Crew team members demonstrate proper technique during Center City Association Row-A-Thon on Jan. 24.

Springfield, Ohio — At a time of sub-zero temperatures, the Wittenberg University crew team got a jump on the 2009 spring season, in the process raising the club organization's campus and community profile.

Team members participated in a benefit row-a-thon on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Springfield Health and Fitness Gym to support the Center City Association, which was established to enhance and revitalize the downtown area situated just blocks from Wittenberg's campus. It served as a kick-off event of sorts as the team prepares for a busy spring season that includes lengthy practices at Buck Creek State Park through the months of March and April and at least three regattas, including a dual against North Coast Athletic Conference rival Denison on the team's home reservoir.

"This year we are hoping to have three to four other universities come and participate in our dual regatta," said crew team president John Lusoski, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio. "We would also like to be able to place in an event and bring home some medals."

The row-a-thon had a $25 entry fee, which included rowing instructions, a T-shirt and refreshments. Acting as coaches, the team led two "How to Row" demonstrations for participants before the competition began.

The Wittenberg crew team brought 16 of its members to the event, as approximately 60 other people from the community attended and participated including Mayor Warren Copeland, Wittenberg professor of religions, director of urban studies and director of the new Center for Civic & Urban Engagement, County Commissioner John Detrick, class of 1964, and Tom Stafford, class of 1975 and a writer with the Springfield News-Sun. Awards were presented to the youngest rower, the oldest rower and the fastest rower in each age group.

"Because many of the participants were not familiar with what rowing entailed, we broke down each exercise to show participants how the team would row a 2,000-meter piece," said crew team vice president Jennifer Busso, class of 2009 from Ellicott City, Md. "The members of the crew team have been trying to develop a relationship with the Springfield community. Last year we participated in a golf tournament to raise money for a community health benefit."

The team also holds a rowing event every fall that is open to the community at nearby C.J. Brown Reservoir to expose people to a sport with which many people are not familiar.

"As a team we would like to be more self-sustaining and in order to do that we need to gain the support of not only the Wittenberg community, but also the Springfield community," Busso said. "That is why it is important to show support to events like the row-a-thon. You need to give support to get support."

The team's participation in a health and fitness fundraising event is a perfect fit. Founded in 2000, the crew team is coming off a fine 2008 fall season in which it participated in a regatta in Columbus, Ohio, that included 68 teams, representing high schools, colleges and masters clubs. The team's training includes rigorous practices on the water during the spring and fall seasons that focus as much on technique as endurance, and indoor workouts in Wittenberg's HPER Center during the winter months that are rigorous and focus on cardiovascular and endurance training.

Written By: Jenna Oliver '09
Photo By: Erin Pence

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