Cooper River
Pennsauken, NJ
May 23-24, 2025
The primary function of the SRAA® is to run the Scholastic Championship Regatta each May, determining the North American Rowing Champions. High school athletics does not allow sporting events to be held which decide national champions. This regatta, nevertheless, is informally recognized by the rowing community as a national championship. To learn more about this regatta, check out their website: https://www.sraa.net/home.html
WHO IS ATTENDING?
All race entries, to include alternate rowers/coxswains are made at the discretion of the Woodson Rowing Head Coach. Crews must have qualified at a qualifying championship regatta to be invited to participate.
Congratulations to our MFr8+ and WJr4+!!
TIMELINE AND CRITICAL DATES
Tuesday, May 20, 2025: Due date for registration and any forms
Thursday, May 22, 2025: Carpools depart from Woodson / Fairfax area approximately 10:30a. Report directly to race site to unload boats and practice. Race site is: Cooper River Park, 7050 N Park Dr, Pennsauken Township, NJ 08109
Friday, May 23, 2025: Heats
Saturday, May 24, 2025: Semi-Finals and Finals
Please check out the KNOW BEFORE YOUR GO document in the #2025-sraa channel on Slack to refresh yourself on the necessary logistics!
REQUIRED FEES
The fee for athletes to attend the 2025 SRAA Nationals is $485 per athlete. This cost is a direct pass-thru of the costs for food, lodging and regatta fees for the athlete. If this presents a financial burden, the team may be able to offer assistance. Please reach out to Bill Westman, Board President, with questions re: financial assistance.
Note: FCPS will not be responsible for reimbursements of money lost, submitted in advance, for trips canceled due to safety/public health concerns. In the unlikely event that the trip is canceled The Woodson Crew Boosters would evaluate what, if any, refunds could be issued, based on non-refundable monies paid for hotels, bussing, registrations and food.
LODGING INFORMATION
Reservations for athletes and coaches will be made by the team. You do NOT need to book a room for your athlete.
Our team reservations will be for 2 nights:
Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23.
Check-out is Saturday morning, May 24.
SpringHill Suites Voorhees Mt. Laurel/Cherry Hill
1031 Voorhees Drive
Voorhees, NJ, USA
NOTE: This is a change to the originally planned hotel! For anyone who booked directly with the previous hotel, please consider changing your hotel as well. Spectators are NOT required to room at the same hotel as the team, but given transportation needs, should you stay off-site, we recommend finding a relatively nearby hotel. The race course is about a 20 minute drive away from the hotel.
TRANSPORTATION
This year, each family is responsible for their own and their athlete’s transportation to and from this event because it is not cost effective to book mass transportation for those attending SRAA Nationals.
VOLUNTEERING
As is always the case, there will be need for volunteers to help chaperone the boats, plan meals for the athletes at the regatta sites and coordinate/plan/chaperone evening meals for the athletes. If you are attending the regatta, we need all hands on deck! Please indicate what volunteer duties you can help with here: SRAA Volunteering.
In addition, the regatta itself is always looking for volunteers. If you’d like to volunteer on site, you can check out the sign up here: Regatta Volunteering. Please note your affiliation with Woodson should you choose to volunteer for the regatta itself.
CLASSWORK
Student-athletes are students first. No form is required for your teacher’s approval of the travel. However, students are encouraged to let their teachers know about their classroom absences due to this trip. Students must discuss make-up dates with their teachers prior to the team leaving.
You do not need to notify the Attendance office of your athlete’s absence. The Boosters will provide a list of Rowers and Coxswains who require early dismissal and and will miss school due to attendance at this regatta.
We are aware that there is some concern about the Biology SOL scheduled for May 22, 2025. The best solution is for those impacted is to plan for carpools to depart from Woodson as soon as the SOL is completed. It is a morning test and generally doesn’t take more than 2 hours. So, you all should be able to leave by about 10:30a. You’ll progress directly to the race site, where the athletes will meet with coaches to unload the boats and practice.
PACKING
See the list below for recommended items to be packed.
Prohibited Items include drugs of any kind, including prescription drugs and “over the counter” (unless they are submitted through the separate medication check), weapons of any kind, vaping devices, any other items listed in the FCPS SR&R, and R Rated movies.
It is not advisable to pack or bring valuables of any kind.
PACKING LIST:
– Clothing to practice in upon Thursday’s arrival should be worn OR easily accessible.
– REQUIRED: Uni-suit and Tech shirt, ideally marked with your athlete’s name.
– Water bottle
– BE PREPARED FOR CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS: Bring a small towel, rain gear, extra shoes; and warm clothing for cold weather; layered clothing, sunscreen, and a hat for hot weather. Remember: LAYERS, layers.
– PJs/casual clothes for hanging out at the hotel and your comfort while not racing.
– Rain Gear!! It is going to rain! (assume it will rain)
– NO VALUABLES
INCIDENTAL ATHLETE EXPENSES
Most athletes bring spending money for treats and rowing souvenirs. They may want at least $50 to allow for t-shirts and other items. Most vendors take electronic payment, so generally cash is not required.
Telephone calls – Crew members will not be allowed to place long distance calls from the hotel room.
Shopping – There will be a large number of vendors at the regatta site selling rowing apparel, photos of the participant’s races (very cool!), books, jewelry and all sorts of other crew-related merchandise.
Misc – Athletes often want to buy extra food; not because they need it, but because they want it (and because they can)!
RACING RELATED INFORMATION
Venue: Cooper River Park, Pennsauken, NJ
7050 N Park Dr, Pennsauken Township, NJ 08109
Practice: Practice is from 12-6pm Thursday, staffed by staff/volunteers.
Racing Schedule: You can see the full schedule here,
Preliminary Schedule as of 5/19/2025. The final schedule will be posted in the next couple of days and may have slight variations from the preliminary schedule.
Heats are all on Friday, 5/23:
6 heats of the Girls Jr4+, starting at 10:10am
4 heats of Boys Fr8+, starting at 12:10p
Semi-finals are all on Saturday, 5/24
Boys Fr8+ starting at 8:50a
Girls Jr4+ starting at 9:20a
Finals on Saturday, 5/24
Boys Fr8+ at 12:12p
Girls Jr4+ at 1:08p
Race Website: If you like to do your own research, this is a good place to start – SRAA.net.
Q&A
Other questions? Ask them in Slack and the answers may be posted here for posterity.
Q: Are pets welcome at the regatta site?
A: Yes. While this event is not nearly as large as the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, please keep in mind that there will be hundreds of people in attendance. So, please consider if your furry friend can handle that much love from so many people.
Q: What is traffic and parking like on the Cooper River?
A: When the girl’s freshman team attended in 2022, there was a pretty big parking lot right near the parent viewing area that didn’t fill up and didn’t cost to park. The main road by the river was not shut down, but it did get very busy with traffic.
By 2024, this parking lot was reserved for volunteers and people with passes only. Spots on the road were plentiful but unpredictable in availability. Traffic can be quite heavy, the the main road lining the race course is generally NOT shut down to traffic. So, plan for delays, and consider using ride-share to get to where you need to go!