We’re halfway through Punxsutawney Phil’s February 2nd prediction of six more weeks of Winter
but whether March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb is yet to be seen. We hope
everyone has been making the most of Cleveland’s beautiful snowy weather! Are you prepared
for a return to the water? WRRA has been working hard over the off-season to ensure your club
is ready for the start of 2025 rowing.
Newsletter Highlights:
- April Learn to Row Volunteer Opportunities
- Returning Rower Survey
- Canalway Partners RiverSweep
- New Program Information
- Row like a Pro
- SQL/CQL Annual Review Session Dates
- Maintenance Events
- Save the Date
- Winter Erging Schedule
- CRF Executive Director Announcement
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WRRA Spring 2025 Learn to Row Volunteer Opportunities!
WRRA is looking for MANY experienced Rowing and Coxswain members to help at the Spring 2025 Learn to Row sessions. Rowing in April is fun! Volunteer credit will be awarded to those who participate.
Please click here to read more: Learn to Row volunteer recruitment
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Returning Rowers, PLEASE complete this survey by February 28th. Don’t risk not being able to row with your team by failing to provide your intentions for the 2025 rowing season. It only takes a few minutes! Thank you!
Link to survey
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SAVE THE DATE!
The Canalway Partners Annual RiverSweep will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025. WRRA will
once again provide support with our own cleanup site. There were a total of 1300 RiverSweep
volunteers who helped collect 24 tons of trash and 491 tires in 2024! More information to follow.
Volunteer credit will be given to our members who lend a hand to protect the beautiful Crooked
River we row on. Questions? Email Leah at volunteer@westernreserverowing.com.
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SRL Plus:
Who for: Those who want to improve their rowing skills, but are not interested in racing with the Masters, or cannot commit to traveling to away regattas.
What is offered: Coached rowing 2 times/week with a heavy emphasis on improving technical rowing skills. Very similar to current Intermediates.
Requirements for Participation: At least one (1) year of prior rowing experience within the last 5 years.
Opportunities to test newly acquired skills: On 3 Sundays during the Summer season, races will be held among the SRL Plus team(s) and the SRL teams who competed in the finals of the 2024 SRL Regatta. On each of the 3 Race Days, these teams will race over a 600m course just downstream of the boat house, starting at the fountain in Superior Bend and ending at the place where the east side bulkhead turns just upstream of the old Cereal Processors’ plant parking lot. As soon as the race is finished, the crews will proceed upstream, spin, and come into the dock, for the next team to take their boat. Assuming that we have 2 SRL Plus teams plus 10-12 teams from the 2024 SRL Championships, and further assuming 10-minute centers for the races, these can be run in 1-2 hours, or from 9-11:00 AM on a race day (the first 4 crews will have to be there ½ hour early to get out the equipment, and the last 4 crews will have to put the equipment away.). Each team will race 1 time on a race day. This gives each SRL Plus team 3 guaranteed opportunities to race at home in a season, and each SRL team participating 3 opportunities to race in addition to the 2 SRL Regattas. This will afford chances to evaluate performance and work on rowing issues in between races. This will also increase the opportunities for all rowers on these teams to race. Each year those who made the finals in the preceding year's SRL Regatta can test their mettle against the SRL Plus teams allowing everyone a bit of racing fun while honing their skills. Medals/T-shirts, etc. not anticipated but could be considered.
Practice: Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm and Saturday mornings
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Reserve-Masters:
Who for: Those who actively intend to improve their rowing skills and fitness levels to be confident that they can meet the Master's fitness standards and/or technical skill levels. These would include not only those SRL rowers and those who in their past were high school or collegiate rowers looking to move up to Masters gradually, but also those who signed up for Masters initially but were unable to meet the fitness standards and/or were deemed by the Masters head coach(es) to require some further seasoning before joining the Masters squads. Those on this squad would have to commit at a minimum to 90% of the coached practices, performing at least 90% of the on-land training program as well as attending at least 1 regatta.
Requirements for Participation: At least two (2) years of prior rowing experience within the last 5 years, and meeting minimal fitness standards (75% of the fitness standards required of Masters Program participants). These standards may be waived/altered at the discretion of the Reserve Masters Coach.
What is offered: Coached rowing 2 times/week with a heavy on-water emphasis on improving technical rowing skills consistent with that being taught by the Master's coach(es), coupled with a land-based fitness training program. Coordination between the Reserve Masters coach and the Masters head coach(es), on matters of rowing technique and style would be a must.
Fiscal Requirements: at the time the budget for 2025 is set, a mechanism for adjusting dues for those who either move up to Masters or get sent down to Reserve-Masters during the season would have to be created. We have worked with pro-rata dues systems based on weeks in each program in the past, and this might work here.
