Welcome to a special edition newsletter as we head into Day 2 of the Virginia State Rowing Championships! We will have 4 boats competing this weekend: the WJr4+, W1V, M1V, W2V and M2V. We are so proud of your hard work all season and can’t wait to watch you race! #pullforwoodson!

1. FINAL TEAM DINNER FOR ALL ATHLETES

2. VSRC DAY 2 VOLUNTEERS

3. VSRC DAY 2 LOGISTICS
A. ATTENDANCE
B. TIMING
C. OFF-SITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS
D. SHUTTLE SPECIFICS
E. ONSITE PARKING
F. CONCESSIONS

4. PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

5. STOTESBURY REGISTRATION AND FORMS DEADLINE: TOMORROW!!

6. LOTS OF VOLUNTEERING NEEDS!

7. ALREADY PLANNING FOR THE OFF-SEASON?
A. RENT-AN-ERG
B. BUY-AN-ERG
C. GET YOUR SCHOOL PHYSICAL OUT OF THE WAY

8. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

SUPPORT THE TEAM!

1. FINAL TEAM DINNER FOR ALL ATHLETES
The menu for our Friday team dinner is Wegman’s catering! On the menu: Roasted quartered chicken, lemon chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, and green salad with veggies. Dessert: assorted cookies, fresh fruit, and GF fruit snacks. Please encourage ALL athletes to attend dinner and support the junior boats before States!

2. VSRC DAY 2 VOLUNTEERS
All volunteer slots for this weekend are full. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! Gentle reminder that if you sign up, you’re expected to volunteer. If it is a regatta weekend and you are unable to fulfill your duties, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Veigel, so that she can try to help you find a replacement for your shift.

3. VSRC DAY 2 LOGISTICS
It’s championship season! Day 2 of the Virginia State Rowing Championships (VSRC) (aka “States”) is this Saturday at Sandy Run Regional Park. Student-athletes know which category they are racing in for States. Line up questions should be directed to your coach.

Feel free to check these websites for more information: Regatta Central and VASRA.

Tips for regatta watching here: https://woodsonrowing.org/regatta-spectator/.

A. ATTENDANCE: The following boats will race this weekend: WJr4+, 1Vs and 2Vs. While no novice boats row at this regatta, novice athletes are highly encouraged to attend.

B. TIMING: The draft Heat Sheet is available. You can find it here: VSRC Day 2 Heat Sheet. Remember that the heat times are subject to change up until race day, so keep an eye out for the cheat sheet from coaches for more concise start times.

As of right now, our boats are racing at the following times:
WJr4+: Event 9, 9:56a, Heat 2, Lane 4. Top 3 advance to finals.
W1V: Event 17, 10:52a, Heat 1, Lane 4. Top 2 to Grand Final, next 2 to Petite Final.
M1V: Event 21, 11:20a, Heat 2, Lane 2. Top 2 to Grand Final, next 2 to Petite Final.
W2V: Event 27, Heat 3, lane 4. Top 2 to advance to finals.
M2V: Event 28, Heat 1, Lane 1. Top 3 advance to finals.

You might notice some differences in the 1V descriptions above re: advancement to finals. Since this is a championship regatta, the top 12 boats in the 1V category will race twice to determine placement from 1-12. The Grand Final is the top 6 boats while the Petite Final represents places 7-12.

The finals schedule is as follows:
WJr4+: Event 32, 1:37p
W2V: Event 38, 2:37p
M2V: Event 39, 2:47p
M1V Petite Final: Event 44, 3:22p
M1V Grand Final: Event 45. 3:29p
W1V Petite Final: Event 46, 3:36p
W1V Grand Final: Event 47, 3:43p

C. OFF-SITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS: There is no spectator/visitor parking at Sandy Run. Off-site parking is located at a local commuter parking lot for this regatta. Parents driving athletes can drop off at Sandy Run and then proceed to the off-site parking located at: SOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, 8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton, VA 22079

D. SHUTTLE SPECIFICS: Shuttle buses will run between South County High School and Lot C at Sandy Run. The cost of the shuttles is $10 ONE WAY ($20 round trip). Cash is preferred. You may pay for each leg OR purchase a round-trip ticket when you board. Should you purchase a round-trip ticket, please retain the ticket for the return trip or you risk being asked to pay a one-way fare on the way back.

E. ONSITE PARKING: Onsite parking is limited to the groups below only. There is no fee for these groups to park at Sandy Run.

