A visionary partnership brings Erg Ed to more youth

Jim Owen is a catalyst. Exposed to rowing just one single time, decades ago, he was so affected by the sport that years later couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring it to the town he grew up in – Terre Haute, Indiana in the Wabash Valley.

When Jack Hill suggested starting a rowing program in Jim’s Terre Haute hometown, he jumped at the chance to help accelerate the program. In 2016, the co-founders launched the first-ever Wabash Valley Crew on the Wabash River, an underutilized resource in the region.

Their fledgling team is a common story of many grassroots rowing programs – no boathouse to speak of, just a small patch of land, a few boats, and volunteers trying to get the program up and running while doing their best to recruit and promote. But with the help of the Purdue University Rowing Club and a few local businesses who were eager to get the team off the ground and onto the water, the team began.

 “Anybody can row” says Jim. “Not everyone can play basketball, but everyone can row”

A founding youth member of the Wabash Valley Crew told the coaches at one of his first practice sessions “I don’t think I can do anything, but I think I can do this rowing thing.” From there, he went on to college at Notre Dame, pulling a 6:03 2k time in his junior year. “He’s totally transformed,” Jim shared. 

Peighton Wells started rowing in 8th grade at Wabash Valley Crew. He wasn’t the best at the sport, but he showed up to practice more than anyone else. His mother - a single mom - encouraged him to do his best and keep at it. After graduation, Jim ran into Peighton at a regional regatta held in Bethel, Ohio. Peighton bounded up to Jim with a silver medal around his neck and an enormous smile on his face – he had just come second in the doubles event. Another incredible transformation had taken place for this young man, where effort and consistency had placed him on the podium for a large regional regatta and provided him with an opportunity to race at the national level in Sarasota, FL.

Rowing is an equalizer. You don’t have to be six feet tall or have started the sport in kindergarten. Hard work, discipline, and purpose can be the drivers to a different path. 

“You can pick this sport up in your teens, twenties, or any age…this is a sport that anyone can do. If there’s a will and desire to do it, then anybody can be good at it” Co-founder Jack Hill shares.

But while Jack and Jim did their best to recruit and grow their program, they recognized a barrier – they didn’t always resonate with the kids they were trying to recruit – “two old white guys” simply didn’t appeal to the young people they were trying to serve.

In March of 2020, Arshay Cooper visited the Wabash Valley to promote the screening of his book turned film, A Most Beautiful Thing. The entire town was moved by the chronicle of the kids who made up the first black rowing team in the USA. The story brings to light the power of overcoming your surroundings when you have a purpose, and rowing provided that purpose. Arshay’s story resonated with Jim, and many in Vigo County, one of the poorest counties in Indiana and home to the Wabash Valley Crew Team. Jim approached Arshay and learned of the work of the George Pocock Rowing Foundation’s Erg Ed program - a program that brings rowing to the classroom through the school’s P.E. curriculum. 

Jim was enlightened and in an effort to beef up the recruitment strategy and bring rowing to a wider population, approached Dr. Rob Haworth, the Superintendent of Vigo County Schools, and Dr. Stacy Mason, the Executive Director of Secondary Education at Vigo County Schools. Their enthusiasm for the program was palpable and they identified Sarah Scott Middle School for the first Erg Ed pilot program due to its diversity and potential for impact.

Drs. Haworth and Mason introduced Jim to Holly Pies, Vigo County School Corporation’s Health Coordinator. Both Jim and Holly are Sarah Scott Middle School alumni, otherwise known as “Scotties,” and have a deep connection to their alma mater. Holly’s role is to facilitate the professional development of the teachers implementing Sarah Scott’s Erg Ed program, helping them to feel confident with the curriculum and rowing instruction. 

With help from the Clara Fairbanks Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life and helping those in need, and United Way of Wabash Valley, with a match of funds from the Wabash Valley Crew, Sarah Scott was able to acquire the Erg Ed curriculum and equipment and the program was set in motion.

Jim invited Arshay to the Sarah Scott Erg Ed ribbon cutting on February 25th.

“The first time I came to this school three years ago, it was the diversity in this school — making sure the team reflects the diversity — was powerful,” Cooper recalled. “I talked about my life as a kid and growing up without a father, and some of the kids afterward came up to me and explained that they were going through the same things and that did it for me. I have never stopped thinking about this school and the opportunity of rowing changed my life and I wanted to do the same for them.” Arshay shared.

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett cut the ribbon, while other enthusiastic attendees from the community.

“The best thing about the whole trip was the staff was more hyped and excited than the energetic students.” said Arshay “I can’t wait to see them on the water. I told the principal 3 years ago that their school deserves rowing and the Wabash Valley Crew and the Pocock Foundation made it happen.” 

At the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, we couldn’t be more excited to help bring rowing to more young people.

Sarah Scott Middle School athletes are introduced to rowing through the first Erg Ed program in the state of Indiana. Photo courtesy of Wabash Valley Crew Rowing Club Facebook page.