Central Catholic Crew - Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
My son has never rowed (and we know nothing about the sport); will he be able to row at Central Catholic? No problem! Rowing is one of the few sports at Central that requires no prior experience. We have outstanding coaches who develop beginners into regional and national champions. In 2022, for example, our Freshman Eight was ninth in the U17 8+ at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, FL – 8 of the 9 had no prior experience with the sport before Central Catholic.
What season is crew? What if my son plays another sport? Our primary racing season is in the Spring. We offer an introductory program focused on teaching rowing fundamentals in the Fall, and a conditioning program in the Winter. Although many boys row all three seasons, combining crew with another sport is possible, and many of our most successful rowers have done so. If your son does a fall sport (e.g., soccer, football, cross country), he can still attend fall crew practice when/if his schedule allows and join the crew when it ends. If your son does a winter sport (e.g., swimming, basketball, wrestling), he can play that sport for Central and then return to row in the spring. The only conflict is if a boy plays a spring sport; if this is the case, it is still worth trying crew in the fall because it is great conditioning, and your son might decide he loves rowing!
Is my son too small/too tall for crew? Good rowers are usually tall (6’0”-6’8”) and powerful… or are tough enough to make up the difference; a good VO2Max (aerobic ability) is critical, and our program is geared toward developing that aspect of each rower. Good coxswains must be light (under 120lbs.), able to multi-task, and assertive since they need to steer the boats and direct the rowers. If your son is willing to work hard, there will be a place for him on the team.
Will there be tryouts? There are no tryouts for new rowers, only for returning varsity members.
When is practice? Freshmen practices are typically after school from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday mornings. Practice times may vary slightly between the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
Where are the practices? When rowing on the water, practices are at Central Diesel Power Company Boathouse, 4220 Blair Street | Hazelwood, PA 15207. During the winters, the boys will also use the ERGs at the Boathouse and weight training at Central Catholic High School. Running the stairs at the University of Pitt Cathedral of Learning is also a favorite winter training activity!
What are the Dues for 2024-2025 season? Fall - $650.00; Spring - $800.00
When are the races/regattas; what about travel? For freshmen, the boys will compete in 1 local race in the fall, usually within driving distance. The primary racing season is in the spring. There are ~5-6 events in the spring season, plus the possibility to qualify for US Youth Rowing Nationals. Regattas are typically over the weekends in April and May. The CCHS Crew Board will arrange for rowers to be transported to regattas in school vans or via carpool with other rower parents. If parents are unable to attend the regattas, this is OK. The CCHS Crew Board will make sure your son gets transportation. The CCHS Crew Board provides chaperones for all events. Costs for hotel and meals during travel are included in dues for each rower (for regular season regattas, not including Youth Nationals). Rowers stay together at all travel events.
Should my son "settle in" to school before trying a new sport? How do the boys maintain their grades? Some parents worry about their son starting a sport freshman fall, preferring to let them settle in academically, but there are good reasons for beginning crew in the fall. The friendships made during the first weeks of school (or during summer open rows) are so important, and most boys find that they are more focused on homework when they are busy. Crew has one of the highest GPAs of any team at Central, with many AP/honors students and National Honor Society members. The team has a designated officer responsible for academics, and there are built-in tutors. If your son struggles in a particular class, there will surely be a varsity oarsman who can help him.
How can my son learn more about crew? Throughout the year, we offer opportunities to visit the boathouse, meet the coaches and team, and get out on the river. We typically have Open Rows throughout the summer and an Open House and Mini-Camp the weekend before or just after school starts.
What happens after Central? Central oarsmen have rowed at some of the nation's top universities. We have had boys represent the United States at the CANAMEX Games and World Junior Rowing Championships. Our graduates have represented the United States at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships and World Rowing Championships. Alex Miklasevich and Michael Grady (both ’15) rowed on the United States Olympic Team at the Tokyo Olympics and rowed again this year in the Paris Summer Olympics. Michael Grady ('15) and the men's 4x captured Gold!
What is Rowing Like? Check out some video footage with Central Catholic Crew in action!
How Do I Join Crew? Contact our recruitment team for information: Recruiting.CCHS.Crew@gmail.com
