Rowing Club of The Woodlands in the Nationals

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Five athletes from the Rowing Club of The Woodlands (RCTW) earned their place to compete in the USRowing Virtual Youth National Championship, the only competitive racing championship of 2020. Through multiple rounds of competitions, RCTW athletes advanced to Nationals beating out hundreds of other athletes throughout the U.S.

RCTW, led by Coaches Dee Hotop, Joe Flynn and Jackson Schwirtz, is one of 51 clubs to participate in a regatta like no other in history and the only club representing the entire Houston area.

Faced with season-ending quarantines throughout the country, USRowing offered athletes an opportunity to compete for both regional and national titles. Instead of the traditional regatta of racing in boats, the athletes competed from home on an ergometer (rowing machine). Throughout the spring, the athletes found the motivation and inspiration to continue training on their own. In May, they had to grind out a challenging 2k ergometer race and submit their verified times.

RCTW rowers earned spots in three events: Men’s Under 17 Single, Men’s Under 17 2x, and Men’s Youth Lightweight 2x to be held on Friday, June 12. Friday’s final championship includes 175 events with over 60 clubs participating from across the U.S.

Discipline coupled with dedication, the Rowing Club of The Woodlands athletes are proving that real champions are made when no one is watching.

For more information on Rowing Club of the Woodlands, please visit woodlandsrowing.org or contact the coaches at: info@woodlandsrowing.org.