After a three-season competitive hiatus, Davidson Club Crew has returned to the water with a new formula for club sport success. The team kicked off their season at the Clemson Sprints Regatta on March 29, competing for the first time since November of 2021.
Rowing closely with Clemson University, Auburn University and the College of Charleston, the ‘Cats placed second in the Men’s Single Sculls and Men’s Double Sculls. In the Women’s Novice 4+ and 8+, the ‘Cats placed third. “It was a learning experience,” Co-President Aidan Marks ‘27 remarked. “A lot of us on the team had never gone to a regatta before.” “I was honestly just proud [of our performance],” Co-President Annabel Groseclose ’27 said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Club Crew claimed to be among the most popular club sports at Davidson. Returning from a significant lull in membership, Marks and Groseclose look to rebuild crew, growing membership and competitive involvement while maintaining a welcoming environment for all participants.
“A lot of people come into college burnt out from their high school teams,” Marks said. “We wanted to make sure that we’re really just a platform for people who still love rowing to continue being involved in the sport.”
For club rowers like Akeelah Romeo ‘28, the balance between relaxation and competition is ideal. “The general vibe of Club Crew is mostly relaxed until we’re ready to work. Everyone is super hardworking and we all want to get our times down.” Cara Richards ‘28 echoed Romeo: “Club Crew is very relaxed—nothing super competitive. It’s really calming, actually.”
Romeo’s evaluation of Club Crew’s atmosphere compliments Marks and Groseclose’s vision for the club. For those that lack experience but want to get involved in rowing, Club Crew provides the ideal environment. “We all get along really well and we row really well together,” Richards said.
The responsibilities of running a club sport team can be heavy. “Annabel and I have learned a lot about how to liaise with administrators, how to figure out trailer certification, boater’s education, how to get boats repaired, register for regattas and complete all these tasks” Marks said. “I have a lot of respect for people who run club sports at Davidson. It’s not an easy process.”
Marks and Groseclose have successfully taken up this responsibility, leading a team that aspires to return to regular competition. However, these responsibilities also fall on the members. When the team was unsure how they would transport boats to their regattas, Soren Timura ‘25 volunteered to get certified to drive a trailer so the team could travel to Clemson.
Romeo shared some of her responsibilities: “I’ve learned a lot about the mechanics of the boat and I’ve been helping out a lot with tool work.”
Hoping to reclaim its throne as a popular club sport, Club Crew functions as a microcosm of the greater Davidson experience. “Club sports provide students with an opportunity to engage in organized athletics while developing leadership skills and fostering a passion for competition,” Assistant Director of Physical Education & Campus Recreation Allen Sutton said. “Davidson’s Club Crew team plays a vital role in shaping the culture of club sports by promoting teamwork, discipline and camaraderie among its members.”
The future of Club Crew lies in the hands of the present-day members. “We’re rebuilding toward what Club Crew used to be on campus. There’s something really unique about crew—it draws in a mix of people who want a challenge, a team, and to have some fun. We may not be the loudest group on campus, but we have pride in what we do. I’d love to see our presence grow again—not just in numbers, but in how people perceive us as a tight-knit, driven and welcoming team,” Groseclose said.
“In crew, you’re coming together for a shared endeavor,” Marks said. “When you’re on the water together, you’re rowing in sync, you have this very clear shared objective and you need to be working together with everybody. It’s a pretty special experience.” The ‘Cats look forward to their next regatta at the North Carolina Rowing Championships in High Point, NC on Saturday, April 12.
