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Rowing Regatta By Jeff Nelson Photos by Jeff Nelson NOT MANY BODIES of water in the Midwest are so ideally suited to competitive rowing as is Lake Springfield, immediately south of Springfield. At one time the world's largest man-made lake, it is so suited because long slender fingers of water reach like tiny fiords into slips of low land. The lake's stretches are protected from all but direct northerly or southerly winds. Because of these characteristics, and because it is the geographic center of Midwest intercollegiate rowing competition, it is the site each year of an invitational rowing regatta. Recently the second annual competition was held, drawing collegiate crews from such unlikely places as Nebraska University, Kansas State University, the University of Minnesota and Purdue and Notre Dame Universities. About a baker's dozen in universities and academies were represented altogether, but what seems unusual was that nearly all the schools represented were the backbone of "farm belt" education. Hardly what a person would expect as entries in a "stuffed-shirt," "high brow" collegiate competition, steeped in the ivy league tradition of starched collars, hombergs, meticulously furled "bumber-shoots," and expensive cigars.
With the appearance of the "farm" schools, it's obvious that all this has changed. Three or four of the universities brought a half dozen boats—shells, technically—and a couple busloads of competitors. Crews stayed where they could find space— like a park pavillion, or in a grade school gym on cots provided by the Red Cross. Many of the crews bought their shells with personal funds, or solicited donations from local civic groups, or both. Nearly all paid their own way to the invitational. These were regular, healthy young men interested in athletic endeavor and competition. Now that the stuffed-shirt stigma has been washed out of intercollegiate rowing, the sport is growing. Tiny Washbum University of Topeka, Kansas, was there. So was Lane Tech of Chicago, and St. Thomas University of St. Paul, Minn., and Culver Military Academy, and others. But not all tradition has been thrown out. For instance, Robert B. Eckles was at the event and dressed in what may be considered the more traditional attire: suit and tie, wool dress coat, broad brimmed fedora, and an ample sampling of language befitting an old sea dog. Eckles is a Purdue history professor and faculty advisor to the Purdue team—"his" team. He's also Jeff Nelson is a reporter for the Illinois State Register newspaper. Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 July/August, 1972
a Harvard graduate, having rowed for Harvard, and the person for whom the trophy race was named and in whose honor there is a traveling trophy. The Springfield event got its feet off the ground only a year ago, but its history began in 1939. At that time a rowing club was formed, a boat house was built, and, surprisingly, the group held together through the years of the Second World War. But the organization splintered during the 1950's when Lake Springfield's water level dropped during an especially dry year. Two years ago a few members of the original group staged a revival with the result being the Springfield Rowing Development Association. The recent races were sponsored by that group and hosted by Springfield's Sangamon State University, despite that school's lack of an entry. Future plans call for a university rowing team and hopes of getting local high schools involved in a rowing program.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 July/August, 1972 |
