High School Rowing
High School Rowing on Kent Lake in Milford, Michigan
Rowing is one of the few high school sports where you can start from zero as a freshman, or even a junior, and still be racing by spring. Girls and boys from area high schools train together with Northville High School at Kensington Metropark in Milford, on the same water that hosts the Midwest and Michigan State Scholastic Championships.
You'll train with KCRC and have the opportunity to race for your own high school. Rowers can compete under their school's name in a single, or in a double, quad, or eight when enough classmates join. Until then, you'll race as part of a KCRC composite crew with teammates from across the area.
Our coaches teach everything from your first stroke to race strategy. Along the way, athletes get stronger and more confident, and find a team that feels like family. Whether your teen wants a new challenge, a second sport, or a path to college rowing, there's a seat in the boat for them.
“Rowing has changed my life. I’ve made friends at other schools, my sport is literally on a lake, and I’ve traveled the country with my team.”
Rowing Seasons
2027 Spring Season
March 8 (weather-dependent) - May 18, 2027
2027 Spring Break Training Trip
March 29 - April 3, 2027 (optional)
August 31 - October 31, 2026
2026 Fall Season
What if I already play another sport?
The cross-training benefit is real. Rowing builds muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance while staying low-impact, so adding it before or after higher-impact sports seasons can lower injury risk while keeping athletes in top shape.
How your sport and rowing help each other:
You bring to the boat…
Swimming
Cross country and track
Rowing gives you…
Leg and hip power for faster starts and turns
A stronger aerobic base and stronger hips without extra miles or pounding
Your sport…
A strong aerobic engine, pulling strength, and comfort around water
Endurance, pacing, and grit when it hurts
Volleyball
A rock-solid core and more leg drive for every approach and block
Explosive legs and in-sync timing with teammates
Soccer
Back and upper-body strength, plus low-impact conditioning
Endurance, leg strength, and reading the game as a team
Basketball
Softball and baseball
A deeper aerobic base and conditioning that's easy on the joints
Leg, trunk, and back strength for more power at the plate
Height, long reach, and jumping power
Focus, competitiveness, and field leadership
Rowing fits your calendar*:
Its Michigan season…
Volleyball, girls' swim and dive, cross country, boys' soccer
Softball, baseball, track and field, girls' soccer, lacrosse
Row with KCRC in…
Spring, plus summer camp
Fall, plus summer camp
Your sport…
Fall
Spring
Basketball, boys' swim and dive
Fall and spring, plus summer camp
Winter
*Be sure to check with your high school’s Athletics Department, as pre-season requirements may vary by school.
Why row?
More than a sport. A team that moves as one.
No bench, no benchwarmers. A boat only goes fast when every seat pulls together. Every rower matters, every stroke.
You run the race. Once the boat leaves the dock, it's up to the crew. Rowers learn to think for themselves, stay calm under pressure, and own the result.
Every muscle, none of the pounding. One rowing stroke uses your legs, core, back, and arms. Because you're seated, it's easy on knees and ankles.
Better habits in the classroom. Rowers learn to plan their week, show up prepared, and work toward long-term goals, skills that carry straight into school.
Phones down, water up. Practice happens outside on Kent Lake, with sunrises, swans, hot air balloons, and a break from the screen.
Friends for life, and doors to college. The bonds built in a boat last, and rowing experience stands out on college applications.