ATHLETES: Loisvale Lot. Plan for the 10 minute walk to the boathouse! Athletes are highly encouraged to carpool with other athletes. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE IN POLICY FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: Athletes driving themselves may drive solo, but are not allowed to park onsite with any non-athlete passengers, unless there is at least one additional athlete in the car as well.
VOLUNTEERS: Lot D.
COACHES: Lot D. Please display your green coach hangtag.
STAFF / LOC: Lot B, second row from the back.
HANDICAPPED: Lot C, as designated. It is requested that you contact [email protected] prior to the regatta to ensure all accommodations can be met.

F. CONCESSIONS : Remember that the concession stands, both at the grandstand and at VASRA HQ (by the boathouses), serve up a full menu of food and drinks. They also sell shirts! Interested in purchasing items? Remember to bring cash to make your life easier. Money collected during regattas at the concession stand is used to offset expenses that would be passed down to the teams.Find concession menus on the VASRA website here: https://www.vasra.org/regattas/concessions-menu

Get ready to PULL FOR WOODSON this weekend and we will see the student-athletes at the pre-regatta dinner tomorrow night!

4. PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Thank you to so many parents and athletes who are taking photos and videos at practice and regattas! Find the EASY UPLOAD LINKS for all your 2025 photos on our website: Woodson Rowing photo upload links.

Questions, problems or photos from previous years to upload? Contact our team photographer, Matt, via Slack or email ([email protected]).

5. STOTESBURY REGISTRATION AND FORMS DEADLINE: TOMORROW!!
Even if you have already registered and paid for your athlete, you MUST print out and sign the required forms and bring them to practice or to the team dinner on Friday. Find links to forms and a ton of other updated information here: https://woodsonrowing.org/stotesbury/.

In addition, Stotesbury is a USRowing regatta, so in order to participate everyone needs to be USRowing members. The team has purchased memberships for everyone participating. You need to go into the USRowing website and sign their waiver (and if your kid is over 18 they need to do the waiver and also safe sport sign off).

To sign the US Rowing e-waiver, follow these instructions:

Visit https://membership.usrowing.org and hover your mouse over the ‘Log In’ button under ‘Individuals.’ Select ‘Express Agreement.’
On the Express Waiver page, choose the email tab. Enter the email address of the parent who registered for the team and birthdate of your athlete.
You will receive an email with a link for Express Login, click on the link and follow the directions to complete the express waiver.
If Safe Sport training is required for your athlete (18+) you will be able to navigate to this from your student’s profile page.

Questions? Send a message to Catherine Backmeyer via Slack!

6. LOTS OF VOLUNTEERING NEEDS!
As a reminder, failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. Questions about the status of your family’s fulfillment of volunteer requirements should be sent to Lisa Veigel, Volunteer Coordinator. Click any of the links below to fulfill your current volunteer credits:

Stotesbury Volunteer Sign Up
End of Season Chuck Wagon Workday (May 31, 2025)
End of Season Boathouse Workday (June 7, 2025)

7. ALREADY PLANNING FOR THE OFF-SEASON?
If you’re already wondering how your athlete is going to maintain their level of fitness in the off-season or you’re just a forward thinker: we have opportunities for you!

A. RENT-AN-ERG: The team will have a limited number of ergs available for athlete rental over the summer. The cost to rent an erg will be $200.00 (pre-paid). Pick up will be at the end of season banquet on Wednesday, 5/28. Ergs will be returned prior to the start of winter conditioning in October 2025. Reserve your erg here: https://woodsonrowing.org/erg-rental/

B. BUY-AN-ERG: The team has a used Model C Concept2 Rowing Machine available for sale. This is being sold on an as-is basis, first-come-first-served. The cost is $250. Contact Riz Ramakdawala via Slack if you are interested.

C. GET YOUR SCHOOL PHYSICAL OUT OF THE WAY: Each year, it is required that all student athletes have a completed VHSL physical on file before participating in sports. Completing that physical at the end of the school year means that you won’t run into rushing to get a physical at the start of the crew season next year!

To aid in that end, the Athletic Training Programs at various high schools in NoVA hold a Sports Physical Night. The goal of Sports Physical Night is to provide a complete pre-participation examination screening that will leave student athletes with a valid VHSL physical for the entirety of the 2025-26 school year. The cost for the physical is $50.

The Athletic Training Program receives no funding from FCPS, and this event is their ONLY fundraiser for the year. ALL proceeds go towards helping the program purchase supplies.

Sign up for an appointment for a physical here. Even If you cannot make the Woodson event on June 10, sign up for another school’s event using the same form.

NOTE: There is a NEW VHSL Physical Form for the 2025-2026 school year! Make sure that you use the NEW form (it says April 2025 in the top right corner), whether you take advantage of the Athletic Training Program’s event or use your own doctor.

8. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

MAY