After the 2021 season, the Strath Haven Rowing Club was disbanded. Now, with current seniors committing to colleges for rowing, the question arises of whether a Strath Haven rowing club would be beneficial to the community.
The previous Strath Haven Rowing Club faced difficulties such as an overcrowded boathouse, lack of coaches, and lack of funds, leading to the club no longer feeling fully supported. Most club members eventually left for different non-school teams, leaving the team in fragments.
Due to the rowing team being recognized as a club sport and not a PIAA sport, families were placed under a financial burden.
“Club sports are a little different than the PIAA sports. We support club sports, and we do help fund them to a point. So, a lot of that financial responsibility would fall back on the student-athletes,” Athletic Director Lynelle Mosley said.
Science teacher Mr. John Lincke’s daughter, Kai Lincke ‘22, participated in Strath Haven Crew and now rows at NCAA Division III Ithaca College. Lincke noted the lack of school funding.
“It wasn’t a school sport, it was the club, which means the school didn’t support it, so the kids had to pay all their own money for everything,” Lincke said. “There weren’t enough coaches, weren’t enough facilities. So the parents started looking elsewhere.”
Strath Haven had to share a boathouse with several other schools, and they did not always get first pick for resources, such as space and coaches.
“Let’s just say, other schools, it seemed like they had the run of the place, and Strath Haven was always last place in terms of getting this and getting that,” Lincke said.
Hence, the club was disbanded. Haven rowers needed to find club teams, such as Whitemarsh Boat Club and Wilmington Youth Rowing Association.
Rowing supporters such as Lincke and student-athlete Emily Reilly think that reinstatement could create beneficial opportunities for students.
“I got into rowing through beach patrol. I had a lieutenant come up to me, and they were like, ‘You are really tall, so you should go into a boat,’” Reilly said. “So I tried it, and then I absolutely loved it. Then, I decided to try crew in the spring, and it stuck.”
This year, Reilly committed to the University of Delaware for rowing. Senior Elizabeth Hicks committed to Stanford for rowing.
A rowing team at Haven could further provide students with an in-house opportunity to row, rather than having to find external club teams. By being able to start as early as freshman year, it could help set students up for a successful future.
In addition to great college opportunities, Reilly explains how rowing is an environment full of connection, support, and strength.
“I’ve played so many sports, and I can’t think of any other sport where the team connection has been so important as it is in rowing,” Reilly said.
Given all the positives, what would it take for Strath Haven High School to restart the rowing club? And, would anyone join?
“I think that things would be different,” Reilly said. “I think we would have a lot more people involved right now.”
Mosley would consider restarting the rowing program if resources emerged.
“If it came down the line and someone was like, ‘Hey, I have a boathouse. Can we get a program started up again?’ I would entertain the idea and figure out if it would be something we could do again,” Mosley said.
Other Central League schools offer rowing as a club sport, and the student costs can be expensive. Conestoga’s team dues are $2500 per student for the spring season and $1200 per student for the fall, according to the program website. Spring 2024 dues for Harriton High School were posted at $750.
Despite the cost, based on his experience, Lincke sees the value in rowing.
“You’re out on the river. You’re flying by. You go to race,” he said. “Everybody’s fit. It’s just super healthy.”
