Juniors & Mentor Team Season Info 

Season Dates

August 26, 2025 to May 21, 2026
Please see the Attendance Expectation Page for information about attendance expectations for Juniors Team Rowers during the season. 

Junior & Mentor Team Attendance Updates >>

Juniors Team Contract & Pricing

Rowers and Parents on the Juniors Team will sign a contract at the beginning of the year. This contract outlines the expectations for members of the Juniors Team so that all parents and athletes understand what coaches are looking for in the upcoming year. We will review the contract the first week of practice with the rowers. Rowers should then go home and review the contract with their parents and bring it back signed by the second week of practice.

Juniors Team Pricing for 2025/2026

The fees for the Juniors Team this year will be $2350 and can be paid in full, or in installments as follows:

• A minimum of $600 paid by October 31

• A minimum of $600 paid by February 1

• The remaining balance is due by April 30

Mentor Team

The Mentor Team schedule is the same as the Juniors Team Schedule, so see below for information regattas, events, etc. for the year. There are, however, some things that the Mentor Team needs to know, so 

Click here for more detailed information about the Mentor Team, fees, etc. >>

Fall 2025 - Regattas/Events

Regatta information will be updated soon on the Fall Regattas Page >>

• Thurs, Sept 11  - PICTURE DAY (Arrive 15 minutes early for practice wearing team gear) (Rain Date: Thurs, Sept 18)

• Thurs, Sept 25 - Boat loading for Tough Cup (at practice)

• Sat, Sept 27 - Tough Cup Regatta (Chicago, IL) ***(Tentative - select boats that are ready to race)***

• Thurs, Oct 2 - Boat loading for Wisco Chase (at practice - Beginners will be helping as well)

• Sun, Oct 5 - WISCO Chase Regatta (Jefferson, WI) (Beginner Regatta Option)

• Thurs, Oct 9 - Boat loading for Head of the Rock (at practice)

• Sun, Oct 12 - Head of the Rock Regatta (Rockford, IL)

• Thurs, Oct 16 - Team Event TBD

• Sat/Sun, Oct 25/26 - Haxton/Speakmon Regattas (Colombus, OH) ***(TENTATIVE - Will make an announcement about this after October 1)***

• Sat/Sun, Nov 1/2 - Head of the Hooch (Chatanooga, TN) INVITED ROWERS ONLY (this regatta's entires are determined based on a lottery system)

• Starting Mon, Nov 3

  • Practices move indoors. November practice schedule  and requirements start (2x per week). 

  • The practice schedule for November will be dependent on several factors and will be announced after October 1.

  • Fall 2k test dates will be determined after October 1.

• Thurs, Nov 6 (5:30-6:30p) - Fall Fun Awards (Rowing Center)
  We always end our Fall season with some Fun Awards. These are meant to be simple and fun and a way to get the team together to celebrate our Fall season. We will be inviting beginner team families to learn/cook for this and will need Mentor Team parents to come work with them.

Winter 2023/24 Regattas/Events - Tentative

• Mon, Dec 1 - Winter Season Start Date (Strength Training Program starts this week)

• Sat, Dec 13 - TENTATIVE Sweeps & Sculls Winter Party & Gift Exchange (time and location TBD)

• Mon, Dec 22 to Sun, Jan 4 - Winter break workouts.

• Mon, Jan 5 - Regular Winter Season Practice Schedule Resumes

• Sat, Jan 24 - Marathons/Half Marathons/Distance Rows

• Sat, Feb 7 - Southside Smackdown (Tentative - I'll update this date as soon as I have it)

• Early March - Chicagoland Shiver Erg Sprints (Final date TBD)

• Starting in March - Practices could be on the water for the Juniors and Mentor Team, but this is extremely weather dependent

• March 21-29 - Spring Break (NO PRACTICE)
  
  

Spring 2024 Regattas/Events - Tentative

• Mon, March 30 - Official Start to Spring Season

• Sat, Apr 18 - Illinois Collegiate Rowing Invitational Volunteering (Farmer Ciry, IL) (TENTATIVE - if we cancel attenting the regatta on Sunday, we will likely not volunteer)

  • All Mentor Rowers should plan on volunteering if at all possible. This is a valuable learning experience for our Mentor Rowers. Juniors are also encouraged to volunteer.

• Sun, April 19 - Illinois Junior Rowing Invitational (Farmer City, IL) (TENTATIVE - this is always weather dependent)

• Sat/Sun, May 2/3 - Indy Regatta (Indianapolis, IN) (TENTATIVE - this one is not in regatta central yet, but this is the weekend that it normally is)

• Other regatta dates TBD

• Sat/Sun, May 16/17 - Midwest Junior Rowing Championship (Bethel, OH) (SCHEDULED)

• Wed, May 20 - Spring Banquet (Tentative) 

  • Sophomore Class: Food, Venue, Decorations

  • Senior Class: Team Gift
    
    

Summer 2026 Regattas/Events - Tentative (this is all tenatative and will be updated as I have information, but will give you an idea of things that are happening so you can get them on the calendar)

• June 8-12 - TENTATIVE Corey Lake Camp (I will watch the date of the Grand Regatta prior to choosing final dates, but won't know that until about March)

• July 10-12 - Chicago Sprints (Scheduled)

• August 3-7- Beginner Camp