MHS crew mishap
1 hurt, shell damaged during practiceBy Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
POSTED: March 26, 2008
Article Photos
Marietta High School girls crew coach Laurel Lindamood said a gust of wind pushed the shell into the Washington Street Bridge shortly after noon.
The high school was closed for spring break, and the teams were out practicing in advance of their opening race Saturday.
Lindamood said she was not at the practice, but her assistant coach, Kim Becker, told her the boat spun and became pinned against the back of a pier. Lindamood said Becker, who was operating a launch boat, pulled alongside the shell and the eight rowers were able to safely climb aboard. The shell’s coxswain, a 15-year-old, went into the water, but was quickly pulled out.
Assistant Marietta Fire Department Chief Dan Benson said the girl was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.
“It looked like she was more shook up than anything,” Benson said. “It sounds like she was in and out of the water pretty quick.”
Lindamood acknowledged area rivers are running high and fast, but maintained wind was the larger factor in the accident. She said the coxswain, the person who steers the vessel, was experienced.
“It wasn’t the water conditions; it was more the wind,” Lindamood said. “Obviously, we don’t go out when it is too bad.”
Lindamood said coaches make judgment calls as to when the rivers are too dangerous to row.
Damage to the shell was minimal, Lindamood said, but she doesn’t think the boat would be ready to race this weekend. The boat was retrieved in the Ohio River along Virginia Street after all of the rowers were safely returned to the shore.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-33 | Post a comment
|
MT1234
|
|
|---|---|
|
03-31-08 4:47 PM
|
Seems odd but typical that "The Times" would devote the front page to a mishap that was, in reality, a non-event, yet will not send a reporter to write a single paragraph covering more than 70 Marietta High School rowers and scores of others from Parkersburg that competed in a race this past weekend.
|
|
tigerfan08
|
|
|
03-27-08 8:23 PM
|
i heard one of the crew mom's went off on the school AD. why?? he was there to help and make sure all was safe
|
|
gtcrew
|
|
|
03-27-08 4:37 PM
|
I agree with buckeyeguy. this was a mishap, a mistake. If you would take the time to read the article or even the title then you all would realize that. This type of thing is not as big of a deal. Boats flip occasionally even I've flipped a boat at while rowing for marietta high. Crew has it's risks just as any other sport. I went to the hospital plenty of times for football injuries, do you want to cut the football team. Well it wasn't in the marietta times so I guess it's irrelevant. And for those of you that want to cut the crew, apparently you don't realize how good they actually are. At least one boat goes to nationals every year. How often can you say that you rowed competitively on the national level. I'm guessing it's not as many as some former MHS rowers can.
|
|
CoachK
|
|
|
03-27-08 1:03 PM
|
I think the coach did a fine job! People that row do not wear life jackets....if you dont beleive me go and watch the races that are going to be happening this weekend. I am a ceritfied coach and this situation was handled properly.
|
|
Indian
|
|
|
03-27-08 9:59 AM
|
No one gets credit for extra curriculars except the Band. They are special. They can practice during the school day and get credit too. Wow. Wouldn't it be nice if all sports had a similar situation?
|
|
Indian
|
|
|
03-27-08 9:58 AM
|
I stand corredted on the date. However it is a school sport and in control of the school. Technically. The Harmar Rowing Club is a great thing for crew. Thank God. I know the school would probably cut it otherwise. Keep up the good work. If I were on the crew I'd keep close watch on School Board members. If any of them call you to ask about your coach, hang up, and report them to the Superintendent and newspaper. Thanks for the info
|
|
girl25
|
|
|
03-27-08 8:21 AM
|
I was told by one of the boy crew members that they dont get any credit for it for school and that the school has nothing to do with it.
|
|
crew1234
|
|
|
03-27-08 7:15 AM
|
i was one of the girls in the boat and the accident happened because the weather suddenly got really bad which threw us into the bridge. Crew is an amazing program. by the way, all 9 of us girls were at practice the next day and can't wait for a great season of rowing.
|
|
crewmom
|
|
|
03-27-08 6:58 AM
|
Crew is a MHS sport...we are part of the boosters, and yes, grades do count. But since you have been a part of crew some things have changed. MOST of the $$ that is raised and spent for crew does come from the kids, families and Harmar Rowing Club.
