Rowing in Full Swing for Spring

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Taken by Tampa Prep Rowing

   The Tampa Prep Rowing Team, the scholastic spring sport, has officially begun their season. The team is currently coached by Marshall Mccabe, Chris Van Dyke, Jim Preston and Cayla Burrow. Currently, there are 25 students on the team, ranging from freshmen to seniors. 

   Rowing at Tampa Prep has been around since 2004 and has had great success over its 16 years. Students graduating from the program have attended prestigious schools such as Boston University and Pennsylvania University. In previous years the team has sent rowers to some of the largest races in the United States. Alumni Taylor Bell has attended Head of the Charles in Boston, Massachusetts.

   This previous weekend, Tampa Prep attended the 11th Annual Sarasota Invitational Regatta with 10 entries on the water. Boats ranging from Women’s Highschool Single to Men’s Varsity Four, they had every student racing. The regatta, normally a 1500m race, was shortened due to weather conditions to a 1000m race. The weather however, did not stop Tampa Prep since they practice in such conditions on the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay. 

   Tampa Prep Rowing is stationed out of the newly renovated Tampa River Center at Julian B. Lane park on the Hillsborough River. The boathouse holds not only Tampa Prep Rowing, but also Hillsborough High School, Berkeley Preparatory School and Academy of the Holy Names. The easily accessible boat house is located directly next door to Tampa Prep. 

Taken from City of Tampa

   The team received a new assistant coach as of this year English Teacher, Chris Van Dyke. Van Dyke is a new teacher at Tampa Prep and volunteered to work with the team. The team is filled with energy and many young aspiring rowers. And with Van Dyke’s previous experience coaching, he’s a great addition to the team. 

   Starting from freshman year, Ava Mosbough has grown and learned while on the team. She joined the team for her friends. She said, “Although my friends told me to join the team, I ended up enjoying the sport with my friends. Her experience with her friends at Tampa Prep helped her grow as a rower and helped her apply knowledge to boats she rows everyday. Mosbough is not only in the Women’s Varsity 4 but also the Varsity Quad, which she raced this previous weekend in Sarasota. 

   The team is going to be attending Florida Scholastic Rowing Association events this spring racing at the district, state and potentially national level as done so in previous years.