History of Rowing in Cleveland

1855: Rowing Comes to the Cuyahoga

Rowing holds a unique place in American sports history—it was the first intercollegiate sport in the United States. In 1852, Harvard and Yale competed in the nation’s first intercollegiate athletic contest on the water. Just three years later, the sport made its way to Cleveland.

In 1855, rowing appeared on the Cuyahoga River with the Ivanhoe Boat Club, led by Captain George W. Gardner, using shells built right here in Cleveland. Soon after, the Ydrad Boat Club also took to the river. One of its members was Mark Hanna, a student at Western Reserve College who would later become a prominent Cleveland industrialist and political figure. At the time, clubs were often named after the boats they rowed, so the shells themselves bore the names Ivanhoe and Ydrad.

Local interest grew quickly. In a July 5, 1855 article, The Plain Dealer challenged Cleveland crews to compete the following year, promising a silver cup worth $100 to the victorious club at a proposed “Regatta on the Lake.”

Despite this early enthusiasm, rowing’s first era in Cleveland was short-lived. Increased commercial traffic on the river and the demands of the Civil War eventually crowded fragile racing shells off the Cuyahoga.

1929–1933: A Short Revival

Organized rowing did not return to Cleveland for nearly 80 years. From 1929 to 1933, the Cleveland Rowing Club operated out of boathouses near East 9th Street and later Edgewater Park. The club hosted a Lake Erie regatta in 1930 that attracted teams from across the Midwest. Unfortunately, the Great Depression made it financially impossible for the club to continue.

1985–1989: The Modern Era Begins

Modern rowing on the Cuyahoga began in 1985 when five men—Bill Braun, Mike Summers, Ed Ford, and Al Weatherhead among them—began sculling on the river. Drawing on rowing experience from East Coast colleges, they rented storage space for their shells and called themselves the Cuyahoga Rowing Association.

Soon after, Charles Mosley entered the scene. A gifted promoter, Mosley believed rowing could thrive as a spectator-friendly, recreational sport. He founded the for-profit Flats Racing League in 1988, purchasing used shells and organizing practices and races near today’s Nautica area. At its peak, the league involved more than 750 participants.

Mosley also helped launch scholastic rowing in Cleveland through the non-profit Cleveland Rowing Federation, bringing Beaumont, St. Ignatius, and Benedictine High Schools onto the water.

As interest grew, competitive rowers sought opportunities beyond Cleveland. In response, five athletes—Frank Tolar, Bill Pavlicek, Mitch Haar, David Leong, and Tim Marcovy—founded the Western Reserve Rowing Association (WRRA) as a non-profit organization. WRRA rented space from the Cuyahoga Rowing Association in a two-story wooden boathouse, sharing the facility with high school programs from Beaumont and St. Ignatius.

In 1989, WRRA hosted the first Cleveland Sprints Regatta, held inside the Lake Erie breakwall near today’s Wendy Park and Whiskey Island.

1990–2000: Growth and Organization

By 1990, Cleveland rowing consisted of three primary groups: the Cuyahoga Rowing Association, WRRA (focused on competitive rowing), and the Flats Racing League for recreational athletes. That same decade saw the birth of several enduring institutions.

In 1991, students at Case Western Reserve University launched Cleveland’s first collegiate rowing program, renting shells and space from WRRA. John Carroll University followed soon after, fielding its first competitive crews by 1993.

In 1992, rowing gained official recognition as a City of Cleveland sport. WRRA partnered with the City’s Division of Recreation to operate the Cleveland-WRRA Summer Youth Rowing Program, introducing rowing to diverse high school students. Though funding challenges ended the program in 1994, it laid the groundwork for future youth initiatives.

In 1993, Mosley ended the Flats Racing League. To meet the demand for recreational rowing, Dr. David Propp, John Fowler, and Kevin Duden formed what is now the Summer Rowing League, one of the largest learn-to-row programs in the country.

A major strategic reorganization followed in 1994, resulting in the creation of the Western Reserve Rowing Foundation (WRRF), a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to competitive, recreational, and youth rowing. WRRA became a member club under the Foundation.

The Cleveland Sprints Regatta evolved into the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta in 1996, moving from Lake Erie to the river and transforming into a long-distance head race. What began with 250 rowers has grown into one of the region’s premier rowing events.

2000–2010: Building a Permanent Home

The early 2000s brought rapid expansion. Cleveland State University revived its rowing program in 2000, while St. Ignatius High School earned multiple Midwest Scholastic Rowing Association championships.

After a close call with a neighboring fire in 2002, the rowing community began planning a more permanent and secure facility. In 2003, WRRF became the Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF), updating its governance structure and mission. By 2004, CRF opened a renovated boathouse on Carter Road featuring modern amenities—a milestone in Cleveland rowing history.

In 2009, CRF took a bold step toward permanence by pursuing the purchase of the former Commodore Club Marina. With support from The Trust for Public Land, the Cleveland Foundation, the Gund Foundation, and Case Western Reserve alumni donors, CRF completed the acquisition in 2010. The new home became Rivergate Park, ensuring rowing’s future on the Cuyahoga River.

2010–Present: A Thriving Rowing Community

CRF officially opened Rivergate Park in 2011 and quickly became a regional and national host for major events. Highlights include hosting the USRowing Masters National Head Race Championships in 2012, the Gay Games Rowing Regatta in 2014, the rowing section of the 2024 Pan Am Masters Games and annual traditions such as the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta and Cleveland Indoor Sprints (Hammer Ergatta).

Facility expansion continued with the addition of a second boathouse in 2015, followed by the opening of additional rowing facilities upriver. Together, these investments have supported explosive growth in scholastic, collegiate, masters, recreational, adaptive, and veterans rowing programs.

As of 2026, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation is home to clubs and schools representing St. Ignatius High School, St. Joseph Academy, John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, and the Western Reserve Rowing Association. CRF also hosts the Flats Platform Tennis Center, further enhancing recreational access along the river.

Rowing continues to thrive in Cleveland. With deep historical roots and a strong community vision, CRF remains committed to expanding access to rowing for youth, veterans, adaptive athletes, and the broader community—ensuring the Cuyahoga River remains a place of health, competition, and connection for generations to come.