News

Kent School Athletics is excited to introduce Christine Wilson as the new rowing coach.

Coach Wilson brings to Kent a remarkable wealth of experience, previously serving as Head Coach of Women’s Rowing at Yale University, Assistant Women’s Coach of the U.S. Olympic Team, Head Coach of Women’s Rowing at Cornell University, Chief Coach at Oxford University Women’s Boat Club, and Senior Assistant Women’s Coach at Rowing Canada Aviron. Coach Wilson was a two-time captain of Yale Women’s Crew and named a “Pioneer in Rowing” by Power Ten of New York.

“Kent is a recognized leader in rowing, and I am excited for Coach Wilson to develop our program even further,” says Athletic Director Cortney Duncan. “Our students will benefit from her expertise on the water, her thoughtful approach to coaching, and her genuine love of the sport.”

Wilson’s coaching emphasizes the fundamentals, dedication, and rowing’s distinct blend of individual performance and reliance on teammates. “There are many ways to make boats move,” she says, “but what helps them go really fast is a rare combination of concentration, boat sense, training, technical preparation, and trust. Rowing is a sport that gives back what an individual invests. No one succeeds in rowing without committing to training and having fun with the sweat equity required.”

At Kent, Coach Wilson hopes to continue to help more people discover and embrace the sport. “In many parts of the world, rowing is considered an elitist sport,” she says. “In St. Catharines, my working-class hometown in southern Ontario, rowing is a community sport accessible to everyone. I believe in the work that has begun in the United States to break down the entry barriers to broader participation in our sport, and I hope Kent School will play a role in this effort.”

Facilities

• Sill Boathouse: On-campus location, on the banks of the Housatonic River.  Boathouse contains a fleet of five eights, four bow-coxed fours, four pair doubles and two singles available for use by the girl’s team 
• Partridge Rowing Center: On-campus location adjacent to the boathouse, containing sweep/sculling tank, weights/workout room, 30 ergometers, club/meeting room, audio/visual capabilities, and girl’s/boy’s locker rooms

Racing

• Highly competitive schedule: Race against private & public schools and club teams
• Pre-season training & racing: Spring trip, fall Head of the Charles Regatta boat & club crew
• Post-season: Compete at Youth Nationals and, as warranted, the Henley Women’s Regatta 
• Summer opportunities: Since 2009 KSBC rowers have been selected each summer for the Jr. National Program

Record

• NEIRA Champions, 1st boat— 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2016
• NEIRA Champions, 2nd boat— 1985, 1986, 1987, 2002, 2005, 2015
• NEIRA Champions, 3rd boat— 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015
• NEIRA Team Champions—2005, 2015
• National Champions— 1986, 1987, 2016

Alumnae

• College programs: KSBC alumnae go on to row at top Division I and Division III colleges
• National & international competition: KSBC alumnae have raced in the Oxford-Cambridge race, Henley Royal Regatta, Women’s Henley Regatta, Junior & Senior World Championships, and Olympic Games

Contact Coach Christine Wilson.