Row Club Becomes Official at LCHS

Thirty students at are preparing to take to the water later this March. They will become the first members of a new rowing club, which became official at the high school about a week ago.  

Head Coach and Masters Rower Dr. Pete Hilgartner said he has been supporting the newest team as they prepare for their first season. The interest came after a few of the team members learned how to row last summer. There seemed to be a lot of interest, he said, and shortly after a team was formed.

The crew club is currently in the process of purchasing boats, oars and safety equipment, Hilgartner said, from colleges and clubs throughout the east coast.

“I’d say the majority of Fairfax schools have a rowing program,” he said. “It’s a big high school sport in Fairfax and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to get in and build our own program.”

The LCHS crew club will practice and compete at the Beaver Dam Reservoir, which is an ideal area for rowing, Hilgartner said. The reservoir, currently used by students at Briar Woods, has plenty of space for a 1500-2000-meter course. LCHS will be installing a dock on the Evergreen Mill side of the reservoir near Reservoir Road.

“There’s really no reason not to have competitive rowing here in Loudoun County,” Hilgartner said. “You have it in Fairfax County and you’ve got it all up and down the east coast.”

The LCHS crew club is made up of nine boys and 21 girls. Very few students have any experience with rowing, Hilgartner said, but they are excited to get into the water. 

LCHS Junior Wade von Kleeck said he can’t wait to begin. Having wrestled and played football in the past, he’s looking forward to trying something with a little less contact.

“I’m really pumped,” von Kleeck said. “I’ve done a little research and it really seems like an amazing sport.”

Von Kleeck said he has spent the last couple of weeks working out with his team members...jumping rope, doing push-ups and other cardiovascular exercises. Everyone seems to be really excited, he said, and the team is looking forward to their first row.

“I know that this year we won’t be able to be too competitive,” von Kleeck said. “I’m hoping to win of course but I’m hoping that in the next several years we’ll get a solid program going and be able to be competitive in national rowing.”

According to Hilgartner, the LCHS Crew Club is a member of the Loudoun Rowing Association along with Briar Woods and Stone Bridge high schools. US Rowing has shown great interest in holding major scholastic, maters and international regattas in Loudoun County, he said. 

The Sports Counsel at Visit Loudoun, as well as a number of members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, has also shown great interest in seeing this sport grow in Loudoun.

“The vision is to have a rowing culture just like they have in Fairfax where it becomes an official school sport. There’s a lot of incentive behind it,” Hilgartner said. With Title Nine, it is a great way for qualified members to earn athletic scholarships to college.

“The one nice thing is it’s a true team sport,” Hilgartner said. “There are no names or numbers on jerseys. There are no heroes. It’s one boat, with either four or eight people, pulling as hard as they can in sync.”

The LCHS club is currently in need of a permanent coach. Anyone with coaching experience is asked to contact Board President Amy Powers at unodoodle@hotmail.com.