TEAM HISTORY
Humble Beginnings
The FHC Crew Club began in 1995 with seven novice rowers and was coached by Don LeBlanc. It was a humble beginning. The team practiced at the Grand Rapids Rowing Club Boathouse in Comstock Park. They traveled to regattas in the LeBlanc family van - with four oars strapped to the roof – and used any boat they could borrow at regattas. That year, the boys took their first trip to the 50th annual CSSRA Regatta, Hebda Cup, Wy-Hi Regatta, and Midwest Scholastic Championships.
In 1996, women’s rowing was added. The team expanded to 16 men and 26 women rowers. That same year, Forest Hills Central was host for the first Grand Rapids High School Invitational. The stage was set for continued growth and expansion. Both the men’s and women’s team rosters grew quickly during this era.
DON LEBLANC
During the late 1990s, FHC Rowing purchased their first boats from the George Washington University crew team, the coaching staff expanded and the team participating in regattas across the state. In 2000, FHC’s women’s team won the Hebda Cup, the unofficial state championships. This was the first time a team outside southeast Michigan won the cup.
100-Athlete Milestone and New Boathouse
Continued Growth and Focus
For the past 20 years, the program has continued to grow and prosper. Through hard work and an ongoing commitment to excellence, the Forest Hills Rowing Team has earned a reputation as one of the top high school rowing programs in the state. Our list of accomplishments is long and many of our rowers have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. Under the guidance of Peter Ross, who supported the program over thirteen years, seven years as head coach, the Forest Hills Rowing Team weathered a pandemic and came back averaging 70-100 rowers per season, representing the largest athletic program at FHC. Under his leadership, expanding our equipment and the opportunities for athletes from primarily sweep rowing to also offer sculling opportunities to rowers as well.
Hannah Skarli, who is an alumni rower and long-time coach within the program took on head coaching duties this year. She has worked with Novice and Varisty and Men and Women over the years and is thrilled to lead this co-ed and welcoming "no-cut" team. There are few better ways to learn the value of teamwork than being on a crew team. If you are interested in learning more about our team, or speaking with Coach Skarli, please contact us.
