[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          RECOGNIZING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF PENN STATE CREW TEAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 30th anniversary of the Pennsylvania State University crew team.
  This past Saturday, the team celebrated 30 years of commitment to the 
sport of rowing, the Penn State community, and continued excellence in 
the classroom.
  Chartered in December 1994 by Coaches Colin Upson and Mike Dugan, the 
Penn State crew team began with 28 members and a concerning absence of 
rowing equipment.
  Due to its lack of equipment and support, the team mainly trained on 
land, completing dry-land practices with the hope of a serious program 
guiding their efforts and passion.
  The program's first full year, starting in the fall of 1995, 
consisted of fundraising efforts to purchase equipment. From selling 
concessions at home football games and cleaning Beaver Stadium, an 
eight-person used wooden boat was purchased.
  In April of 1996, the team attended their first competition in 
Indianapolis where they joined the remainder of the Big Ten rowing 
teams at their conference championship.
  Throughout the following seasons, from 1996 to 1998, the team's 
membership increased to over 100 male and female members. Most of this 
group consisted of novice rowers with little experience in a boat or on 
the water.
  Expanded membership meant increased fundraising demands to keep up 
with the equipment needs. The large team numbers enabled the program to 
move into a bigger concession stand at Beaver Stadium, selling more 
clothing and food at all seven home games that season.
  Thanks to the team's tireless fundraising efforts, their boat was 
finally paid off. By 1999, the club's annual budget was nearly $35,000, 
with $30,000 coming directly from team members' service to the 
community and fundraising efforts.
  Over the following years, the program has swept podiums at national 
competitions and continues to excel both on the water and in the 
classroom.
  In the fall of 2006, the men's four-man boat's 4th place finish at 
Head Of The Charles and women's four-man boat's 2nd place finish 
highlighted a successful season in addition to a strong recruiting 
class for both the varsity and the novice teams.
  Thirty years later, the team is still committed to its original 
mission, following in the steps of its founders, Colin Upson and Mike 
Dugan.
  Today, the complete fleet of boats now rests on trailers behind 
Beaver Stadium, near the humble beginnings of service upon which this 
program was built.
  On any given day, you can find current team members waking up at 5:15 
to complete dry-land workouts like their founders did years ago.
  Thanks to the tireless efforts of its original members, the 
Pennsylvania State University crew team successfully maintains male and 
female competitive programs for novices, lightweights, and 
heavyweights.
  The team remains committed to creating boats capable of competing at 
the highest possible levels and strives to actively promote the sport 
of rowing within the Penn State and Pennsylvania communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize such an incredible program 
filled with so many passionate students and coaches. I congratulate 
them on 30 years and wish them the best of luck in their spring season 
as they continue representing the Pennsylvania State University, Penn 
State.

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