This fall marks the beginning of the 74th year of Purdue Crew rowing on the Wabash, and there's so, so much to be thankful for and celebrate about the team and its many accomplishments- far more than can be listed here. This fall we're notably excited to welcome the 140 top student-athletes that will be competing for the old black and gold this year, unveil Purdue Crew's 2nd Mentor Crew, look forward to the upcoming annual Purdue Rowing Association's fall alumni reunion, and are absolutely enjoying every minute of training at the revamped Old Fort Ouiatenon Boathouse and Dock that the varsity are rowing singles/pairs/doubles out of this fall (details in next month's update) to combat the exceedingly LOW Wabash river levels. In short, there are newer boats, nicer and more training equipment, and more/nicer places to train out of for our Purdue Crew student-athletes than ever before, and we're increasingly seeing the dividends in the experience and development of the athletes coming through the boathouse each day/season/year.... from Purdue Crew winning its first team points trophy at the ACRA National Championships in '22, to Purdue Crew alumna Emily Froehlich winning a silver medal for the USA in the women's 8+ at the World Championships earlier today (congrats Emily!! more info below in this newsletter), to current juniors Matt Skubus and James Murrer earning spots to train and compete with Craftsbury's Green Racing Project this summer in pursuit of their own long-term national team dreams. Purdue Crew is a transformational competitive experience that challenges college students to become even better, more actualized versions of themselves, and much of the foundation these experiences are built upon are thanks to many of you. Thank you. For giving back, and for making the next generation have what for many of you might have once been only a dream.

But if there was one limiting factor in this equation for both individual and team development and success that we'd love to solve, it isn't Purdue Crew being a 'club' sport- that's part of our DNA and soul, and adds to the student experience and personal development, no, the limiting factor for the team is actually the increasingly low water levels on the Wabash river during many summers and falls. While low water levels have been a reoccurring theme throughout our 74 years, the water levels continue to drop to ever lower lows, and the lengths to which we've had to adapt continue to grow. Right now each squad is training on a different section of the river, at different locations, at different times, often wading into the river to launch, and rowing single file, just to enjoy 900 meters or less of rowable water safely. It's inconvenient, but... the counterpoint is that sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and that's ok. Hardships can sometimes create more resilient people and student-athletes, and it hasn't been an insurmountable problem so far, as we generally see the water rise late fall as the rains come back and rarely have to deal with low water in the spring.

But I wanted to make our alumni and friends aware that this low water level might be further threatened in the near future with a proposal underway in Indiana to build a water pipeline to drain up to 100 million gallons of water a day from the Wabash River/Teays Aquifer in Lafayette, Indiana and transfer it to Lebanon, Indiana in support of the LEAP Innovation Business District. 

Lebanon (and even Indianapolis) are running low on water resources, and while the Lafayette area has plentiful water, pulling to the levels suggested could significantly impact the usability of the Wabash River to Purdue Crew and other water enthusiasts in unanticipated ways, and as of right now, the LEAP project and Indiana legislature haven't yet proposed any solutions to mitigate any of this impact. 

One possible solution that might be included in the costs of the multibillion dollar LEAP project (if it garners enough public support) could be an inflatable dam, which can recharge the ground aquifer and offset the impact of low water on the river, while maintaining the US Corps of Engineer's requirement to keep the Wabash River a navigable waterway.

Stay tuned! More updates to come on this project, and ways in which our alumni and friends might be useful in encouraging our public and private partnerships to do the right thing for all stakeholders involved.

This marks the second year of our Purdue Crew Alumni Mentorship Program. This program connects current Purdue Crew student-athletes with accomplished alumni/friends of the program to mentor them using their personal and professional wisdom and experience through this transformative time in their lives. From the feedback of last year's mentors and mentees the program was a resounding success, and we plan on continuing this new tradition going forward.

I'd like to thank last year's mentors very much for their help in designing our program and mentoring our student-athletes including Amy Koziura '01, Kyle Foote '12, Nicole Merhill '98, Dr. Olaocha Nwabara '07, and Dr. Sarah Kessans '05.

I'd also like to thank last year's mentors that will be returning as mentors this year including Angelo Marasco '08, Brian Failing '07, Eric Fahsl '07, Jessica Shafer '02, and Lucas Malm '06.

And a hearty welcome to our new mentors this year including John Shew '04, Dr. Kraig Wray '02, Jack Gihl '21, Patrick Close '08, and Ted Light '03. 

Thank you all very, very much. Purdue Crew is a special organization with lifelong bond that transcends eras and generations. You're doing your part to ensure this current generations has the tools to be successful on and off the water for ears to come. Thank you!

This September's Alumni Chat is an exciting one. Purdue Crew alumna Emily Froehlich (Fishers, IN)  learned to row at and competed for Purdue her freshman and sophomore years, before being recruited to row for the University of Texas (BS Kinesiology '18). Emily has continued her rowing career after graduation by recently qualifying to represent the USA in the women's 8+ for her first World Championships! Listen to Emily and Coach Walker talk through her journey from Fishers to Purdue to Texas and the exciting journeys she's been on since. And this Sunday, September 10th Emily won a silver medal sitting bow of the USA women's national team 8+ at the World Championships! Congrats Emily!!! Watch her AMAZING race here (6th to 2nd!!)

This month's crew chat is with senior and Purdue Crew Team President Kara Benbow (Food Science '24). Kara was a member of Purdue Crew's first Varsity Women's 8+ to win the San Diego Crew Classic- learn more about that race and the rest of Kara's journey at Purdue in her conversations with Coach Walker here!

Chicago Community Sculling is a nonprofit sculling group that focuses on underserved kids in Chicago. I was asked by one of its organizers and a Purdue Crew Alumna (and multiple Head of the Charles winner!) to check our network for anyone in the Chicago area that might be interested in mentoring, volunteering, and/or serving as a board member. It's a great group doing great things, so please email Fran if you'd like to help out, or be put on their monthly email update to learn more.

The sad day has finally come to pass... our 'ole reliable 1988 Chevy Cheyenne 2500 truck finally gave up the ghost. The truck faithfully served the team for decades, and many of you undoubtedly have fond memories of it ferrying trailers around Purdue and helping with feast cleanup. Coach Mitchell is understandable devastated and asks you to respect his mourning period and welcomes pink carnations and well wishes.

While we hate to look to the future in such a sad time, we find ourselves in sudden need of a reliable truck to ferry trailers around town in and welcome any assistance our friends/alumni with dealership connections or other options might be able to provide. While Coach Mitchell would love a shiny new Ford Raptor to tool around campus in, any reliable truck able to tow ~7k lbs or more would be much appreciated and help the team fulfill its local transportation needs.