Why does Nashville Rowing exist?

The purpose of the Nashville Rowing Club, according to our Charter and By-Laws, is to foster, and conduct, national or international amateur sports competition and to support and develop amateur athletes for national and international competition in such sports. The sports supported by us shall include, but not be limited to, rowing and paddling activities.

How did Nashville Rowing come to be?

Nashville Rowing Club was originally founded in 1985 by recent college-graduated rowers that wanted to continue their passion for the sport while they lived in Middle Tennessee. Over time, the original group fell away as they focused on other life responsibilities and the Club was reinstated in 2008 by another small group of passionate adult athletes that wanted to see rowing grow in Nashville again. It continued in this fashion, in a small, intimate way, until 2013 when the current expeditious growth became an immediate goal.

When did Nashville Juniors begin?

Nashville Juniors began in the Fall of 2013 with an original 25 athletes that had never taken rowing strokes before, and has grown precipitously from there. With the passion of the Juniors program to match the enthusiastic Adult side of the Club, Nashville Rowing has exploded in growth, fleet expansion, staff involvement, and competitiveness in national and international competition.

Membership Growth within Nashville Rowing since 2013

A few Fast Facts about Nashville Rowing:

In three short years since Fall 2013, the Juniors have grown
from 25 to 83 athletes and the Masters have grown from 50 to 70 athletes.

Our staff has gone from no paid coaches to 3 employees and 6 contracted coaches
that participate in extensive continued education annually.

We have procured over $200,000 of capital equipment since Winter 2014.

7 of 11 alumni girls (64%) are rowing in college,
above the National average (55% in 2013)

3 of 9 boys alumni (33%) are rowing in college,
above the National average (17% in 2013)

Our Masters have competed in the Head of the Charles
twice in 2013 and 2016.

Since it's inception, our Middle School program
has grown from 10 to 22 athletes.

With the class of 2017, scholarships earned by our athletes
has surpassed our annual income!

Rowing is still in it's infancy in our city and region, but with every person we inform about the usefulness of our sport we continue to expand our sphere of influence. From there, the more conversations we can foster across all socio-economic and educational groups the more we will see our sport provide unbelievable opportunities to youths and adults alike. In this spirit, we want to push our interactions from the first question of "What is rowing?" to the fifth, and tipping point, conversation of "How can Nashville Rowing serve the city of Nashville?" 

Please consider just simply TALKING about rowing in your daily life - family, friends, school, work, religious community, and neighborhood listservs - you never know who YOU will help to fall in love with our sport!

SPREAD THE WORD!