Sports

Pull! Rowing Lessons Offered in Niantic and Old Lyme

Southeastern Connecticut Rowing Club is offering introduction to rowing classes for kids and adults

A Press Release from Southeastern Connecticut Rowing Club

Clai White and Candice Webb team up to introduce rowing to Southeastern CT with their new monthly learn to row sessions for $100/month and Saturday 90-Min. Intro To Rowing Classes for $20. Classes are held at their indoor rowing facility in Old Lyme at 5 Davis Road, Old Lyme, and on the water in the warmer months at Three Bells Marina, located at 113 Oswegatchie Hills Road, Niantic. The club also offers JV and Varsity competitive programs for Middle School and High School Students, P.E field trips to their indoor facility, in-school P.E Classes and a Master’s program for experienced adults.

The rowing club not only boasts an excellent coaching staff but some of the most influential members of the United States rowing community serve on their Board of Directors. Clai White serves as Head Coach and Executive Director, and started his rowing career on Lake Warmaug sculling in seventh grade. He went on to attend the Gunnery school in Washington, Connecticut, and after a successful high school career as captain and medals from Head of the Charles, he went on to be recruited to Syracuse University.

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After graduating with a B.S in Political Science, Clai went on to coach on the Charles River at Boston’s Community Rowing Inc. While at CRI he coached the Novice boys, Masters Women, U23 Women, private sculling and moved up to be the Varsity Assistant coach.

Clai White started SCRC with hopes of emulating what he learned at CRI for Southeastern CT by offering programs for different ages and abilities. In terms of the growth of the club, Clai says “the joy of seeing these hard working athletes row and prosper in college keeps my motivation thriving and the club growing! We had a very successful first year and I really look forward to 2013 being even better, reaching more people within the community."

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Candice Webb serves as Learn to Row Coach and Program Development Director, and started her rowing career on the Mystic River the summer going into Stonington High School, where she rowed Varsity all 4 years. Recruited to row at Drexel University, she saw continued success within the growing the program, as the V8 Stroke, team captain and finishing her competitive career in 2010 at the U.K’s Women’s Henley Regatta with a Gold in the Elite 8.

Graduating with a B.S in Graphic Design, Candice returned to coach her alma mater’s Novice and 3rd Varsity at Stonington High School from 2010-2012 and ventured into the club scene coaching the Blood Street Sculls 2012’s Summer and Fall competitive and learn to row programs.

Taking the Program Development and Learn to Row position with Southeastern Rowing Club is a dream come true for Candice, stating “Community outreach and introducing rowing to the youth is a huge reward for me. The chance to see young teens transform into focused and passionate individuals, not just for rowing, but in multiple aspects of their lives, is an amazing opportunity I get to see with each person I introduce into the rowing community.”

Mike Shugrue coaches the Boys Competitive Program in the Summer. His rowing career began at East Lyme High School and continued in college as a lightweight rower for Rutgers University, competing in regattas including EARC Eastern Sprints and IRA Championship.

Mike returned to his alma mater in 2009 and began coaching at East Lyme High School as the Assistant Boy's coach. In 2011 Mike moved forward from the scholastic to collegiate rowing as the men's assistant coach at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Mike is happy to be a part of this new club stating, "The opportunity to contribute to Connecticut's growing rowing community at SCRC is exciting, and I look forward to developing more focused and competitive rowers."

Please contact Candice Webb at southeasternrowing@gmail.com for further details on the clubs plans for the future and current programs they hold.


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