Twenty men's sweep rowers from USRowing's National Training Center will be spending the winter training on Lake Hartwell on the campus of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.
The group, which includes four Olympic medalists and 13 world championships medalists, will spend the next five months rowing out of Clemson University's new boathouse. The rowers will have access to state-of-the-art training facilities both on and off the water and will be able to continue to train on the water, rather than indoors, throughout the winter months.
"We're really grateful to be training at such a wonderful facility," said men's head coach Mike Teti. "But more importantly, we are lucky to be working along side such wonderful people. Clemson University has really opened its doors to our team and shown us tremendous support. Hopefully, we can turn this support into Olympic medals and, at the same time, help Clemson's athletes reach their goals and make future national teams."
The group is also racing at the Head of the Hooch this weekend, including participating in the Row for the Cure, for which they will be wearing pink shirts and using pink blades. The crew will be sporting the organization's trademark pink colors. "We'll be rowing with pinks shirts and pink blades," said men's assistant coach Matt Imes. "We're really glad to be able to participate in both events."
Located on the western edge of campus, Clemson's boathouse, which was completed earlier this year, is an 11,500-square-foot facility that features expanded locker room facilities, workout space, a team meeting room and athlete lounge. Located only a quarter of a mile from the other athletic facilities, the boathouse overlooks Lake Hartwell, one of the Southeast's largest lakes. With 56,000 acres of water, the lake offers plenty or rowable water. The lake facilities also feature a fully buoyed, six-lane course.
USRowing would like to thank Clemson University's rowing staff of Richard Ruggieri, Sarah Donaldson, Corrie McGrath, and Barbi Breimann, as well as the Clemson athletes, for their tremendous support and for sharing their facilities. USRowing also would like to thank Joseph Huck, Jr., of ColorTyme in Greenville and Greer, S.C., and Tal Slann of Slann Property Management for helping to arrange furniture and housing for the athletes. In addition, special thanks to Todd Littrell of Aramark and Clemson University Dining Services for their help in feeding the athletes.