St. Charles Rowing Club seeks new junior members
August 3, 2015 - St. Charles, Illinois - As it celebrates its three-year anniversary, the St. Charles Rowing Club is looking for ninth- to 12th-grade young men and women to join the only competitive NFP Juniors Rowing Club on the Fox River in St. Charles.
It started in 2012 by Chris Meldrum, club president, her son Gordon O'Brien and his friend Sam Schweizer, both now rowers for Marietta College and Milwaukee School of Engineering respectively.
"Joining the St. Charles Rowing Club will teach you not just how to row, but teamwork, sportsmanship, and the value of hard work. Rowing is an incredibly rewarding sport; extremely difficult, yet immense in the rewards through hard work and determination it can offer," states Chris Meldrum, club president. "With 16 high schools in the area and rowers from St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elgin, Naperville, Barrington, Hinsdale and Wheaton, SCRC provides an alternative to traditional ball sports."
The club, which currently has about 30 members, is actively recruiting new team members, in particular men to complete "heavyweight" (greater than 160 pounds) coxed quad (4 people) and octuple (8 people) sculls.
According to Meldrum, "Rowing builds character, as well as mental and physical discipline, provides a healthy social environment, and teaches the important of teamwork. In addition, many successful rowers are recruited by top colleges and universities. Some of this year's graduating SCRC athletes were recruited by top Ivy League and other colleges and universities."
The fall season begins Aug. 17, with after-school practice daily from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 7-9 a.m. out of Ferson Creek Park in St. Charles. In addition, athletes can participate in several regattas during the fall season, learn from several Olympic and World Championship rowers, and support a local charity event, partnering with the Wounded Warrior Project.
For more information, visit www.saintcharlesrowing.com, follow St. Charles Rowing Club on Facebook or contact Chris Meldrum at cmeldrum59@yahoo.com.
St. Charles Rowing Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable competitive juniors rowing program. They encourage by example good sportsmanship, a sense of camaraderie, and a commitment to excellence. It was founded in 2012 with the expressed intent to bring competitive rowing to the Fox River, acquaint the community with rowing, and engage 15- to 18-year-olds to participate in the truest form of competition and team work.