Chances are if you came to this page, you might not have heard of rowing as a sport - or know very little. Rowing is the ultimate team sport that requires a high level of fitness and mental toughness. Below we will discuss the benefits of rowing to your athlete. One item we want to get out of the way - our regular weekday practices are in the afternoons/evenings, with morning practice only on Saturdays - no super early mornings (unless your athlete is training for Nationals!).  

A very brief history of rowing:

Rowing is one of the oldest sports in America, dating back to 1756 in New York. The first collegiate race was held in 1852 when Harvard challenged Yale. Rowing has had its up and downs in popularity. At its peak in the late 19th and early 20th century, it was more popular than football. It was one of the original sports for the first modern Olympics and has been a part of the Olympic tradition ever since. Its popularity trailed off through the 20th century but in recent years, rowing has seen an increase in interest both at the junior level (where we row) and at the Collegiate level. Colleges are creating new rowing programs every year! 

MRC is ready. We are proud to send our athletes on to the best collegiate rowing programs in the country. Come to a practice and see what all the fuss is about! 

• It is the ultimate team sport. Unlike other sports where you can have one or two "superstars" who carry a team to victory, all of the members of a "crew" must work together to propel their boat through the water to beat other crews. As a result, the camaraderie of rowing is unlike any other.
• For women, it is a gateway to scholarships. The vast majority of our senior girls have received a rowing scholarship to row at schools like UCLA, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, University of Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and many others. Schools that do not offer athletic scholarships have welcomed our athletes onto their teams. We have girls who have joined Columbia, Princeton, and other Ivy League schools.
• For men, it is a way to get into a reach school. Although scholarships are not as plentiful for men as it is for women, having rowing on your resume speaks to your character and commitment. Admissions and coaches know that rowing requires dedication and this will push many young men into the school of their dreams.
• A sports physiologist did a study that showed how one 2,000 meter race is equivalent to two back-to-back basketball games in the amount of energy used by an athlete. Rowing uses every muscle group in the body and requires a very high level of cardiovascular fitness. It will get your athlete into the best shape of their lives.
• It is a sport you can do into your 100s! There are many Masters rowers who can be seen on the river.
• Rowing has a very tight network of people. Chances are if you are in a job interview and mention that you row, the person on the other side of the table will know someone who rowed or they rowed.
• It helps with schoolwork! This may sound contrary but since practices are 6 days a week, it cuts down on free time and forces athletes to manage their time efficiently. Our athletes are some of the best scholars in their schools.
• It is crazy FUN!!!

Rowing is not for everyone, but everyone can benefit from rowing! Our competitive team has multiple boats that are ranked, and how they are ranked can change from one practice to the next and race to race. It is based on what we are prioritizing for a given race. 

The number one characteristic that CJRC looks for when an athlete joins our competitive team is someone who fully embraces our motto of "Love, Trust, and Hard Work". "Love" the sport and your crew. "Trust" your crew and coach. "Work Hard" to earn your crew's trust. You can't rely on your team to carry you through in rowing. You are part of the "crew" and must put in the same effort as everyone else.

We have had athletes come to us from the following sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Swimming (one of our top draws is swimming)
• Track
• Volleyball
• Wrestling

 What matters most is the desire to better oneself everyday and to embrace Love, Trust, Hard Work!

• CJRC is in the process of being created by the joining of two Southern New Jersey & Philadelphia region sculling and sweeping powerhouses, Moorestown Rowing Club & South Jersey Rowing Club...IT'S BETTER ON THE COOPER!
• Our motto says it all, Love, Trust, Hard Work. Love your crew, Trust they will work hard and have your back, Work Hard to earn your crew's trust.
• We are affordable and we offer financial assistance to anyone who may need it.
• We are a nationally ranked, highly competitive team. We send boats to the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA and the USRowing Youth Nationals in Sarasota, FL every year.
• We have the best equipment that we continuallymaintain or replace.
• We have the BEST COACHES! We have more coaches per athlete than any program in the area!