Haddonfield Crew Club Needs Financial Aid, Supporters Say

HADDONFIELD BOROUGH — Members of the Haddonfield School District’s Crew Club and their parents asked the school board Thursday night to provide some sort of financial support.

A student who wants to be on the crew club pays about $1,700, according to the club’s website. Conversely, a student who wants to play on any other Haddonfield High School sports team pays about $125, according to the school district.

This is because whereas school-affiliated teams usually receive some financial funding from their school district, school-affiliated clubs are usually funded by community-based organizations, according to The Herriman Telegraph, a high school newspaper in Utah.

The funding difference has not deterred the crew club from performing admirably in situations where the odds were against it, according to Robert Berman, the club’s president and parent of a current crew club member.

However, the gap in financial support may be hurting the club’s chances at long-term success, he added.

“Our girls … out-rowed two nationally-ranked mainline high schools and seven prep schools where tuition can cost over $40,000 a year,” he told the school board. “To win against these schools was incredible … [but] we are losing rowers to [South Jersey Rowers Club], a non-school affiliated club as our middle school students start there and stay there with the addition of our own.”

Therefore, any kind of financial help to attract or retain rowers would be beneficial, Berman continued.

“I am not here to ask the board to pay for a fancy new boat. I am requesting you to consider assisting the team in funding traditional varsity sports expenses, like busing our students to practices and races,” he said. “Additional expenses for funding consideration could be regatta fees, boathouse rentals, equipment maintenance, partial coaches’ salaries and student financial aid where applicable.”

Another parent at the meeting concurred with Berman.

“Transportation — even one way — that would be a tremendous asset,” Valerie Oldham said.

Additional funding would also help boost members’ morale, some of its current members said.

“Crew has changed me so much,” Chase Oldman told the board. “I've grown so much through how I just approach situations. Now I can go with more confidence. And I feel much better about myself afterward even if I mess up and much more competent afterward knowing that I did my best.”

Another club member discussed other benefits that being a rower has provided her.

“Rowing is all about pushing yourself to physical and mental limits, which makes you very mentally strong,” Liz Kauffman said. “You also have to be willing to believe that everyone has your back and that has allowed me to be much more scheduled in management and has eventually led to less stress.”

The school board will look into the parents’ and members’ request, according to Haddonfield School District Superintendent Charles Klaus.

“Even though we are talking about a sport, we’re really talking about money,” he said. “[Business Manager Michael Catalano] will be reaching out to you.”

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