About Us
Franklin and Marshall Crew recently became a club-varsity sport for Franklin and Marshall College. This was announced on September 13, 2006. Franklin and Marshall Crew rows out of a newly rennovated boathouse discretely tucked away on the shores of the Susquehanna River. in Wrightsville, PA. The men and women’s teams share this facility. The double bayed boathouse was recently renovated in the summer of 2007. It currently houses the three 8's and three 4's owned by the team.The boathouse is about 16 miles away from campus and is a short 25 minute drive.
The river is part of the Chesapeake Watershed and is a very wide and calm river to row on. There are thousands of rowable meters in every direction, many of which are sheltered from high cross winds. The team currently practices in the afternoon between 4:30 PM - 7PM.
On campus, the team has its own erg loft, containing seven Concept II Model C ergs and two Model D ergs. The team has access to varsity facilities, including trainers. Like all students, the team has full access to the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center and Mayser Strength Training facility.
The team was founded in 1984 and has generated over 250 alumni since then. The team has grown steadily from its origin and continues to attract attention on campus. We race at many major regattas across the eastern coast against the top rowing colleges and universities. Please see our schedule for more details.
Our Coaches:
Claus Wolter, Head Coach
Wolter brings over a quarter century's worth of experience to the Diplomats' newest varsity squad. He spent 18 seasons as the Head Coach of Rowing at Connecticut College in New London, where his teams won several New England Championship titles. In his last six seasons guiding the Camels, Wolter's team compiled a 58-11 record. Under his direction, the 1992 team won the Head-of-the-Charles Regatta, and the 1997 squad qualified for the NCAA Championships, taking seventh place in the Varsity Cox 4.
In addition to coaching on the collegiate level, Wolter has mentored rowers in international competition. He served as a Canadian National Team Coach from 1985 through 1988, guiding the men's four at the Seoul Olympics. He also coached men's and women's two, four, and eight shells in several World Championships. In 1994, Wolter headed the United States Lightweight Women's program, winning the International Rotsee Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the World Rowing Championships in Indianapolis.
Wolter has had several pieces published in American Rowing and Athletic Management. He has also been a presenter at several U.S. Rowing and Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) Rowing Conferences.
Alex Jones, Assistant Coach
Jones has been with Franklin and Marshall college since the spring of 2007. A former rower with Susquehanna University, Jones formally coached the Novice Men's team at the Edinburgh University in Scotland. Jones carries a US Rowing Level One coaching certification. His degree in Education enables him to create a fostering and educational environment for novice rowers here at Franklin and Marshall.
Jack Carey, Assitant Coach
Carey joined the team in the Fall of 2007. Carey is an experienced veteran of Philadelphia rowing having coached at the high school and collegiate level on the Skukyll River. Previously the Head Coach of Upper Merion High School's rowing program, he also helped to create Radnor High School's Women's Crew Team. During his time in King of Prussia, he also served as Villanova's Varisty Women's Coach and the Masters Coach for the Bachelor's Barge Club on Boathouse Row.
