Forest Hills Central Rowing

Team Founder Don LeBlanc

The FHC Crew Club began in 1995 with 7 boys. We traveled in the LeBlanc family van with 4 oars strapped to the roof (the only equipment we owned!) and any boat we could borrow at the regattas.

In 1996 girls joined the team and the program has continued to grow and prosper ever since. We now average between 80 and 90 members per year. The team is open to any student with a sincere interest in learning competitive rowing.

FHC Crew became a Varsity sport in 2001.  Thanks to the generosity of our team parents and other donors, and success of various fundraisers over the past years, we have acquired 8's, 4's, oars, coaching launches, a boat trailer, equipment trailer, tents and an assortment of additional equipment.  In 2002, with a major community donation and school district funding we moved to our own Forest Hills boathouse that is shared by all three Forest Hills High Schools!

Our coaching staff has grown from 1 in 1995 (founding Coach Don LeBlanc) to the current staff found on the “Coaches” page. These coaches work with crew members in smaller groups designed to prepare each rower to compete at his/her best. The team trains indoors during the winter months for conditioning, and begins practice on the water as soon as weather permits. Our competitive season begins in mid-April and ends in early June.

Over the past few years, we have had several athletes go on to compete at the collegiate level with some of them receiving scholarships from their respective universities and colleges for Crew.

All coaches volunteer their time for the love of the sport and the joy of sharing this opportunity with the youth of our community. Please support both the team and the coaches and attend as many regattas as you can.

Hebda Cup STATE CHAMPIONS

- Combined Men & Women Overall Points: 2005, 2006

- Men's Overall Points: 2006
- Men's Varsity 8+: 2007
- Men's Lightweight 8+: 2006
- Men's Leightweight 4+: 2006
- Men's Junior 8+: 2006
- Men's Junior 4+: 2006

- Women's Overall Points: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005
- Women's Varsity 8+: 2000
- Women's Lightweight 8+: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006
- Women's Junior 8+: 2004, 2006
- Women's Novice 8+: 2002, 2003, 2005
- Women's Novice 4+: 2005, 2007

Canadian Secondary Schools National Championships
- Women's Senior Heavy 8+: Silver, 2005
- Women's Junior Heavy 8+: Bronze, 2003, 2005
- Women's Junior 59 Kg. 4+: Bronze, 2003

Midwest Scholastic Championships
- Women's Novice 130# 4+: Gold, 2001, 2002
- Women's Novice 8+: Silver, 2002, 2009 / Bronze, 2004, 2005
- Women's Novice 4+: Gold, 2007
- Women's Junior 8+: Bronze, 2001, 2004, 2006
- Women's Junior 4+: Bronze, 2008
- Women's Varsity 130# 4+: Bronze, 1999
- Women's Varsity 130# 8+: Silver, 1999 / Bronze, 2005, 2006
- Women's Varsity 4+: Bronze, 2005
- Men's Varsity 4+: Silver, 2007
- Men's Varsity 1X: Silver, 2004
- Men's Varsity 145# 4+: Bronze, 2005
- Men's Junior 8+: Silver, 2006

Wyandotte HS Regatta Champions
-Women Overall Points: 2003

Grand Rapids HS Invitational Regatta Champions
- Men Overall Points: 2006

Grand Rapids Spring Sprints ERG Champions
- Team Combined Overall Points: 2004, 2005, 2007

Scholastic Rowing Association of America
National Championships
- Women's Senior 4+: 6th place, 2004
 

Men's ERG Records

Open:
07:19.0  1999  Tom Reich
06:48.0  2000  Jordy DeJonge
06:37.3  2001  Jordy DeJonge
06:32.0  2006  Mitch Klipa
06:24.1  2007  Mitch Klipa

Lightweight (155#)

08:00.5  2002  Kirkland Harrington
07:35.8  2003  Evan Winer
07:29.3  2004  John Gaskin
07:04.5  2005  Jim Rasche
06:56.2  2006  Zack Machinchick
06:48.0  2007  Ben Montague