South Bend Community Rowing

The 2023 season has concluded, and the shells will lie in their berths until spring 2024. A look back on a a successful season and a look forward to 2024 is in order.

Our membership peaked at 45 this season, and on numerous occasions we had three shells on the water for our recreational rows. A successful Learn to Row was held in June. Twelve of those in the Learn to Row class moved on to our Novice program which began in July. For the first time we were able to teach sculling to those interested.

On the competitive side, we participated in the Indy Sprints, MCI Sprints in Ann Arbor, Beer City Regatta in Grand Rapids, and finished our racing season with the Head of the Cuyahoga in Cleveland this past September. Overall, our crews medaled in six events, including two bronze finishes at the Head of the Cuyahoga.

A large thank you to our coaching staff, Jill Delucia, Andrea Amoni, and Kelly Harrington. Thanks also to Kevin Barry who helped fill in as a coach and taught sculling to a number of our members.

A look toward 2024 has us moving from small club status to mid tier. Interest in next year’s Learn to Row is already at a high level. Our competitive teams will participate in the Midwest Championship series consisting of sprint races in Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, and Nashport, Ohio as well as the Head of the Cuyahoga. It is also possible we will send a crew to the Head of the Schuylkill in Philadelphia.

We are always looking for opportunities to upgrade our current fleet of shells. Fundraising is essential to most nonprofit organizations, and we are no different. Thanks to Mary Alice Reid and Cecilia Lucero for their continued efforts.

With sadness we say goodbye to the 2023 season. We look forward to a great 2024 season.

See you in the spring.