MILTON -- Four Bucknell University women's rowing team coaches came together Tuesday at the Milton Middle School to engage hundreds of seventh- and eighth-graders in the sport of crew.
It's all part of a Learn to Row initiative that has introduced the sport to more than1,000 students at Central Susquehanna Valley middle schools this fall. So far, clinics have been held during physical education classes at Danville, Selinsgrove and Shikellamy middle schools.
"Our hope is that we will be able to spread the word about the sport of rowing and possibly see a high school rowing program start in the area," said assistant coach Chelsea Pemberton, who was the organizer of the initiative.
"Rowing is a sport that promotes time management skills, focus and teamwork, and it is so fun to watch a middle school student who didn't even want to participate at the beginning of class make a change and end up being the leader of his or her team by the end," she said.
"We all believe that for young people this will be a great experience which could open many avenues for them, as well as improving their fitness and well-being," added Dan Wolleben, another assistant coach at Bucknell. "We also know that as people who love the sport of crew, if we want to prosper, we need to engage the next generation of rowers, and the younger people start, the better they will become."
Wolleben believes the Susquehanna is one of the most extraordinary rivers to row in the country. It is uncommonly wide, he said, and has little competing traffic or other obstacles, making it an ideal location, even when compared to some of the most famous rowing locations in the Northeast.
"But the number one thing is the depth of the river at a point just north of the dam near Sunbury," he explained. "If you row farther north or below the dam, the river becomes too shallow. It's rare that the water there gets too high or low and the river is row-able for six, seven miles, from just above the dam almost to Bucknell."
Another coach, Sarah Keller, agreed that rowing near Sunbury is ideal. "It's probably the longest stretch of unnavigable water in the country. So to be able to row where you are not being waked out by motor boats and other things is wonderful. It's really smooth water. A nice stretch of water. We have this great river right here. And that's why we hope these kids will come to appreciate what is practically in their back yard."
The clinics also offered students an opportunity to interact and work with college students, added Gene Bruno, health and physical education teacher at the Middle School. "And judging by their reaction today, they are not only learning something new, but they appear to be having a lot of fun."
After today's clinics, about 500 Milton Middle School students will have been introduced to the sport.
Bruno said that when the Bucknell coaches first contacted him about conducting the program, he jumped at the opportunity. "I thought it would be wonderful for the kids," he said. "They learned the basics and using rowing machines. It's also a great cardio-vascular exercise. They have so much energy. ..."
Bruno hopes that this summer, "Maybe some kids will convince their parents to buy a kayak, go out on the river and enjoy all it has to offer."
Toward the end of the Tuesday afternoon session, Wollenben said that teaching these clinics at Valley schools has been a sheer joy. "We as coaches have a great time with the sport," he said, "and we like sharing that love of rowing with new people. We get excited at these programs because of how excited these students get."
