If you have a high schooler who is still looking for a fall sport, it’s not too late to join Wayland-Weston Rowing. Commonly known* as the most beautiful team sport in the world, Weston students are fortunate to have an opportunity to row on the lovely and close-by Lake Cochituate in Wayland. Arguably (when the person who argues with you is Mr. Owlet also known as Mr. Soccer), rowing is also the most intense and close-knit bunch of athletes of any sport. Yeah, fight me, Mr. O.

The Owl learned to row at the college with the very first women’s rowing program in the US. While not everyone loves WWRA’s orange and maroon (yikes) stripey outfits, it beats the heck out of the long white dresses the Wellesley women wore in the late 1800s (no, that was not when I graduated, wise guys). Because of my rowing experience, I rowed for a college at Cambridge during junior year abroad which was an amazing amount of weirdness as they row a race called the Bumps and literally try to bump each other’s boats into the banks. Brits are weird but very loveable. I also rowed with a masters program in Miami where we bumped into coconuts and dolphins–and rowed in the state masters championship with the Serbian and French national champions. We so won. I was in the best shape of my life. Bottom line: It’s a lifelong sport and there is not one better. If you don’t agree, meet me at the Bistro chess sets for warfare. I’ll bring my oar.

Back to Wayland-Weston Rowing. You can still sign up for Crew this week. No previous experience is needed and all shapes and sizes are welcome. The team practices after school on scenic Lake Cochituate at Wayland Town Beach. It’s a dual-town Varsity sport at Weston and Wayland High Schools, and the team has medaled at Massachusetts, Regional and National Championships regattas. Many alumni go on to row in college. Four have competed in the Olympics for U.S.A., Canada, and Germany. The team credo: Join a great team, make great friends, accomplish great things.

Students and parents can contact Chris Maietta, maietta4@comcast.net, chairman of Wayland-Weston Rowing Association, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization.

If you want a glimpse of all the fun times you can have, check out this film about the team created by Weston resident Carolyn Ross https://youtu.be/aQ4q2teD9bohttps://youtu.be/aQ4q2teD9bo.

*commonly known by me. Now by you.