Perrysburg adds a crew club, hopes for more members

A new club at Perrysburg High School gives students a great core workout while enjoying the Maumee River.

It’s a crew club.

Rowing teams will take to the river and work in unison in the spring and fall to cut through the water. What used to be known as the Toledo Metropolitan Rowing Club has changed its name to the Perrysburg Rowing Club. The group began in 2000, but recently has existed almost exclusively of Perrysburg High School students. 

The team became a school club so students could compete for their school pride, and to help recruit more athletes. 

“It’s a tough sport,” said David Glore, a parent representative helping to run the club. “It is tough cardio (and) you get calluses on your hands. ”

Sarah Recker, Perrysburg graduate who rowed at Miami University, will coach this spring. Practices are at the Toledo Rowing Club at International Park. The team has scheduled trips to Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Dayton, Indianapolis, and Lansing to compete. 

Students can participate in both spring and fall seasons or in just one so they can play another sport in the other season. 

It costs $425, plus a one time purchase of a team uniform, to participate. Conditioning will start in March. The team will meet four or five times a week to practice or condition.

Anthony Wayne, St. Ursula, St. Francis, Notre Dame, Central Catholic, and St. John’s are the other local high school clubs. All of them meet at Toledo Rowing Club. 

There has typically been 10 to 16 students from Perrysburg on the team. The coaches plan to increase team members to 20 to 25 students now that it’s a school club. 

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.