History

Catch. Drive. Feathering. Squaring. Recovery. These elements of the rowing cycle were all new terms for a dedicated group of fifty-four students at Lake Braddock who decided to make crew a reality at the school. These students - plus coaches, parents, alumni, and friends - had something truly new to celebrate in the opening year of the new millennium. For, on February 1, 2000, LBSS was unanimously and enthusiastically welcomed into the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association. This marked the completion of a critical, though by no means only requirement to place Lake Braddock students on the water that spring.

Our journey began in November 1999 when Barry Huitema, LBSS Director of Activities, was overwhelmed by the size of the turnout at a preliminary meeting designed to gauge the level of interest for starting a rowing program at LBSS. Addressing a crowd of more than 300 students and parents on the challenges of establishing a club sport, Huitema made it clear that the school would fully support such a team within the state guidelines for such non-varsity sports. The single biggest obstacle: if less than fifty percent of all schools in Virginia offer a sport, then no funds from the school can support that sport. This places the financial burden directly on the club sport organization. The assembled group accepted that challenge.

Guided ably by Boosters Club President Bob Jarcho, a core group of determined parents soon coalesced and put into motion the many moving pieces required to form the team. There were shells to buy, launches to procure, logos to select, and coaches to hire. But most importantly, there was a requirement for a practice site.

Initial efforts were directed at getting into Sandy Run, a beautiful and booming rowing center on the Occoquan. But that was exactly the problem. The facility could not accept yet another team. Working throughout the winter months, Jarcho and other members of the Board of Directors identified Bull Run Marina as a possible site. As part of the Virginia Parks system, but operated under contract by George Mason University, it proved to be a good choice. After much negotiation with George Mason, an agreement was reached in mid-February 2000. The Lake Braddock Bruins Crew Club had a home, and on February 26-27, everyone had a chance to spruce it up.  Docks were brought up river from Occoquan, overhauled, and secured in place; the grounds cleaned, leaves raked, and general debris removed; and boat racks and oar lockers built. A security fence was installed a few days later. On March 4, 2000, the first of the shells arrived and the athletes were in business! In addition to finally getting out on the water, the rowers had their own workout room at LBSS where their land training machines, or ergs, were kept. They now had a practice site to call home but starting a crew program continued to be a real challenge. Some of the shells that had been acquired needed care and attention, and the parents quickly set about learning about boat construction as they worked to make the boats safe and competition-ready.

From the tiniest organizational detail to the serious financial commitment required, all involved exceeded expectations. During the first season, the team participated in regattas at Sandy Run and on the Anacostia River in Washington D.C. The results of this initial season were varied and success was primarily measured in completion of races not necessarily in the standings. Over the next several seasons, LB Crew made significant strides to become one of the larger and more highly competitive rowing teams in the Washington, DC area. With team membership now averaging over 80 athletes each year, LB Crew is becoming one of the largest team sports at Lake Braddock. Accommodating this growth required hiring more coaches, buying more rowing shells, launches and equipment, and, most importantly, finding a better and more secure way to store the team’s property. That need was met in early 2002 when, after many months of coordination with county officials and with the help of many local companies, a boathouse was erected at our home in Bull Run Marina.

Now that the LB Crew team has become a significant contender in the rowing community, success is measured not only by the number of regattas in which the team enters, but also by the number of LB boats finishing in the top three places. In 2004, the team won its first Virginia State Championship trophy with a first place by the men’s second four boat. That achievement was followed-up in 2005 in the Virginia State Championship with a second place overall by the LB women’s team, a second place in the women’s second eight event, and a third in the men’s third eight. Success continued at the Virginia State Championships with our men's second eight winning 2nd place silver in 2006 and 3rd place bronze in 2007.  Also in 2007, our men's novice four won first place gold at the Ted Phoenix (lower boat championship) Regatta.  In addition, the team placed its first rower on the Washington Post All Metropolitan Rowing Team in 2005 and two rowers in 2006. LB Crew has also had five "All Met" honorable mention rowers in its brief history.