All Communities. One Crew.
W-L Crew is a spring sport, with winter conditioning beginning in November/December. In the autumn months, novice and experienced rowers can take advantage of programs offered through One Arlington Rowing (OAR).
OAR provides young athletes an opportunity to hone their rowing skills, build fitness, and compete at a high level outside of the spring scholastic rowing season. Led by Arlington’s top rowing coaches, the program is designed for both novice and experienced rowers in 8th-12th grades.
Fall 2025 Programs
Learn to Row (LTR) Novice:
This program is designed for new rowers interested in learning how to row. It will start by teaching the basics and move into racing at local regattas against other novice boats (at no additional cost).
- Location: Columbia Island Marina (CIM)
- Lead Coach: Kara McPhillips, W-L High School
- Dates:
- Session 1: September 2 – 29, 2025
- Session 2: September 29 – November 3, 2025
- Practice Schedule: Monday-Friday – 4-6:30 p.m.
- Cost: $475/session
Registration for learn-to-row programs will open on August 1, 2025.
Experienced/Racing Program:
This program is for rowers with at least one season of rowing experience interested in developing and refining high-level technical skills, building competitive fitness levels, and competing in local and national regattas. (Note: Travel regattas will require additional costs.)
- Location: Thompson Boat Center
- Lead Coaches:
- Girls: Russell Topp, Wakefield High School
- Boys: Tolsun Waddle, Yorktown High School
- Program Start Date: September 2, 2025
- Practice Schedule:
- Girls:
- Monday and Tuesday 5:15-7:15 a.m.
- Wednesday through Friday 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Boys:
- Monday and Tuesday 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday through Friday 5:15-7:15 a.m.
- Girls:
- Practice Schedule:
- Regatta Schedule:
- Head of the Potomac – September 28
- Occoquan Chase – October 12
- Head of the Charles (select boats) – October 16 – 18
- Head of Schuylkill – October 26
- Head of Occoquan – November 2
- Cost: $950
Registration for the experienced rowers program will open for W-L-, Wakefield-, and Yorktown-zoned students at 8:00 a.m. on July 25, 2025. Space is limited, so act fast!