|
|
MT1234
|
|
|
03-26-08 10:23 PM
|
Indian: Crew became a Varsity sport at MHS in 1964, but kids were rowing in 1963.
|
|
Indian
|
|
|
03-26-08 10:15 PM
|
When I was in the Booster Club, crew sure did have a lot to do with school. I worked a lot of Bingos supporting crew. I had to sign in as crew so the money would be credited in the right fund. I believe, the coaches are hired by the school, and they pay the coach from their account. They pay their retirement, workers comp., etc. Some one has misinform you all. My guess is that the Ohio High School Athletic Association would be interested if you are not part of the school. Bet your grades count for something. You can't be and not be. Someone who really knows for sure jump in here and clear this issue, before these girls get all mad at me.
|
|
girl25
|
|
|
03-26-08 10:02 PM
|
Crew has nothing to do with the school. The school does not have any say in it. The kids have to pay $400 a year to be in crew.
|
|
Indian
|
|
|
03-26-08 9:33 PM
|
I appreciate the response. Believe me, I am not criticizing the coaches at all. I am impressed they have all the training, I am concerned that our district doesn't hire teachers who are willing to coach. I know experience of the women coaching, I only wanted to know if anyone ever checked out any of the coaches. Everyone who comes to these sites always feel like they need to jump up and down and get all hyped when someone asks a question. Chill out. Crew has been around since 1965 here. Stands on its own merits. I am not a crew fan. But I do appreciate the effort and beauty of a boat flying down the river and everyone in sync. Now relax and thanks for the response.
|
|
mtta919
|
|
|
03-26-08 9:24 PM
|
In response to Indian, all of the MHS coaches are USRowing certified coaches, offered at various locations, including Marietta College. They are all trained in first aid, sports medicine, and cpr/aed. They are interviewed by the athletic director and the principal, their previous coaching, rowing, and athletic experience is considered. Also, they are evaluated by the Harmar Rowing Club, the support network for the MHS crew team, before being hired. They are in compliance with all coaching standards for the state of Ohio as well as USRowing.
|
|
crewmom
|
|
|
03-26-08 8:56 PM
|
Marietta High School Crew Coaches are not "warm bodies". They are all "experienced" rowers with training. Just this spring all our coaches and coxswains went to out of town training!! Weather and water conditions are considered "every" day!! There are 75+ rowers on MHS Crew team...in my opinion that speaks for itself!
|
|
yaycoxswains06
|
|
|
03-26-08 8:55 PM
|
i agree with buckeyegal also...during the 4 years i coxed at mhs, NOTHING like this ever happened b/c we were never on the water when conditions were dangerous. the coaches were always around if the weather was poor and always watched us. sure, accidents happened, but never like this. this is unfortunante, but i hope the team can recover. crew was one of the best sports marietta offered and the recognition we got at regattas was great. the team was filled with amazing people and hopefully they can keep that reputation up. don't let this incident define the coaches or the season. if this type of thing happens again this year, sure, bring it up, but for now, just let it go. everyone is safe, the boat can be fixed.
|
|
Coxy123
|
|
|
03-26-08 8:05 PM
|
I was the coxswain and the wind hit right before we went under, there was nothing Kim nor I could do. The girls acted great, and I was glad I was the one that floated down the river and none of the freshmen. I was fine after a couple hours. Like Kim said "We are on the water as much as others are in there cars, accidents are bound to happen."
|
|
Indian
|
|
|
03-26-08 8:05 PM
|
Crew is so unique hardly any other schools have it. It is unique because it is so expensive. It is so unique it has a special funding, thus the Harmar Rowing Club. It is so unique it causes all these people to jump on here and defend it. Accidents do happen. Some are predictable when conditions favor accidents. Something like if the golf team practiced in a thunderstorm. One has to trust the judgement of their coach. What kind of training does a crew coach have. I remember seeing Coaching football, basketball, track, wrestling, baseball in my college catalog, but I cannot recall seeing coaching crew. Are there requiremnts to be a coach in Marietta City Schools? Or does a warm body fit the bill. In football they check the humidity levels and temp; do crew coaches check river and wind velocity? Does someone who watchesNBA make basketball coach? Does someone actually interview people and select the best? I am not questioning these coaches, just the system
|
|
coxsigrrrl
|
|
|
03-26-08 8:01 PM
|
Im close to the girl in the accident as well as the team.I have experiance in crew,and guess what! This stuff has happened before.Accidents happen,and its no ones fault.The conditions weren't bad it was just windy,and that happens sometimes too.Do football players not go out when its raining?Both the coaches make good calls,so I don't know why everyone keeps bashing them, theyre shaken up enough!And BuckeyeGal,you have no idea what you're talking about.Shells can flip at anytime,and it HAS happened before,so pay attention if your gonna start dissing crew.All of the coaches take safety very seriously,and everyone responded to the accident in the best way we could ask for. There are no intimidation issues,because every single girl in the accident showed up ready to go for practice today.Also,to whoever said cutting crew would save the district money,MHS doesnt have funding for the Crew teams.The program is paid for by the rowers and everything is taken care of by themselves.
