8/5/2007

TULSA OK - The Tulsa Rowing Club Juniors Team will offer a Learn-To-Row week to recruit high school age athletes interested in learning how to row in racing shells.  Lessons will be held at the Tulsa Rowing Club Boathouse located on the west bank of the Arkansas River at 715 West 21st Street.  Learn To Row sessions run Monday, August 27th through Friday, August 31^st from 4:15PM to 6:15PM.  The fee for the week of coaching and equipment is $100, which will be pro-rated towards the rowing club membership fee if a participant decides to join for the season. Interested participants must submit an application and complete a swim test at a local YMCA. Required forms and information about the Juniors program can be found at www.tulsajuniorsrowing.org

The Tulsa Juniors Rowing program was formed 16 years ago and is one of two juniors programs in the state.  Neil Bergenroth, a former collegiate rower at Boston University and former member of Great Britain’s Junior National Rowing Team, heads up the coaching staff of four.  Bergenroth has been involved with the sport of crew for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Tulsa Juniors program.  Through Coach Bergenroth’s expertise, the team took top honors at the Central District Youth Championships in Oklahoma City in May and earned a trip to the US Rowing Youth National Championship in Cincinnati in June.  When asked to comment on his experience with the Tulsa Juniors team, Bergenroth stated, "We are building a strong team capable of consistently competing on the national level.  It is exciting to see that growth and to attract more athletes every season because of our success. It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of people who are genuinely excited about the sport."

The young athletes involved in the program seem to agree. Senior Catharine Brierre comments, “I took the Learn To Row camp two summers ago, and now I’m a member of a rowing team that is nationally ranked and I’ve had the opportunity to compete at the most famous regatta in the country, the Head of the Charles in Boston.  It’s great to feel such a sense of accomplishment in such a short time.”

The racing season this past spring featured not only the Central District Championships and the US Rowing Youth Nationals, but also competitions in Austin, Topeka, and here in Tulsa. The schedule for the fall racing season will take the team to races in Oklahoma City, Wichita, Austin and Boston for the 43rd Head of the Charles Regatta.