce, not just for medals; earning a position in the top half of an event guarantees a crew a coveted invitation to return in 2022.

DUC’s Youth Varsity Girl’s Eight placed 34th of 76 boats.  Their performance earned a guaranteed entry to race next year. DUC’s coxswain and stern four, fresh off a Top 10 finish at Youth Nationals, followed stroke-seat Ellie Rodriguez, to the finish with the fastest time of any Central Region entry. Rodriguez is committed to row with 2021 NCAA Rowing Champion, The University of Texas.

DUC entered two boats In the Youth Varsity Boys Eight race, a field of 80 boats.  The Varsity crew raced a precise course to finish in the top third, besting all regional rivals and guaranteeing their return in 2022.  DUC’s under 17 (U17) Eight, back to racing after finishing eighth at Youth Nationals, sped through the course and gave DUC its best-ever finish at the Charles, coming in third among U17 entries.

The younger girls at DUC have also shown promise this fall, prompting Girls Head Coach, Amanda Perry to enter a U17 four in the regatta.  Although they finished eleventh out of thirteen, the crew gained invaluable experience, preparing them to take on the Charles, with its twists and turns in years to come. Rounding out Dallas United’s entries was the Boys Varsity Four, outperforming its starting position at 81st of 84 boats to finish 76th, just three seconds off rival Jesuit Prep over the three-mile course.

While at the event, the DUC Youth team cheered DUC alumni who are racing for some of the nation’s top colleges, including Georgetown, Northeastern, Colgate, University of Pennsylvania and the United States Naval Academy. “Rowing opens college doors for our high school athletes. The schools represented by our alumni are a testament to their dedication to the sport and how far rowing can take you” concludes Head Coach and Program Director, Steve Perry.

Though fall competition is underway, DUC continues to seek high school athletes who would like to try rowing. Those who are interested should contact DUC at info@DallasUnitedCrew.org for a one-week free trial.

DUC Rowers include:

Men’s Youth Varsity 8+ A: 

Archer Smith, Luke Schweizer, Peyton Lewis, Sam Tharp, Jack Haney, Landon Tinker, Clark Hobbs, J. Halverson, Kaila Galliford (coxswain)

 

Men’s Youth Varsity 8+ B (U17):  Matt Slear, Cole Farley, Daniel Sneed, Logan Betts, Jack Martin, Luke Blankenship, Jack Craycroft, Nate McNeill, Jeff Kang (coxswain)

 

Women’s Youth Varsity 8+: Ellie Rodriguez, Caroline Payseur, Sierra Ross, Olivia Till, Lauren O’Grady, Abby Fowler, Zeynap Akdora, Nora Thompson, Lucy Roberts (coxswain)

 

Men’s Youth Varsity 4+: Wes Hannfeld, Mitch Holter, Jack Puorro, Coleman Hayes, Caroline Craycroft (coxswain)

 

Women’s Youth Varsity 4+ (U17): Victoria Bell, Estelle Stout, Zoe Greene, Lente Van der Westhuizen, Claire Dwelle (coxswain)

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DUC Awards Varsity Letters Front row: Chloe Dietz; middle row (left to right): Ellie Rodriguez, Caroline Craycroft, and Luke Schweizer; back row: Archer Smith

Earning a high school varsity letter is a point of pride for generations of athletes. Now, thanks to Dallas United Crew (DUC) and its partner schools, rowers from four local high schools will share in the tradition and spirit of wearing their schools’ colors. Rowers from Bishop Lynch High School, Highland Park High School, Lakehill Preparatory School and Woodrow Wilson High School are now eligible for recognition alongside classmates from other sports like football, basketball, volleyball and swimming.

DUC and its partner schools first awarded varsity letters in the spring of 2020. The rowing coaches collaborated with each school’s athletic director to decide the criteria to earn the award, which recognizes athletes consistently rowing at the highest, varsity level as well as those who have shown dedication to the team by rowing three or more years with DUC.  Both oarsmen and coxswains are eligible. “We are fortunate and grateful to partner with BL, HP, Woodrow and Lakehill’s athletic departments to award their varsity letters to rowers,” says Program Director and Head Coach, Steve Perry. “Rowing adds to the sports schools can offer, and athletic departments that partner with DUC keep more kids active and learning through sport.”

Being recognized by their school with a varsity letter is not lost on this inaugural class of rowers.  “Earning a letter helped me feel a part of my community at school,” says Bishop Lynch junior, Ellie Rodriguez. Teammate, Caroline Craycroft, a Highland Park junior agrees, “Before this, I felt like I lived in divided worlds: school and rowing. This letter brought them together.”

Chloe Dietz, a Woodrow Wilson senior and Columbia University recruit, acknowledges, “Getting my letter was very symbolic of all of my hard work.” Rowers train six days a week, year-round; a varsity letter communicates their dedication and lends scholastic endorsement of their sport on college applications.

 

Woodrow Wilson High School: Chloe Dietz, Luke Schweizer, Elizabeth Welty, Garrett Botsch and Hudson Price

Bishop Lynch High School: Ellie Rodriguez, Archer Smith

Lakehill Preparation School: Anders Ekstrom

Highland Park High School: Grace Condon, Ava Craycroft, Kate Corey, Georgia Wellborn, Caroline Craycroft and Drew Favors

 

Coach Perry hopes to expand the spotlight. “Our high school team draws athletes from 26 area high schools. DUC would welcome the chance to partner with any of them to recognize achievement in the sport of rowing. Varsity letters are just one aspect of how we can work together. We also team for off-campus PE credit, National Letter of Intent (NLI) Signing celebrations, and scholar-athlete awards.”

Dallas United Crew is a non-profit organization located on the eastern shores of White Rock Lake. Middle- and High-schoolers interested in learning to row are invited to register for a summer Learn-to-Row camp. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Details are available at DallasUnitedcrew.org.