Methuen High School Rowing

Rowing in the Merrimack Valley

The Essex Rowing Club, home of Methueh High Rowing, is a private, not-for-profit organization that exists to advance the sport of rowing in the Merrimack Valley and Southern Hampshire regions. Through instruction and the promotion of the health, welfare, and long-term development of its athletes, the Essex Rowing Club seeks to link experiences of all backgrounds, races, origins, genders, and cultures to prepare generations of athletes and coaches to be productive members of society. The character of the athletic programs at the Essex Rowing Club reflects the values of excellence, integrity, respect, commitment, leadership, and teamwork.

Methuen High School and Essex Rowing

Beginning in the winter of 2007/2008, Essex Rowing will partner with Methuen High School to offer scholastic rowing opportunities for MHS students. Through this partnership, MHS athletes will have access to professional coaching, state-of-the-art equipment, dedicated facilities, as well as have the ability to train with other regionally competitive athletes from throughout the Merrimack Valley.

Athletes of this Methuen division of Essex Rowing will be trained in tandem with the rest of the club's youth athletes, drawn from over a dozen local schools. As an athlete of Essex Rowing they will compete in a variety of club events culminating in the USRowing Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship each spring against crews from South Jersey all the way up to New Hampshire. But as members of Methuen High Rowing, they will have the additional opportunity to race as Methuen High School in specific scholastic events such as an annual dual with Lowell High and more importantly, the Massachusetts Public Schools Rowing Association Championship held each May. In 2007 Essex Rowing's novice crews took home gold and silver from this State Championship in the Girls 8+ and Boys 4+ respectively.

The River

Benefiting from approximately 9 miles of uninterrupted water, the stretch of the Merrimack River between the Lawrence and Lowell dams is home to Essex Rowing as well as Andover Crew and Greater Lawrence Community Rowing. A largely undeveloped, forested shoreline and moderate 150-300 meter width make the water especially resistant to the influence of wind and an ideal venue for rowing.

Launch Site and Equipment

Essex Rowing currently operates out of Pirates Cove Marina at 656 Lowell Street in Methuen, MA. Athletes have access to 22 Concept 2 Model C and D Indoor Rowing Machines, which can be used with our 11 sets of Concept 2 Slides and our fleet of Vespoli boats includes one Ultralight ES 8+ and two Ultralight 4+s (ES and EL), one a Performer EZ 8+. All are 2007 models.

Brooks' Indoor Facilities

Benefiting from an ongoing partnership with the Brooks School in North Andover, members of the Essex Rowing Club enjoy regular access to the school's Indoor Rowing Facility. The newly renovated Danforth Gymnasium features two eight-person rowing tanks, each of which is flanked by mirrors for direct technical feedback. Also available are 12 Concept 2 Model D Ergometers which can be augmented by the use of Concept 2 Slides and/or the Core Perform Seat. This climate-controlled gymnasium serves as an ideal training resource when access to the river is unavailable in the winter months. Beyond the winter months, the ergs and tanks are an invaluable tool for developing the mechanics of the rowing stroke absent the balance demands of on-the-water rowing, a situation especially suited to the earliest stages of novice rowing.

Youth Rowing

Essex Rowing's youth (aka junior) programs are structured and run as competitive teams with the ultimate goal of performing at a high level for year-round interscholastic competition. Novice (or first-year) athletes are initially run through months of skill development and basic aerobic training before ultimately testing themselves against other novice athletes in regional competition. Following their first year in the sport, athletes will move to the varsity level where they will focus their training on preparation for competition at a much higher level ranging from state to national championships. Read More >

Adult Rowing

Our adult programs begin with introductory sessions which, like the youth, are focused on skill development and on building a basic level of fitness. Following these sessions participants will have the option of continuing at levels of involvement ranging from a couple of practices a week to regular training towards age-group based competitions. Read More >

Methuen High School Rowing

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