About Us

Asheville Youth Rowing Association Mission Statement and Purpose:

Asheville Youth Rowing Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public corporation dedicated to promoting the sport of rowing among teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 years as a means of instilling discipline, teaching team work, attaining physical fitness, and teaching the sport of rowing in order to help young people gain admission to college and/or other educational efforts, obtain scholarships for educational efforts and/or to succeed in a life endeavor. The Association functions without preference to race, creed, religion, or color in Western North Carolina.

Asheville Youth Rowing Association was founded in January 2008 with the primary goal of promoting the sport of rowing among high school age youth in Western North Carolina.

Once prominent only in the Northeast, rowing is fast becoming a popular sport throughout the Southeast. It’s prominence in the South coincided with the introduction of Title IX which allowed many colleges to offer rowing as a varsity sport to women. For many high school students, the ability to row makes the difference in getting into college, getting into the college of choice, and getting a scholarship for college.

Although taking a learn to row class is advised, no experience is ever required to participate and walk-ons are accepted throughout the season.

Unlike every other sport in which a young person may participate, rowing is truly the ultimate team sport with no stars, but a crew.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Head Coach:

The head coach for the Asheville Youth Rowing Association is Jack Gartner. A graduate of the Wharton School of Finance, the University of Pennsylvania, Jack rowed at the University of Pennsylvania for four years from 1960 through 1964, where he was the captain of the men's heavyweight crew. Upon graduation, he declined the opportunity to train with the Olympic program and went home to work in the family business. Jack started the rowing program at both Mercyhurst Prep School and Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. in the early 1970's. He also began the Mercyhurst Regatta which is now in its 30th year. He went on to coach high school crews at The Baldwin School, Philadephia, Pa.; Upper Marion High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; Lower Marion High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; and college crews at Villanovo University, Villanovo, Pa.

Asheville Youth Rowing Association also has a staff of dedicated volunteer coaching assistants and an active, supportive parents’ group.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Board of Directors:

Jack Gartner, Chairman and Executive Director
Cindy Stephens, Vice-Chairman
Martha Williams, Secretary
Caryl Cid, Treasurer
Neil Stephens, Director
Brian Cid, Director