MHS and MRA Spring Rowing Has Begun!

The 2026 spring youth rowing season at Williams Wharf is evolving to a new, more inclusive format.

Past spring rowing seasons at Williams Wharf were focused on scholastic-only competition through Mathews High School. Scholastic rowing means all team members must attend the same high school that they will represent at competitions.

With the addition of the Mobjack Rowing Association Spring Youth Club Team, rowing opportunities will open to any youth who may be homeschoolers, attending private or other public schools or who want to come from surrounding counties, a release stated.

All club competitions are open to the club format and do not restrict events to attendance from a single high school. MRA can take advantage of the expansion of club team regatta opportunities and enter both MRA and MHS athletes. In turn, this expands the field of competition and opens youth rowing to anyone who chooses to join the team.

MRA is providing rowing and competition opportunities to a seventh grade Mathews student who is too young to compete through Mathews school programs, two Gloucester High School students and a Mathews homeschool student.

According to head coach Tim Ulsaker, “over the past 40 years, I have coached a long line of successful rowers. They have developed strong work skills and good values through close teamwork and have earned over $14 million in life-changing college rowing scholarships. With this new team expansion, I have seen a greater team unity and an increase in focus towards improving serious personal and team goals. I welcome the opportunity to continue this with new rowers. We are all looking forward to an exciting new season.”

MRA welcomes any student, seventh grade or older, who would like to see if youth rowing is a fit. Email rowmobjack@gmail.com with your name, age and contact information if you would like to attend an open house at MRA’s rowing facility at Williams Wharf to see what youth rowing is about.

The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 25. Anyone who submits an email will be updated on the open house as the date approaches.