About CTC Newsletter Archive March_2010 - Newsletter

March_2010 - Newsletter

Chicago Training Center is busy ramping up for the upcoming spring racing season! Since our last e-newsletter there have been quite a few developments to share with you. Please enjoy getting up to date:

  • CTC had its most successful showing at the Chicago Indoor Rowing Championships (CIRC) to date.  We had over 25 competitors from over 10 Chicago schools compete at the February 27th event.  Detailed results can be found HERE.  Special congratulations to Jesus Lopez for being our first male athlete under the 7 minute threshold.
  • CIRC was followed by the Tiro Cup on March 13th - the annual event sponsored by the Chicago Training Center that focuses solely on giving newcomers to the sport an opportunity to compete against one another.     This year we had more schools competing than ever! 87 kids raced successfully over the 2k distance.  The order of finish saw a new champion - New Trier - followed by Crystal Lake RC, CTC, St. Ignatius, UNO Charter, and Illinois Math and Science Academy.  CTC would like to thank all those who participated! Full race breakdown HERE.

BREAKING NEWS!

  • CTC is proud to announce that two of our student athletes, seniors Abigail Avila and Charielle McMullan, have been awarded full ride scholarships to attend the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire for a post-graduate year, starting fall of 2010. Information on Exeter can be found HERE.     Their accomplishments are the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication to academic and athletic success. CTC is very proud of the way they set an example for future CTC graduates, paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.      We will keep everyone abreast of their accomplishments and use them as a shining example of what can be achieved by those who believe in their dreams,  set their goals, take some risks, and follow through.

UPCOMING DATES --

  • CTC will be on the water in mid-April.  As we wrap up our winter training, we will run an internet based race with our English sister club, London Youth Rowing (info HERE). This annual competition helps create ties between Chicago and London and give CTC rowers insight into the international scope of their sport. In addition, two CTC rowers, Argel Herrera and Abel Duran will travel to London for the 156th Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge.  See video of the 2009 trip HERE.

SAVE THE DATES --

  • CTC will run its much ballyhooed summer camp with ex-national team rowers in June.  If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Montana Butsch directly.  We have space for both experienced and novice rowers alike.
  • 2010 CTC Gala - This year's event will be held on November 13th.  The Gala Committee is already hard at work and official information will be sent out at a later date.

CALL TO HELP --

  • If you are interested in helping CTC make an impact on Chicago's underserved youth population as a tutor, mentor, or coach please do not hesitate to contact Montana Butsch.  We are always on the look out for spirited help and interested youth participants.  (Contact information below.)
  • Volunteer Match is also a great resource we use,  offering many opportunities for you to consider.  You can read about them by clicking HERE.

-------------------- MARCH MINI-UPDATE --------------------

I wanted to bring everyone's attention to today's Chicago Sun Times (page 52).  Due to the fantastic news of Abigail Avila's and Charielle McMullan's acceptance to Phillips Exeter Academy Mike Clark of the Suntimes wanted to run a story on CTC.  You can find the story in today's paper and by clicking HERE.     Make sure to have a look at the photos!  Great news as we head into Easter break.

CTC will now look to prepare for on-water rowing that will commence as soon as possible after Argel Herrera and Abel Duran return from London and the annual Oxford V Cambridge Boatrace.    I will continue to keep you abreast of the news as it happens. Special thanks to all the supporting organizations that make CTC possible - namely After School Matters, City of Chicago Family and Support Services, Bank of America, Xchanging, LISC, and Sidley Austin LLP.