Simsbury Crew Welcomes Family and Friends with Annual Ergathon

Simsbury Crew held its annual “Ergathon” on Sunday, September 23, welcoming friends and family of current athletes to the Paine Boathouse for a picnic and fundraiser. The event was a chance for coaches, rowers, friends, and family members to socialize, tour the boathouse, learn more about the sport of rowing, and raise money to support the program

The morning began with rowers and coxswains participating in an Ergathon, which is based on athletes getting pledges for how far they can row in ten minutes on an ergometer. Ergometers are land-based rowing machines that rowers use regularly as part of their training and conditioning regimen. Funds raised from Ergathon pledges and donations are essential to the success of the program and are used towards the purchase and maintenance of boats, oars, and other pieces of rowing equipment.

Once they completed their “erging,” athletes joined their friends and families for a cookout and buffet, with many side dishes and desserts provided by rowers and their parents. Head Coach Ann Carabillo welcomed visitors to the boathouse and formally introduced this year’s team captains: Joe Bogdan, Elias Hanna, Chris Harvill, Millie Malloy, and Abby Hammel.

For those interested in learning about the sport of rowing, there were two shells available for close-up inspection: the ”Hayden T. Hawthorne” and the “Simsbury Bank,” each about 60 feet long and weighing about 200 pounds. Visitors were also invited to try out rowing for themselves by participating in “trial rows” on the river. Dozens of parents and siblings took advantage of the opportunity to learn from Coach Carabillo and experienced rowers and coxswains about oar motions, rowing technique, and how to work together to propel a boat. Many came away with an increased appreciation for the complexity and difficulty of the sport.

The Fall racing season for Simsbury Crew continues this weekend with the New England Junior and High School Regional Championship Regatta in Worcester on October 7 at Lake Quinsigamond.

For more information about the Simsbury Crew program, visit www.simsburycrew.org.