|
|
mttaxc128
|
|
|
03-26-08 5:53 PM
|
I am related very closely to one of the girls that was in the boat and there is nothing the cox. could have done there was just a big gust of wind the current was great, until the wind blew nothing could have been done.
|
|
crewmom
|
|
|
03-26-08 5:15 PM
|
I am the mother of two rowers on the MHS crew team and happened to be at the boathouse when the boat hit the bridge peer yesterday. The coaches displayed superior leadership and did everything right. The rowers, parents and emergency crews were amazing!! My husband, a rower always says that Rowing is the Ultimate TEAM sport. Yesterday was a beautiful example of how a team works together. I'm proud of all our coaches, kids and parents!! Way to go TEAM. And by the way...all nine of the girls from yesterday's mishap were at practice today.
|
|
tworivercity
|
|
|
03-26-08 2:44 PM
|
Even the most experienced athletes have accidents. No matter how much experience you have, things happen. I rowed for several years in HS and college, had my own boat and then one Saturday grounded it at Devols****in shallow water where I had been the previous week. Things happen no matter how safe we think we are. The coxswain in question has probably passed those bridge piers a hundred times or more without incident. I would have been greatly concerned if I learned those novis rowers were without the assistance of coach's launch nearby, but that wasn't the case. And no, rowers dont wear life jackets. Do you wear a fire suit when you drive your car knowing the tank is full of gas? These coaches dedicate themselves to something they love, meaning the kids themselves. I believe we are changing in the right direction with the new coaching staff where winning isnt the most important thing. Use this experience as a lesson.
|
|
farmergirl
|
|
|
03-26-08 1:46 PM
|
As a former rower and coach at MHS(and a relative of the coxswain in the story, as well as another rower in that boat), I'm confident that the coaches made the right call in sending their rowers on the water yesterday. They would never consider jeopardizing the safety of their rowers just to get in some practice time. The coxswain in the story was experienced and knows how to handle the shell. It was an unexpected situation at a bad location. It could have happened to any of the boats out there, regardless of experience. Crew , like any other sport, comes with mishaps. Marietta, is a unique town with a unique sport.
|
|
MT1234
|
|
|
03-26-08 12:33 PM
|
Give me a break. The coaches and rowers did exactly what they should have done. No one was hurt (the cox was taken to the hospital because she had been in cold water-as a precaution), there was a coach and motorboat right there, and each motorboat carries enough life jackets for the shells on the water. No, rowers do not wear life jackets;they cannot row wearing one. Rowing shells are exempt from the requirement by Federal Law. You don't put a protective mask on all the baseball players just in case they get hit by a ball or broken bat. More football players died in the US last year than all the rowers in the history of the sport. The biggest dangers to the rowers (and to anyone on the water) are the idiots who have to drive their motorboats at 30 knots when they are three sheets to the wind, think they own the water, and are totally unaware of the LAWS that require giving right of way to rowing boats and the required responsibility for their wakes.
|
|
Marietta
|
|
|
03-26-08 12:27 PM
|
I agree with Buckeye guy. When your children join a team especially one on a river you have to be prepared for a sitation like this to happen. The coach was and that is why no one was seriously injured. As for life jackets. I rowed crew for MHS in the past and they are in the launch boat with the coach. Also we have to remember the paper did not get quotes from the coach who was there. Things can happen and all that matters is that everyone is safe and I think that people should be thanking her for not panicing in that situation and getting the girls to saftey in a fast manor. Also if parents are now concerned about the saftey of their children then it is their right to remove them from the team but these are things that should have been thought of before. Accidents can happen in ANY sport. It is what happens after those accidents that matters.
|