The Washington-Lee Crew Boosters welcomes you to this year's crew season! Crew is a sport for everyone who wants to row. Crew is great fun, great exercise, and a source of lasting friendships for crew members. Crew parents get to share in the fun and are an essential part of a successful crew season.

Crew -- A proud tradition at Washington-Lee High School since 1949

Washington-Lee is one of the most successful and long-running crew programs in the country, rowing from the beginning out of the historic Potomac Boat Club in Georgetown.  In 1949, the first year of existence under legendary Coach Charlie Butt, the Washington-Lee crew team won the two major rowing championships, the prestigious Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia and the Scholastic Nationals. In the 1950s and 1960s, Washington-Lee men's crew was one of the dominant  programs in the country. They earned national headlines for winning the Royal Henley Regatta in England in 1964 (the first year American schools participated) and 1969 and competed there most recently in 1989. In addition, they were the National Champions 12 times between 1949 and 1987. In 1965, the greatest single day in the Washington-Lee rowing history occurred when the boys won every sweep race at the Stotesbury Regatta in Philadelphia. More recently, the lightweight men were undefeated in their 2004 season, taking the Stotesbury Cup from long-reigning champions St. Joseph's Prep.  In 2005 the lightweight men were National Champions.

In 1975, Washington-Lee's proud crew tradition was expanded when Coach Tom Chisnell established the first women's crew. The women's team has gained strength and depth over the years.  From 1984 through 1986, their lightweight eight was nearly unbeatable and won consecutive National Championships.  In 1987, the junior eight took second place at Stotesbury and won the National Championship. In 2000, the girls’ midweight eight won third place in the Scholastic Rowing Association Nationals.

Perhaps even more impressive, Washington-Lee has selflessly shared its rowing expertise with other Arlington and Washington area schools. Washington-Lee's assistance has been instrumental in helping Yorktown, Wakefield and many other area schools begin their rowing programs.

W-L Crew also has been fortunate enough to have crew alumni as coaches, including current head coaches Derek Parsons '87 and Paul Holland '97, former women's head coaches Tom Chisnell '69 and Sarah Harrick '95 , and current assistant coaches Jim Owen '62, Davis Colwell '88, Wilson DeSousa '96, and Melissa Saunders '01.

The Washington-Lee Crew Boosters, Inc. 

 The Washington-Lee Crew Boosters, Inc., is a §501(c)(3) charitable organization, incorporated in 1987, with the sole purpose of supporting the crew program at Washington-Lee High School. Its primary functions include fundraising and recruiting and coordinating parent volunteers for regattas and othe team events.  All activities are undertaken by volunteer members -- parents or guardians of students who participate in the crew program.  All crew parents automatically become members of the Crew Boosters.

Members of the W-L Crew Boosters Executive Committee, who must be parents or guardians of students participating on the crew team, are elected at the annual meeting in June and assume office then.  They are responsible for conducting membership meetings of the Boosters, handling official correspondence, maintaining minutes and files of the organization, preparing an annual budget, coordinating fund raising activities, paying bills, maintaining financial records, recruiting volunteers, and working with the Activities Director, coaches, captains, and the Boosters to ensure a successful rowing season.  The Executive Committee meets at least monthly year round. 

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend our monthly Booster meetings. Meetings are generally the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM at W-L. Check the www.w-lcrewbooster.org calendar for dates. Reminders go out on yahoo groups. You can hear what’s going on, learn how to get involved, and share your thoughts.

The W-L Crew Boosters occasionally publish the Rowing Reporter that is sent to alumni and to all crew parents by e-mail. The Rowing Reporter as well as the team web site (www.w-lcrew.org) and booster web site (www.w-lcrewboosters.org) provide information on fundraising, upcoming regattas, race results, parent events, and other valuable information for crew members and parents.

Washington-Lee High School and the Arlington County Schools support crew as a varsity sport. Coaches are vetted, hired by, and report to the W-L Activities Director. The County covers the cost of transportation to and from practice and regattas, equipment insurance, and coaches' stipends. Fund raising coordinated by the Boosters covers the purchase and maintenance of boats and other equipment, rowing association dues, student memberships at the Potomac Boat Club, regatta expenses, and coaches' training/education expenses.

New to Crew?

Many, if not most crew parents are new to the sport. As with any sport, there is a crew vocabulary that helps you understand "crew talk" being spoken by crew members ("I was keeping keel”) and the organization of races ("I will be racing in a “quad,” not a “four”). A glossary of terms is available. You’ll be talking the talk in no time!

Crew is a wonderful sport for parents as well as crew members. Crew parents get to share in the pride and sense of accomplishment achieved by the crew, creating memories that last a lifetime. Read the registration macket closely. They provide the most important information about your and your child’s participation in crew and the role you play.

Below are answers to some additional frequently asked questions. Of course, if you should have additional questions about how parents can be involved in and support crew, you may call or e-mail the Crew Boosters' officers listed in the registration materials or on the Boosters' web site.cket. Your children need you to assist with Crew Boosters so their high school rowing experiences will be successful.