Marietta High completed its boys and girls crew season in May.
Even so, there's still been a lot of activity at the Broughton Boat House and on the Muskingum River.
Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a free three-day Tiger Navy Summer Rowing Camp was held in Marietta, and the turnout was both a pleasant surprise and encouraging to the coaches on the scene.
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The Tiger Navy Summer Rowing Camp was held late last week. Over 40 area students attended the three-day camp.
"We had over 40 students from the sixth thru the 11th grade on the water for the first time," said MHS boys crew boss Eric Dowler. "This was an excellent opportunity for the area youth to try out the sport of rowing by getting in a boat and on the water."
Dowler said he handled the logistics on the land while MHS girls crew coach Joe Tewkesbury and coach Tanner O'Connor provided guidance to the campers on the water. Also assisting were several (15-plus) current and past Tiger Navy rowers/coxswains.
"It usually takes quite a bit of training on land before we can get on the water," Dowler said, "but Coach Tewkesbury and Coach O'Connor did a great job of putting on a crash course to get the youth on the water quickly."
Marietta High's boys and girls crew numbers have been a little on the thin side during the past couple of seasons or so. But with the recent camp turnout, a brighter future could be in store for the Tiger Navy.
"We're hoping this is a way to get the word out and more youth involved," Dowler said. "As coaches and advocates of the sport, we're very anxious to let students and their parents know what a positive impact rowing can have on lives.
"Teamwork, discipline, time management, and goal setting are just a few characteristics that rowing will instill into those involved. Personally, I know it is a direct correlation to the success I've had in my life, both athletically and professionally."
Dowler rowed at the prep level at Parkersburg South and collegiately at Marietta College.
If potential rowers missed the inaugural free three-day camp last week, don't fret. There will be many other opportunities for area youth to get involved in rowing.
The Tiger Navy's supporting body, the Harmar Rowing Club (HRC), is scheduled to host a one-week learn to row July 9-14 and a two-week learn to row August 13-18 and 20-25.
Signups and more information can be obtained on the Internet at www.tigernavy.com.
"We'd like to thank all of the awesome new kids we had come down for the camp along with the volunteer coaches and experienced oarsmen for helping make the first Tiger Navy Rowing Summer Camp a success," Dowler said. "This was the first time we've put together a free three-day camp and it was a huge success."
