Sports

Madison Crew Preps for 2013 Season

Warhawks host "Ergatta" as the boys and girls crew teams hope for another championship season.

By Treeby Brown

What is the best way to inspire your crew team, especially novice rowers, in the dead of winter with on the water training a distance month away?

Host an “Ergatta,” of course!

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Last Saturday, James Madison High School hosted its first ever “Ergatta” featuring teams of two, four and eight rowers racing for distance on rowing machines, better known as ergs. 

More than 70  Madison novice and varsity rowers as well as additional rowers from Oakton, Thomas Jefferson and West Springfield took part in the three hour event at the Madison high school cafeteria.   

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“We had an amazing turnout for our first year and hope to have even more school participate next year," Madison Head Coach Paul Allbright said. “The Ergatta was a great way to have fun, show team spirit, a give novice rowers a sense of rowing as a team.  For the parents, they could see up close the intensity and training involved in rowing.  We were especially excited about the performances of our novice rowers—the future looks really bright.”  

Medals were awarded for novice and varsity rowers as well as team spirit.  

The James Madison Crew Team will begin its spring season in March 2013, coming off an outstanding 2012 season for both its men’s and women’s varsity boats.  Madison’s home rowing facility is at Sandy Run Regional Park on the Occoquan River. Madison rows eight local regattas and typically sends most boats to the Stotesbury Cup in Philadelphia and qualified boats to National Championships at the discretion of the board and coaches.  

The James Madison Crew Team put its first boat in the water in 2003.  Since that time, the team has won a number of state championships and national medals.  

The successful program has launched alumni into rowing and coxing with national and college teams.  Four senior girls signed their NLI (National Letter of Intent) for athletic rowing scholarships and one senior boy has been recruited to row for an Ivy League school. 

For past coverage of MadCrew, click here and here.


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