River rowing moves indoors for off season
Navesink Indoor Rowing trains for crew season
BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer
Students from nine area high schools have been perfecting their rowing technique all winter with Coach John Crilly at Navesink Indoor Rowing.

Eamonn Sweeney, 17, of Middletown works on his form on an erg machine as other Navesink Indoor rowers look on.

"Funny thing, but when I mention the two rowing races in February, one in Philadelphia and one in Boston, it sounds confusing," said Crilly, who resides in Shrewsbury. "Rowing on water? In February? Around here? Are you nuts?"

Crilly, who has been rowing for 25 years and rowed for the University of Notre Dame, wanted to extend the crew season for members of Navesink River Rowing in Red Bank, as well as provide a way to practice and improve skills during

the cold winter months. He started Navesink Indoor Rowing this past year to give adults and youths an outlet to continue training.

"Most people have no idea that in the Northeast, we rowers go indoors on rowing machines to work on technique and fitness, all in preparation for getting back on the water as soon as possible in the spring," Crilly said. "So why not have a race on these machines? It gives you a goal, and a nice measure of how hard you have worked all winter."

Coach John Crilly observes the form of one of the Navesink Indoor rowers at the Summit Youth Development Facility in Tinton Falls.

The rowing machines, called ergs, cost about $1,000 each, Crilly explained, and he needed about five or six of them, along with a location to start the indoor rowing program. He invested in the machines but

needed a location. Along came Maureen Tieri, also from Shrewsbury, who offered the use of her Summit Youth Development facility on Shrewsbury Avenue in Tinton Falls. Summit, which offers kids a place to work on academics, athletics and nutrition, turned out to be an ideal match for Crilly's indoor rowing program.

"Long story short, she made room for our half-dozen ergs in her facility, and we're training there three days a week or more," Crilly said. "Navesink Indoor Rowing is all about teaching. The idea is to give quality rowing instruction. Although rowing looks simple, done correctly, it is quite complicated."

Crilly provides hands-on coaching, using mirrors and film to work with students on their rowing technique.

"I really focus patiently on technique at first. A quality stroke developed correctly is everything. And since these kids are coming to me with various rowing experience, this gives me an opportunity to teach on different levels. I can make good rowers, and I can make good rowers better."

W

hile rowing is a great way to exercise,

it can also lead to opportunities at a collegiate level, Crilly said. Local high school students have translated their extracurricular rowing experience at

Navesink River Rowing, the outdoor cousin of Navesink Indoor Rowing, into scholarships to schools like Notre Dame, Duke and the University of Pennsylvania. Many of the college rowers come home to help coach during their breaks, according to Crilly.

"The bottom line is we've provided an opportunity for kids from nine different high schools who don't have a rowing program," Crilly said. "These are great kids."

Members of Navesink Indoor Rowing were heading to Boston on Feb. 24 for the CRASH-B Sprints, which are theWorld Indoor Rowing Championships. The 12-week indoor rowing season ends Feb. 28, but Crilly plans to continue with an abbreviated seven-week session starting in March for anyone wishing to prepare for on-thewater training toward the end of April. Anyone interested in learning more about Navesink Indoor Rowing can contact Crilly at navesinkindoorrowing@gmail.com.

"It's really a great opportunity to do something that you'll enjoy for the rest of your life," Crilly said. "And it's great for you."