Tech Topics - Spring 2009 - (Page 18) STUDENT LIFE Crash Brings Crew Club, Alumni Together PHOTOS: KEVIN HADE By Van Jensen A s members of Georgia Tech’s crew club were driving north on Interstate 75 in October to a competition in Chattanooga, Tenn., suddenly the trailer carrying the club’s massive skulls fishtailed. In a flash, the trailer and truck hauling it crashed, destroying or damaging nine boats, the trailer and vehicle. It was devastating at the time — even if Tech did go on to win the Chattanooga points trophy using borrowed boats. But, given a few months to look back on the incident, members say it wasn’t all bad. “In some ways, it was a positive,” said Ryan Williams, the club’s president. “It brought the alumni back in. The alumni affinity group had just formed right before it happened, and they’ve been a great help. That’s been a really exciting development for the team.” Williams, a fourth-year industrial engineering major, said the Georgia Tech Crew Alumni affinity group has already raised nearly $12,000 of its goal of $15,000 to replace the club’s trailer. That fundraising assistance is huge, he said, and through that effort the affinity group has grown more connected and is working closely with current rowers. “It takes a little pressure off of the club officers to have the alumni,” said Kevin Hade, a third-year environmental engineering major who is the club’s 18 While driving along Interstate 75 to a competition in Chattanooga, Tenn., the club’s trailer fishtailed, and several boats were damaged in the ensuing crash. president-elect. “It really provides a great network.” Crew, which began at Tech in 1986, is one of the most demanding club sports offered at the Institute. Members train nearly year-round — devoting up to four hours a night to practice runs on the Chattahoochee and early winter mornings to rowing machines at the Campus Recreation Center. It’s also financially demanding, with members paying more than $2,000 a year to cover all the costs of competing. It’s no surprise then that fundraising plays such a large role. And Williams and Hade said they’re thankful the alumni are staying involved and helping the club stay afloat. “Finding new fundraisers is a big thing we’re working on,” Hade said. “We did a calendar this year that was for the team and alumni. Next year we’ll do one to sell. And also next year we’re planning a banquet with an auction.” Other efforts include “rent a rower,” which lets people in the community pay to have club members do odd jobs. “We’ll do yard work, painting, whatever is needed,” Hade said. “We row a lot, so we’re pretty good at manual labor.” Most of the cost is in transporting the 60-plus members. The team also is headed to Panama City, Fla., for spring break; though instead of partying on the beach, they’ll be practicing all day. “It’s really intense, not a lot of fun,” Williams said. With crew requiring so much effort, one could wonder why anyone signs up at all, especially when most Tech club members, including Williams and Hade, never rowed before college. Williams’ roommate his freshman year had joined the club and invited him along. “I went a second day, and now it’s four years later,” he said. Hade said every rower has a moment on the water that hooks him. TechTopics | Spring 2009
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