Saturday, April 24th, started with the Team Rowing the 8+ BAH ZOO for the first time.

Following a great row, coxed by Club President Claire Dobbs, the Team started preparing their new 8+ trailer to be painted.With so many Rowing Team members willing to help out, there were plenty of extra workers to assist the FWRC install the new EZ Dock at Marine Creek Lake.  (A huge THANK YOU to all the FWRC works).  But first, the old dock had to be removed.  Here is the TCU 8 “Mix Dock” crew heading to shore for it to be taken away.

Following a full day of rowing, as well as preparing the Team’s facilities and equipment for this  falls rowing season.  Everyone took some well deserved rest, before heading to Pinstripes for the “End of the year” Rowing Banquet.  Hugh and Claire did an amazing job organizing the event which celebrated and bid fair well to all our graduating student rowers.

Graduating Seniors: Taylor Kurtz, Daniel Roosa, Claire Dobbs, Chloe Downs, and Samuel Barnes pose with the “Founders Bow”.  Claire was honored with her name being added to the “Founders Bow”, in recognition of all her excellent leadership as Club President and dedication to the Team.  (Samuels names was added by original founders David D. and Rachel B. at a previous event.).  Lee Smith was also honored and become the first “Honorary Frog Rower” for his amazing contributions to the TCU Rowing Program.

The food was amazing and the “Bucket Hat Awards” highlighted many funny memories from the Season.  Faith (incoming President) and Luke (incoming Head Coach) did a great job bidding “fair well” to all the seniors and thanking the volunteer coaches.   Faith, Luke and rest of the leadership group are already hard at work, putting plans in place for this falls rowing season.  It should be a great upcoming season, with so many of these smiling faces, returning to row this Fall.

Claire Dobbs, TCU Rowing’s outgoing President, leads the Teams naming Ceremony of their new 8+, which will be in racing action this Fall.
Team members also, participated in the “Trinity Trash Bash” doing their part cleaning up around their rowing home at Marine Creek Lake.

The day would not be complete without a row.  So TCU put two 8+ crews on the water.  They were under the watchful “coaching eye” of, former Mexican National Rowing Team member, Luis Prado.  In addition to giving excellent rowing instruction, Luis was mentoring, outgoing TCU Head Coach Samuel Barnes, as part of the US Rowing coaches upgrade certification process.

On March 27th TCU held several Intra-Team 4+ 1,000m “head to head” races.   We balanced out the Crews pairing up Novice with Varsity, to enable for more competitive races.  That is exactly what we got, with some photo finishes.   It was also a great experience for many of our Team members who had never done side by side boat racing.

One of our Men’s Crew Coxed by Faith.

One of our Woman’s Crews Coxed by Austin.

Here is one of those photo finishes.  Oh wait, that is a photo of the Team at the finish line.

TCU Rowers took part in a “socially distanced” 3,000m Head Race.  Most of the Team racing in 1Xs while a few students that lived together were able to take part in 2Xs.

TCU took part in its first “Virtual” Regatta.  The Team upgraded their Concept 2 with PM5s to be able to participate.  Rachel Bynum did a great job heading up the tech side of the Regatta.

Here is a summary of our races.  TCU won several including:  Women and Men 1X,  Women Novice 1X, and the Women’s 4+.   Congratulations to the entire team!

Row Frogs!!!

Victoria S.       19:07.5
Andrea T.       19:12.8

Daniel R.          16:32.4

Will N.         17:21.7

Taylor K.    18:12.4