About the Club
Charlotte Youth Rowing is Charlotte’s first and largest youth rowing team established in 2000. We are a travel team supported by the Brace Family YMCA in Matthews, NC and row out of the Catawba Yacht Club located on Lake Wylie in Charlotte, NC. CYR is a club team comprised of middle and high school students from over 20 NC and SC schools. Our program produces athletes who have gone on to row at schools such as UNC Chapel Hill, Dartmouth, Duke and Clemson.
Who can row? Boys and girls, tall and short, heavy and lightweight are all welcome. Previous sports participation is helpful, but not at all necessary. If you are small and have leadership skills, we would love to talk to you about being a coxswain – the one who steers the boat, assists the coaches with practice, and strategizes about our races. If you are bored or “burned out” with your current sport, if you find your sport unrewarding, or you haven’t found a sport you love – check us out!
The team is split into two squads as described below:
- DEVELOPMENTAL – The Developmental squad is for middle schoolers, specifically 7th and 8th graders. Potential participants must weigh at least 100 lbs and be at least 5 feet tall. This is an introduction to rowing, both sweep (1 oar) and sculling (2 oars). Practices are twice weekly – Thursdays from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM as well as Saturdays from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Developmental rowers will attend 1 regatta per season, based on availability.
- COMPETITIVE – The Competitive squad is for high school students (8th graders who can make the scheduled practices are also eligible). The emphasis is on the technique of rowing– sculling and sweeping –as well as fitness and character development. The team participates in 3 – 5 races/regattas per season (fall/spring), both sweep and sculling events.
About the Coaches
Byron “Doc” Walthall and Nancy Teaff lead the CYR team. They are married doctors who started with the team at its inception when one of their daughters rowed. Byron started rowing as a masters rower after successful years competing in soccer and Ironman competitions (he’s finished 4!). Nancy rowed in college at Smith College and returned to masters rowing as an adult. Both are still competitive rowers and certified USRowing Level 3 rowing coaches.
About the Captains
Boys’ Team Captain: Harrison Kaplan (Senior, Charlotte Latin School)
Girls’ Team Captain: Sue Holderness (Senior, Myers Park High School)