Rowers Reunite: Alumni, Student Clubs Connect

The UNCW Rowing Club, formerly known as the UNCW Crew Club, gathered in the fall for its annual reunion weekend, which included a morning row with alumni at the site of its new home on the Brunswick River. The club is one of the university’s longest-standing student organizations and maintains a strong alumni presence dedicated to supporting current students and fostering connections among past members.

“I loved my time on the team, and I made a lot of close friends. Having to wake up at 4 or 5 a.m. can do that,” said Brendan Dailey ’13. A current D.C. resident, he comes back for the reunion each year. The highlight for him is hearing how the current team is doing, especially now that they have a coach and new facilities.

"The growth they’ve had in the last couple of years is phenomenal, and I look forward to seeing it continue.”

–Brendan Dailey ’13

Since 1969, the UNCW Rowing Club has welcomed all interested Seahawks to the competitive sport team. No rowing experience is necessary, only a desire to succeed.

In September, the club relocated its training operations to Belville Riverwalk Park, which offers an ideal setting for training. The group rows year-round. Fall season is focused on long-distance and endurance rowing and spring on sprints. They also compete in two regattas with teams from across the nation. The club has been coached by Dr. Kirk Howard since the spring.

The first UNCW rowing team was established in 1969 and became a sanctioned student club in 1986.

Our alumni base is “large, strong and very supportive,” said current club president Lia Hudgins ’26, an anthropology and secondary education major (pre-law minor) who found rowing through UNCW and joined her freshman year.

"Many people assume we all have very strong arms, and that’s not untrue, however, rowing is a leg sport. The main driving force begins in the legs, not the arms. The seats move and we use our legs to push and begin taking a stroke,” she said.