Our Story

We are a family affair.  Kathy, Megan and Michael are siblings – three of seven children who all rowed.  We grew up in South Jersey where Crew is big.  We learned to row in middle school, continued at Holy Spirit High School and then rowed for Florida Institute of Technology (FIT).

 

How We Began

Kathy and Megan are Master Rowers at Hollywood Rowing Club (HRC).  In September of 2015, we met some girls from St. Thomas Aquinas High School who wanted to row.  We offered to teach them on Saturdays.  More girls joined.  They wanted to race, so we began adding more practices.  We went to two races our first year and medaled at each of them.  We currently have 49 athletes, a schedule of races and practice six times per week.  In a very short time, we have become a competitive team earning medals at every regatta we attend, including States, Regionals and Nationals.  We have won three State Championships, medaled at Regionals twice and earned 2nd at Nationals last year!

 

Our High School Rowing History

In 1979, when Kathy and Megan began Holy Spirit High School they only had a Boys’ Crew Team. They had four brothers who were all on the Crew Team.  Our mother saw the benefits that Rowing was having on her boys – developing a solid work ethic, becoming responsible and accountable, getting in excellent physical shape, hanging out with good kids and getting into college on scholarships. She wanted this for her girls too.  In 1982, Holy Spirit allowed us to begin a Girls Team and they have won several national titles since. Our mother passed away from breast cancer in 1985.  Holy Spirit gives out the Rita McDevitt Award every year to the girl who most embodies sportsmanship and leadership and the New Jersey Scholastic Rowing Championship awards the Rita McDevitt Memorial Trophy to the winning Girls Senior 8.  We think of her all the time in our efforts with our team today.

 

What About the Boys?

We began as a “Girls Only” team because that’s all we could handle with our limited equipment and coaches.  It was kind of like a “girls club”.  We have six daughters between us and we know girls.  We want to show girls how to be strong, healthy and confident. 

But, we were getting many requests to add a boy’s side.  So, in 2023-2024, we added boys.  They are off to a great start!

 

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

In 2018, St. Thomas Aquinas High School added us as a club sport and we are very proud to represent STA!  During the school year, we operate as a scholastic team representing only STA.  Last year we won States and placed second in the nation!  GO RAIDERS!!!