Opportunities to test newly acquired skills: Each summer, two or three regattas not too far from Cleveland (Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Central Ohio) offer "recreational" level races. These would be opportunities (as well as those races the Masters attend for which Reserve-Masters members were "called up") to test their skills.
Practice: Wednesday 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Saturday morning
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ROW LIKE A PRO IN 2025!
The Summer rowing season is approaching fast! WRRA is offering its current members FREE erging classes with Coach Tim Marcovy beginning March 1st.
When: Every Saturday from March 1-April 12, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: CRF Erg Room
Who: Any WRRA Member
Fee: No Charge for Current Members
If you are enrolled in a year-round program, you can attend at no cost. If you are not in a year-round program (such as SRL, Vets, or Intermediate), you are invited to join the winter erging membership with the Cleveland Rowing Foundation for $90. Here is the link to register for the winter erging membership. If you are unsure, please reach out to Heidi BEFORE you register.
You MUST RSVP here. Sessions will be canceled if no RSVPs are received for a particular date.
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CRF ANNUAL SAFETY REVIEW SESSIONS
CRF will host its annual Safety Review sessions in 2025 for individuals wishing to maintain their SQL/CQL status. Two dates will be offered via Zoom only, and one class will be available both in person and via Zoom. Detailed information from Kristen Runner, CRF Safety Chair, will follow.
March 2, 2025
March 9, 2025
March 16, 2025
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Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers!
Maintenance Day, February 8, 2025
A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in the WRRA Maintenance Day. Your hard work and dedication allowed us to take apart, clean, and reassemble four SRL 8s. We just need a little sunshine and warmer temperatures to get back on the river. Your efforts have made all the difference—let's look forward to a fantastic rowing season!
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MAINTENANCE DAYS 2025
Sunday, February 23, 9am-noon
Saturday, March 8, 9am-noon
2025 Volunteer Credit will be awarded to those who participate.
Please bring the following items if you have them and please make sure they are labeled:
- 7/16 wrench
- pliers
- philips screwdriver
- flat head screwdriver
- allen wrench
- warm clothes
If you are interested in participating in this event, please email Chris Cole equipment@westernreserverowing.com
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Save the date(s)
Maintenance day: February 23, 9:00 am
Coached Erging: Every Saturday from March 1 to April 12th, 1:30 pm
Maintenance day: March 8th, 9:00 am
WRRA Board meeting: March 11th, 6:00 pm
Sculling Committee meeting: March 19th at 6:00 pm
Learn to Row: April 5, 12, 13, 19, and 26th
Cold Water Rules end: April 15th
Canalway Partners Annual RiverSweep, May 3
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The Board of Directors of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF) is thrilled to announce Nicolette (Nikki) Jaworski as our Executive Director.
With deep Cleveland roots, and a passion for both public service and rowing, Nikki is returning to Cleveland from Washington DC where she served as the Director, Presidential Press Advance at the White House. Previously she served as the Director, Global Public Affairs for AT&T. Her record of community service includes serving on the boards of the Cleveland Urban League, the Cleveland International Film Festival, Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Board, and CityYear Cleveland.
Nikki started rowing as a student at Ohio State University and has sculled and rowed masters as a member of Western Reserve Rowing Association. She served as Co-Chair of CRF’s hugely successful Boys in the Boat event. Check out her 2023 interview, click here.
The massive community investments up and down the river including Bedrock’s Riverfront Cleveland, Irishtown Bend Park, and the Metroparks expansion make this an incredibly exciting time for CRF. Nikki is uniquely positioned to help us capitalize on the momentum with her extensive expertise in public affairs, media, event management, strategic communications, and community building. Cultivating strong relationships with the network of CRF stakeholders and establishing new relationships have the potential to strengthen the organization’s finances, reputation, and facilities.
Nikki is excited to bring her passion and love of the sport to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who pass through our doors: rowers, parents, spectators, and future athletes.
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WRRA Board of Directors:
Sharon Romilly, President: President@westernreserverowing.com
Marti Rini, Vice President and Director of Governance: Governance@westernreserverowing.com
Libby Sobota, Treasurer: Treasurer@westernreserverowing.com
Leah Livermore, Secretary and Director of Volunteerism:
Monica Wagner, Director of Sculling: Sculling@westernreserverowing.com
Chris Cole, Director of Equipment: Equipment@westernreserverowing.com
Maria Coyne, Director of Corporate Rowing: Corporate@westernreserverowing.com
Tim Marcovy, Director of Coaching and Coxing and Director of Safety:
Robin Murphy, Director of Veterans: Veterans@westernreserverowing.com
Mary Wright, Director of Merchandise: Merchandise@westernreserverowing.com
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