Kids pass US Rowing Swim Test

Last Saturday, 21 Newburgh Rowing Club student ambassadors, who participated in the Learn to Swim/Learn to Row Clinic, took the open water swim test at the New York Military Academy pool. 12 student ambassadors passed the US Rowing Swim Test, required by the Hudson Valley Rowing League to row on open water in crew shells this spring season. The student ambassadors and their family then attended a graduation ceremony at the NRC Boathouse, where they received graduation certificates; all student ambassadors received a swim ribbon. The graduates are: "Soup" Dajour Fisher (San Miguel Academy), Edward Galo, Taureon Owens (GAMS), Lisandro Chihuahua (San Miguel), Eduardo Rivas (San Miguel), Joel Gadson (San Miguel), Najib Portillo (San Miguel), Kelvin Vidalis (San Miguel), Adrion Fuentes (Heritage), Luis Ascension (San Miguel), Christian LoBiondo (Bishop Dunn), and the only female graduate: Niamie Slaughter (GAMS). All are between the ages of 11 and 14. The Newburgh Rowing Club crew season starts March 12, 2012 and runs until the beginning of June. The NRC is open to children ages 10 to 17 and there is an adult learn to row program, as well. Scholarships are available for children who reside in the City of Newburgh. The Learn to Row program is now in session, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Coach Ed Kennedy at 541-2313 or Team Mom Juliana LoBiondo at Juliana@LoBiondolaw.com.