DEWITT COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Junior Rowing Invitational hit the water at Clinton Lake on Sunday.
WCIA previously reported that a local team was raising funds for a new boathouse. Four months later, they have their boathouse and hope it is the start of more events in the future.
The Junior Rowing Invitational is exposing more teens to the sport, and organizers are giving some credit to the fundraising efforts that got the Illinois rowing team new docks, buoys and boats. They’re also hoping to make it the largest tournament in the Midwest.
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“Getting out on the water is just very relaxing, and it’s just something that I love to do,” said junior rower Alyssa McCreary.
McCreary has been rowing since she was a kid. And, she’s happy she gets to do the sport she loves in her home state. She said she drove about three hours to get to the tournament.
“So we come here every year, we volunteer on Saturday, and then we do our regatta on Sunday. So, it’s a lot of fun,” said McCreary.
The President of the Illinois Men’s Rowing Club, Nicholas Slattery, said this event is building the next generation of rowers.
“It was a great place to workout and to practice and have this community aspect. And so, we’re trying to build this community with these youth programs,” Slattery said.
Rowers have been competing in the tournament since 2014, and he said having kids fall in love with the sport is the goal.
“To have that discipline, to wake up early, and to practice and to have that team community is massive for the kids,” said Slattery.
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Back in December, the rowing team raised money for a place to call home. Now they have a place of their own, and growing it is a top priority.
“This boathouse is phenomenal because it allows us to expand. Right now, we’re just a college team. But with this, we can grow to include a master’s program of graduate students and beyond, adults looking to try something new,” said Slattery.
Slattery believes the program can help spread the sport’s popularity through Central Illinois.
“This is going to be one of the only master’s and youth programs in Central Illinois. So, we are giving this space for these children and these adults to really see this wonderful sport,” said Slattery.
And McCreary said she will keep working to help the sport make a big splash in the state.
“Seeing them from their sixth grade year to even the next two years after that, it’s really cool seeing them. They’re going to be the next people to mentor the people that are going to be coming in next. So, I want to make sure I set that groundwork, so that they’ll be good when I leave,” said McCreary.
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