ABOUT YOUR NEW CREW

Founded in 1996, Saint Ignatius Chicago Rowing (SICR) provides a rare, highly desirable coed opportunity for Saint Ignatius College Prep students to participate in the sport of rowing. SICR is considered one of the top national competitive rowing programs in the City of Chicago.

Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate competition in the U.S. and the oldest collegiate rivalry (Harvard vs. Yale). At St. Ignatius Chicago Rowing (SICR), that rivalry has become a partnership as Head Coach Tony Brooks (Harvard), a former Olympic rower, and Coach Len Richards (Yale) team up to coach the Girls Varsity. Each of our eight (8) coaches has remarkable experience competing at the national level and several on the international stage, including Eleanor Boland, our Head Novice Coach, who rowed for the National Rowing Team in Ireland.

SICR is the largest co-ed sport on campus, sporting around 50 athletes competing each season across four squads: Novice Boys, Novice Girls, Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls. It is one of two sports that compete on a national level and offers year-round training opportunities. No previous rowing experience is required. There is a developmental program is in place for all novice rowers which makes the sport accessible to all who commit. 

Saint Ignatius Rowers have gone on to row & study at preeminent institutions across the country including: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Pennsylvania, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgetown, MIT, Stanford, Cal Berkeley, Notre Dame, Purdue, Brown, Michigan, Northwestern and University of Chicago.

SICR aims to continue its legacy of developing highly skilled, competitive rowers by educating and training individuals in the art of rowing. Our continued success is rooted in the efforts of our athletes, coaches, parents and board members. The team has grown significantly over the past 25 years, gaining regional and national recognition. As a varsity club sport, operating under the organization of Saint Ignatius Chicago Rowing, Inc., a nonprofit corporation managed by a parent board. SICR counts on the efforts of the parent volunteers to support the planning and implementation of facilities, equipment, logistics and regatta support.

We strive to keep our membership dues low so that the sport of rowing can be accessible to all St. Ignatius students. Our athletes come from various socio-economic backgrounds, and approximately 25% of rowers are on a need-based scholarship and pay no fees (or partial fees).