About Woodbridge Crew

Since 1981, Woodbridge Crew has been promoting the challenging and rewarding sport of rowing.  Our team members are some of the best athletes and scholars to be found in Virginia.  Woodbridge was the first Crew Program in Prince William County. In 1981 there were only five other high schools; Fort Hunt, J.E.B. Stuart, T.C. Williams, Washington-Lee, and Yorktown that were competing in the area.  In 1982 the Men’s Novice (5th) Eight became the first Woodbridge Boat to win a race at the Virginia Championships (NOVAs) and the Men’s JV 8 placed 2nd at NOVA’s, and 8th at Stotesbury.  On April 6, 1984 the Woodbridge Men’s Varsity eight became the first Woodbridge boat ever to earn a 1st Place Medal in a Regatta, doing so at the T.C. Williams invitational. (Rowers: Stroke Chris Anderson, Ken Kopka, Darral Swift, Derrick Nenniman, Jimmy Pierce, Ron Rodgers, Agusto Osrio, John Celata, Cowswain Elaine Gracey). This boat left a winning legacy for Woodbridge in the programs fourth season. This boat later finished 6th at Nationals. Jimmy Pierce, an oarsman on this boat went on to row at MIT in college and was four-time rower (1989 - 1992) on the U.S. National Team.

In 1987 Woodbridge Crew moved into its new home, Oxford Boathouse, on the Prince William County shore of the Occoquan River with two other Prince William County rowing programs, Potomac and Gar-Field.  Our boathouse is located just a couple of miles from the school in Lake Ridge Park on the Occoquan Reservoir. Up to that time, rowers were shuttled across the Occoquan River to the Fairfax County shore at the Sandy Run rowing facility.  The crew program continued to grow into the 1990s, often supporting more than 100 rowers.  The quality of our program matches its size. In 1998, our Women's Lightweight Eight went undefeated with wins at NOVAs (our state championship), Stotesbury, and Nationals and our Men's Varsity 8 won NOVAs becoming the men's crew state champions.  In '99, our Women's Lightweight Eight, Men's Varsity Eight and Men's Second Eight all won silver at NOVAs and the Men's Quad won bronze at Nationals.  In 2000, our Women's Quad won gold at the state championships, the Men's Varsity Eight took bronze and Women's Lightweight Eight were 4th in the nation at SRA Nationals.  Just this past year, in the 2006 SRA Nationals, our Women's Double placed 2nd, our Women's Senior Four placed 4th and our Men's Junior Quad placed 6th.

Over the years, a number of our rowers and coxswains have been honored by being awarded the Washington Post's prestigious "All Met" award which goes to only the top high school athletes from across our region.  Throughout our history, our rowers have been trained by a group of talented coaches that have won various “Coach of the Year” awards including recognition in 2006.  The Booster's Organization, many volunteers, coaches, and team work together to make crew a challenging experience with memories and benefits that will last a lifetime. We are a varsity level sport sanctioned by Woodbridge Senior High School and the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Association. We have a fleet of racing shells and other crew equipment such as chase boats and safety gear. We are a not for profit organization that relies on parent booster volunteers and student athlete's to make our program a success.  Our fundraising activities include tag day's, corporate and alumni sponsorship, car washes, cookie sales, etc. Your valuable contributions of time, money, equipment or expertise are always welcome.  Contact us to find out how you can help.

We're lucky to have a broad and diverse mix of student athletes who are dedicated to the demanding sport of competitive rowing.  Membership is open to all students at Woodbridge Senior High School who meet the academic standards and who pass a standardized medical exam and swimming test.

Many of our student alumni have gone on to participate in collegiate division I-level crew programs with at least 25 rowers since 2000.  Our students have rowed at MIT, Clemson, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, University of Virginia, University of Tennessee, Boston University, Bucknell, Cornell University, Drexel, George Mason University, Jacksonville University, Ohio State, Ohio University, Princeton, Rutgers, San Diego State, William & Mary, Mary Washington, University of Wisconsin, West Virginia, University of Delaware, Virginia Tech, and Cornell just to name a few.  In the summer of 2004, one of our alumni, Matt Smith, rowed for the U.S. Olympic Team in Athens, Greece. Matt and his teammates placed 9th in the Games.  Overall, seven Woodbridge rowers have competed for the U.S. National Team at the highest levels of international competition.  At least one Woodbridge Alumni has been on 13 of the past 18 U.S. National Teams including two members in 2006. 

We invite college crew coaches to contact us for more information on our current crop of outstanding athletes.