News from TC Crew

2008 Season Awards

Letters, certificates, and special awards were handed out at TC Williams on June 13. 

TCW Crew Christens Three New Shells

On Sunday afternoon, March 30, team members, parents and friends gathered at the Dee Campbell Rowing Center to dedicate the three newest additions to the TC Williams fleet.

The John Steve Carbonell Catilo, a Vespoli Ultralite II eight for the boys team, honors the memory of a TC rower and summer crew coach who was drowned in a tragic accident in 2004.  John Steve, a rising senior at the University of Virginia at the time of his death, was described as "a true renaissance man, devoting himself to numerous activities ranging from student government to crew, practicing karate to playing clarinet in his high school band ... an avid lover of the arts, always able to see the beauty in the world around him."

Crew Boosters past president Debbie Wells noted that John Steve always strove for excellence, whether in the classroom, on the water, or in the community as a volunteer.  At the time of his death, he was planning to take time off before medical school to join Americorps or the Peace Corps.  

In addition to the new shell, a plaque has been mounted at the Boathouse in his honor, and the crew safety manual bears his name as well.

The Musco Boulware III is a Resolute four, for the boys team.  It honors one of the people from Alexandria City Public Schools who's quietly worked behind the scenes for many years to make sure the crew program runs smoothly.  Musco Boulware is Maintenance Services Supervisor for ACPS, and coordinates the maintenance of the boathouse, trailers and dock.  In addition, he has provided years of service by delivering boats to out-of-town race sites.

As men's head coach Pete Stramese said in his introduction, "when the buses with the crew team arrive, the shells are there."  Pete also praised Musco's "gift for all things mechanical," which has been invaluable to the coaches.  He said that when faced with boathouse or dock problems that the coaches can't fix, the solution is "Let's call Musco."  

The second new Resolute four is the Tracy Hollingsworth, named in honor of a past president of Crew Boosters, and current Board member, who's the mother of four varsity TCW rowers.  Tracy was praised as a willing volunteer at every level, a "calm and reasoned presence at board meetings, and an enthusiastic booster on the shoreline."

Tracy was introduced by Dan Shipp, recalling that she never sought recognition for her own efforts, but saw crew as a "joint venture of student rowers, skilled coaches and committed parents."  He said she served the crew program in ways that "most of us will never know."  And he reminded the audience that when she and her family stood on the dock in 2003, christening a shell in memory of her fallen son Schuyler, she "taught us all about courage, dignity and grace."

Run vs Row road race cancelled for 2008

The 10-K road race that has been part of the Run vs Row Regatta will not be held this year.  Alexandria Crew Boosters has sponsored the event for 17 years as a fundraiser for TC Williams Crew.  This year the City of Alexandria informed ACB that it was imposing new fees for police and security, because the race closes streets in Old Town.  ACB hopes that it will be able to reorganize the event and return in 2009.

The TC Williams vs Washington-Lee regatta will be held that morning as scheduled, continuing a rivalry between the region's oldest high school rowing programs. 

More news from the archives:  2007