Southeast High dips oars into competitive rowing

MANATEE COUNTY — Alexandria Watson feels the most at ease in the water.

Ever since she began swimming as a youth, the Southeast High junior has had a passion for all things water, especially water sports.

“I just love the water,” Watson said. “I feel more at ease. It’s easier for me to breathe under water.”

So when Watson, who runs track and cross country, learned Southeast was hoping to start its own rowing club, she jumped at the opportunity to learn more.

Watson and her younger sister, Sabrina, a sophomore at Southeast, attended a Palmetto High rowing club practice last spring and enjoyed the experience. From there, the girls participated in a weeklong rowing camp before eventually joining the newly formed Southeast crew team at the beginning of the school year.

“I really enjoyed it and continued to come to practice,” Sabrina Watson said. “I love being out on the water, and this is a team effort. It’s not just you but your team.”

“I really wanted to get involved,” Alexandria Watson said. “I enjoy the uniqueness of it. This sport is different than any other sport that I’ve done. It’s an interesting and riveting sport, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s been a really great opportunity.”

The Southeast rowing club is home to about 15 members, but the school is hoping to continue to generate more interest and gradually expand its program. The team practices five days a week alongside the Palmetto and Manatee High rowing clubs at Fort Hamer Park.

The teams practice together under the Manatee County Youth Rowing umbrella; however, each school has its own separate program. The idea for the umbrella came about as a way to minimize travel and insurance costs. From there, Manatee County Youth Rowing was born.

“They’re separate programs within a program,” coach Trish Jackson said. “They each have their own identity. Eventually, the goal to that if other high schools don’t have rowing programs already established, then they can row as a Manatee County youth and not just for their high school.”

Typically, the year is divided into three rowing seasons. The fall season, which involves long-distance races, runs from August until November. The team then spends the winter months training for the spring season, which begins the second week of February.

“I just want to continue to see them grow and strengthen in numbers,” Jackson said. “A lot of kids start the sport, and they either love it or hate it. I hope to put some energy into them and help them develop a passion for the sport.”

The team is already off to an impressive start. The boys novice doubles team won its first race at the Novice Regatta this month. Now, the remainder of the team is focused on learning the sport with the hopes of one day competing alongside their teammates.

“I want to be able to compete and do the sport justice,” Alexandria Watson said. “At this point, I haven’t experienced the sport enough. I don’t really know where I fit into the sport. I just want to represent the sport in a well-mannered both at competition and in practice.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].