Hope Feldman

All they need is willingness and dedication," says Riverview's new crew team coach, Hope Feldman.

On the last day of school in June, Feldman attended seventh through 12th grade physical education classes at Riverview in hopes of starting a team.Her one-day blitz yielded 14 new rowers, 10 girls and 4 boys.

"One of the great things about crew is that it is one of the few sports that has both a boys and girls dimension," she says.
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It's 60 percent legs, 20 percent back and 20 percent arms," Feldman says.

Of the four types of boats, only the eight-man is large enough to hold a rowing coach called a coxswain.This person keeps the rowers in sync and guides the boat along its course.

In fact, Feldman says the coxswain is often the only person in the boat whose eyes are open.She says when students row with their eyes closed they are forced to row together and learn to feel the motion of the boat instead of relying on what they see.
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Another unusual aspect of rowing -- one that Feldman is always sure to remind parents of -- is the possibility of scholarships.Especially for the girls.
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Feldman say the reason the equipment is so expensive is because it's all handmade.
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With a coach as experienced and enthusiastic as Feldman, Riverview crew is sure to head off in the right direction.The petite coach began her rowing career in 1976 at Purdue University.After earning her degree, she began coaching others in the sport she so loves.

In 1986 she founded the first high school rowing team in the area at North Allegheny High School in Wexford.She also began crew teams at Fox Chapel High School, which now has 90 members, and at Taylor Alderdice, which boasts 50 members.And she's confident that Riverview will be the next high school to get bitten by the crew bug.