2014-2015 Upcoming Rowing Season
By Zack Astran, Sports Editor //
The High Point University rowing team will be looking to followup their outstanding previous season with one equally, if not better, than the last. However, that will be tough as the men’s pair (Caleb Spegman and Sam Dempsey) won Southern Championships, and all men’s boating advancing to semi-finals in Dad Vails, the biggest race of the spring. The woman’s team was strong as well with numerous boats advancing in the fall and spring races.
Although last season was a great success, there will be a lot of changes this coming season. Last year, the captains and coaching staff put together a proposal to have the woman’s team to be a division 1 sport. There is no men’s division 1 rowing because of an outstanding rule, but the proposal was still considered.
The rowing team is not the only transition in athletics, as there is a new athletic director on campus. The proposal made its way to his desk, but was denied for the time being. However, the suggestion is still on the table for the future.
The proposal was not the only area of the team that will be changing. The men’s and woman’s head coach has decided to take another position in Cleveland, Ohio working for a prestigious rowing program. The head-coaching search is underway for the High Point rowing team. An assistant coach has been hired, but the process for finding a new head coach is still pending. With all of the changes in this coming fall season for the rowing team, their performance on the water and in the weight room will not change. The school expects them to compete at all of the regattas, as well as be dedicated to making to the team progress.