The Indianapolis Rowing Center Juniors were founded in the early 1990’s as way to introduce the sport of rowing to Indianapolis Youth.
The IRC Juniors practice at the Indianapolis Rowing Center and compete around the Midwest. The crew is open to all middle and high school students over age 12. Currently, the IRC Junior team comprises 17 different high schools. The junior team is comprised of varsity and beginner athletes, known as novices. No experience is needed to begin rowing
IRC Juniors is a co-ed team but the boys and girls compete separately and in novice and varsity squads. All technical and conditioning training is introduced over the first year as a novice. After one year of rowing experience, athletes move up to the varsity squad.
IRC strives to instill and enhance the athlete’s self-esteem, self-discipline, team reliance and personal fitness. Rowing is the ultimate team sport and our program teaches the valuable skills of teamwork, dedication, accountability, sportsmanship, athleticism, motivation, confidence, perseverance, goal setting, time management, and the rewards of hard work. There are no super stars in rowing. It takes everyone on the team to make a crew successful. The skills learned in rowing will carry them through their lives in whatever they pursue.
IRC offers a fall junior season, a winter training season, and a spring junior season. Much like cross country and track, the rowing races change with the season. The fall season offers long winding races down rivers and lakes, and the spring season offers shorter racing in numbered lanes. During winter, the rowers train on the indoor rowing machines, or “ergs.”
Due to Title IX legislation, there are many opportunities for girls, in particular, to row in college, along with scholarship opportunities. IRC alums are currently rowing across the country: Washington University, St. Louis, Indiana, Purdue, Cornell, MIT. Schools that are or have recruited from IRC include Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Cornell, Ohio State, Louisville, Dayton, Indiana and Washington State University. (note: Purdue offers a club rowing program and does not recruit). As IRC is the host venue for the Women’s Big Ten Rowing Championships and a number of major collegiate regattas, IRC rowers have the opportunity to meet the coaches and teams right at our boathouse!
Some area highschools offer varsity letters for participation in IRC’s rowing program: International School of Indiana, Brebeuf Jesuit, and Park Tudor. IRC also supports and administers rowing programs at two Indianapolis Public School’s - Shortridge High School and Crispus Attucks High School, which are separate from the IRC Junior Program. IRC is always looking for ways to expand its programming, and to help rowers receive recognition from their schools. Please contact us if you have ideas!
Check out our fall season page, winter training page, or spring season page for more information, or contact Head Coach Jackie Kleinhans with questions.
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