CTC Story

In 2007 the Chicago Training Center (CTC) was established with the goal of bringing the sport of competitive rowing to underserved urban youth. The after-school program provides structured opportunities for student participants to develop their athletic and academic potential and encourages personal growth across a broad range of activities.

With support from the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois, the Office of the Mayor, Representative Danny K. Davis of the 7th District, World Sport Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, and various funders CTC has been growing steadily, expanding its geographical reach and the scope of its programming.

Rowing is not a sport with an established tradition in the neighborhoods served by CTC but it brings unique benefits to its athletes since it requires the highest levels of commitment, discipline, teamwork and the ability and desire to set and exceed performance goals. Crew challenges students to improve their overall strength and fitness while developing and refining their technique to produce measurable results on and off the water. Students are swift to respond to the combination of individual performance and teamwork that the sport requires, motivating each other in practice and competition and developing leadership skills. The demands of the sport are such that we run practices 6 days per week, including weekends, and therefore provide a clearly defined extra-curricular structure for students that might otherwise lack such opportunities.

CTC athletes compete in a schedule of year-round regattas and indoor rowing competitions in the greater Chicago area (examples include - Chicago Indoor Rowing Championships, Chicago Sprints, and Head of the Rock) as well as travelling outside the region to races in Ohio and Pittsburgh. We also host our own competition every March, the Tiro Cup, an indoor rowing competition for novices. Our increasing success in these events is a testament to our students’ commitment, builds self-esteem, and draws recruits into the program.