That ’ s How We
Fox Chapel Crew rows toward success .
BY JENNIFER BROZAK
With three rivers to its name , the Pittsburgh area is ripe for rowing — and for the past 22 years , the Fox Chapel varsity crew team has taken full advantage .
Founded in 1995 by head coach Mark Bellinger and his wife , Fox Chapel Crew is a club sport associated with Fox Chapel Area High School . The team is comprised of approximately 50 students in grades 9 through 12 .
The origin of the club stems from Bellinger ’ s own daughter , who , along with a friend , became interested in rowing . Bellinger , who is also the board president , had been rowing for only a few years when he ended up launching the club with just 13 students — 5 boys and 8 girls . He stayed on as head coach even after his daughter graduated , and has remained at the helm as the team ’ s reputation has grown , with numerous teams qualifying for and placing in national championships in recent years .
Today , Fox Chapel Crew is recognized as one of the most competitive teams in the nation . In fact , the team has sent boats to the Scholastic Rowing Association of America ( SRAA ) National Championships every year for the past 10 years . The team ’ s Varsity Lightweight Boys won a silver medal at the 2017 SRAA Regatta , which took place in May in Camden , New Jersey , placing second out of 18 teams .
Bellinger , 69 , says the students ’ ability to work together as a team drives its continued success .
“ The sport is all about personal and team success . Except for rowing a single , each boat is a small team of two or more who need to match each other stroke for stroke to succeed ,” he explains . “ Each member of the team is responsible to push all of the others to succeed while driving him- or herself to do the best as an individual .”
The team usually trains at the Millvale facility of Three Rivers Rowing Association , which is located in Millvale ’ s Riverfront Park . Winter practices will be held at Aspinwall Riverfront Park , which is a new partnership for the team , as well as the Lauri Ann West Community Center on Fridays . The sport is coed , but while boys and girls practice at the same time , they are not in the same boats .
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