Regatta Draws 14 rowing teams to Sanford

Orlando Sentinel; Orlando, Fla.; Nov. 17, 2001; Steven D. Barnes, Sentinel Correspondent; Copyright 2001It’s an expensive sport, but crews report an almost spiritual experience of pulling together as a team on the water.

SANFORD – The Sanford lakefront was alive with crew fans a week ago as hundreds of people watched the first rowing competition to take place on Lake Monroe in 25 years.

The Head of Lake Monroe Regatta drew 14 teams, some from as far away as Tallahassee, to compete in the 3-mile race that ended in front of Fort Mellon Park.  The event was planned as part of the Sanford Heritage Festival, which was canceled because of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Hundreds of competitors, including dozens from two local high schools, rowed their way along a stretch of the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe in long, thin boats called shells, which are made of carbon fiber.

Rowing in teams of four and eight, the competitors pulled gracefully on their oars in a synchronized fashion as they competed fro the best time in the staggered-start event.

Organizers said the regatta drew roughly 1,000 competitors, coaches and fans to the area, which was once the heart of rowing in Central Florida.

Rowing got its start in Central Florida on Lake Monroe in the 1960’s, said Lake Brantley High School’s head crew coach, Matt Schlichenmaier.  He said that, at that time, the Sanford Naval Academy competed against Winter park and Edgewater high schools and Howey Academy, the only other teams in the area.

“It’s nice to get back here,” he said.

Organizer Dan Kempinger, who teaches rowing at Bishop Moore High School, said Lake Monroe High School, said Lake Monroe is a great place to have such events because Fort Mellon Park provides such a good vantage point for spectators.

He said that the lake was host to state championship competitions until 1976, when the event was moved because the lake gets choppy during windy conditions.

Kempinger said organizers are debating whether to have next year’s event at For Mellon or move it to Lake Monroe Way-side Park, beneath the U.S. Highway 17-92 bridge, where the water is protected.

Either way, he said, organizers are intent on making the regatta an annual event.

“For us not to have an event out here is crazy,” he said.

That’s good news for the city, which has been working for years to lure events to the lakefront.

Sanford Recreation Supervisor R.T. Hillery said he hopes that the event will be back at Fort Mellon and that fans will patronize downtown businesses.

“Any activity that brings people down to see the lake is good,” he said.  “A lot of people don’t event know it’s here.”

Three local teams swept the top point competition.  The Orlando Area Rowing Society took first place, followed by Edgewater High School and Lake Brantley High School.

Lake Brantley is the only school in Seminole County to offer rowing, in part because the costs are so high.  The shells, which measure 35 to 55 feet in length, can cost from $9,000 to $25,000.

The expenses of travel – to competitions also are high.  Although lake Brantley has team, the school does not provide the money needed to keep the club alive.  To make ends meet, the 80 club members have fund-raisers throughout the year.

Schlichenmaier said the team practices as much as four hours a day, for days a week, then travels for Saturday competitions.

The kids say they love the camaraderie and working as a team.

Ian Thatacher join the Lake Brantley team just two months ago and competed in two races Saturday.  The 15-year-old said rowing is the ultimate team sport.

“In football, if a player messes up, someone else can catch it,” he said. “We all have to work together.”

Although many of the competitors were teens and 20-somethings, the sport also draws a fair number of older competitors.  The OARS Ladies Masters team features five women who range in age from 38 to 53.

Dawn McNally, who at 38 is the baby in the group, said that in addition to being great exercise, rowing is also emotionally satisfying.

“It’s very spiritual when we’re all out there rowing together,” she said. “It’s so beautiful.”

Kempinger called the event a success and said that all 14 clubs and schools who participated plan to return for next year’s competition.