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Novice Program

Jackson-Reed Crew Interest Form

Jackson-Reed Crew registration is now open for new athletes!  NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Interested in learning more? Complete our online form and you will be invited to an virtual information session on Thursday, September 5 at 8PM via zoom.

Interested in Rowing?

Rowing is a challenging but incredibly rewarding sport. Among other things, rowers develop terrific strength and endurance, make a tight-knit group of friends, compete at a national level and learn lifelong lessons in dedication and time management.

Jackson-Reed Crew is open to any new athletes attending Jackson-Reed High School.  If you have never rowed before, you will join the novice/freshmen squad.

Joining the team requires no prior experience. Because rowing is not available until the high school level, freshmen have a unique opportunity to learn and explore a new sport, starting on equal footing with their classmates and competitors. Over the course of the year, incoming student-athletes go from never having stepped into a boat to rowing at a very competitive level and are ready to join the varsity squad in their second year. 

The Swim Test

All athletes new to Jackson-Reed Crew must take a swim test but prior swimming experience is not required.  If you do not pass the swim test at first, you can still participate in Jackson-Reed Crew - the program will arrange swim instruction.  You will wear an approved PFD at all times when you are on the water.  Once you feel your swimming abilities and/or fitness have improved enough, inform your coach and he/she will setup another swim test.

Swim test exceptions are allowed for athletes who previously passed a swim test for the 8th grade Learn-to-Row program and athletes who would rather wear an approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water. 

For the swim test, athletes should wear non-cotton athletic clothing (not a swimsuit).

● Part 1: Swim 100 yards with any stroke or combination of strokes without stopping or hanging on the ends or lane lines.  Speed and form do not matter.

● Part 2: Tread water for 5 minutes

Swim instruction resources:

● DC Parks and Recreation - Learn to Swim Programs

● National Capital Swim School


Tail of the Potomac 2022

Winter 2024/2025 Novice Practice Schedule
Novice Girls Novice Boybs
Monday 6:30 - 8:00 AM 6:30 - 8:00 AM
Tuesday 6:30 - 8:00 AM 6:30 - 8:00 AM
Wednesday 6:30 - 8:00 AM 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Thursday 4:00 - 6:00 PM 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Friday 6:30 - 8:00 AM 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Saturday 8:30 - 10:30 AM 6:30 - 8:00 AM
Sunday rest rest

Fall 2024 Novice Practice Schedule
Novice Girls Novice Boys
Monday 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Tuesday 4:30 - 6:30 PM 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Wednesday 4:30 - 6:30 PM 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Thursday 4:30 - 6:30 PM 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Friday 5:30AM - 7:30AM 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Saturday 6:00 - 8:00 AM

Zach Hicks

freshmen/Novice girls, head coach

Zach Hicks began rowing for Walter Johnson High School in 2012, becoming an essential part of the Freshman 4+‘s undefeated run that spring. He would go on to stroke a successful varsity 4+ for WJ, earning All-Met honors after bringing the program their first (and second!) Stotesbury medals, and the team’s first Scholastic National Championship medals. In the 2015 National Schools Regatta, Hicks stroked the 8+ to victory over Gonzaga. 
 
As a member of TBC Racing, Hicks won a national championship in the 8+ over the summer of 2015, and was a part of the runner-up TBC crew at Canadian Henley in the 8+ in 2016.   Before a career-ending injury at Oregon State, Hicks rowed the 2V there, most notably to a win over Stanford in the Head of the Lake regatta. 
 
Since then, he has headed the Freshman/Novice programs at Annapolis Juniors and Bethesda-Chevy Chase, with crews that have made the finals at Stotesbury and Midatlantics, and also assisted at TBC racing‘s summer program.  Last year, as head coach of Catholic University Men’s varsity team, he led the program to a ranking of #10 in the nation, highest in team history, including a program-best finish at the MARC Championship and an IRA appearance.

Charlotte Elkes

novice girls, Assistant Coach

Charlotte began her rowing career in 2015 at Walter Johnson High School. While there she medaled multiple times at Maryland State Championships, stroked the V4+, and qualified multiple times for SRAAs. Due to her conflicting work schedule, she spent her senior year of high school sculling on the Anacostia in the mornings with Washington Rowing and became the first ever athlete to represent Walter Johnson in the single scull category at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. She also rowed with TBC racing during both the summer and fall of 2017. Charlotte is joining Jackson-Reed after a successful year leading the St. John's College High School novice women to school-record-breaking finishes at regattas such as Head of the Schuylkill, WMIRA Championships, and Stotesbury Cup. Currently Charlotte is pursuing a degree in environmental science at UMD while rowing competitively with Capital Rowing Club at regattas around the country. 

Carlo Price

Novice Boys, HEAD coach

Carlo Price began rowing at Jackson-Reed in 2017 while a student at the high school.   While rowing there he won WMIRA as a novice, and placed 5th at SRAAs in the lightweight 8 category. In 2022 he joined his former team as a coach for the men’s freshman team. There he has helped coach crews to win 3 WMIRA medals in just 2 years, as well as medals at The Stotesbury Regatta and SRAAs.  While he is not coaching, he can be found studying finance at The George Washington University and trying to find the perfect cup of coffee around the DMV. 

Campbell Watts

Novice Boys, Assistant Coach

Campbell is temporarily joining our coaching squad from September 2024 to January 2025. He is an Australian rower who has represented Australia 16 times in World Cups, World Championships and at the Tokyo Olympics. He has raced in all international boat classes and enjoys sitting in 7-seat of an eight or 3-seat in a four/quad with a career-high silver medal at the 2018 World Championships. He enjoys coaching athletes with a focus on how to enjoy training and racing with your friends while also establishing a technical competency in the boat. Outside of rowing, Campbell works as a residential property developer, is completing his undergraduate degree in Property Economics, and enjoys snow skiing and triathlon-based training. He lives in DC with his partner who is working as an Australian diploma