The Tulsa Youth Rowing Association Seek Funds Through Row-A-Thon

The Tulsa Youth Rowing Association (TYRA) will hold its annual Row-A-Thon Saturday, January 17, at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. The event will be held from 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

TYRA is a rowing program created for students ages 14-18, and is made up of athletes from various places in and surrounding Tulsa. While last year's Row-A-Thon brought in $18,000, TYRA hopes to bring in $25,000 this year. The money raised will help the program continue. It will go towards purchasing rowing shells, oars, rowing machines, and equipment storage.

"This fundraiser is of critical importance for us to continue to serve the community and provide competitive rowing instruction for middle school and high school student-athletes. While the river conditions continue to be less than ideal, we need funds to allow us to store equipment and continue to provide a first rate teaching environment," said TYRA head coach Neil Bergenroth.

The Row-A-Thon will feature different rowing teams from schools around the Tulsa area. The teams will compete to see who can record the most meters before the event comes to an end. Each team will use indoor rowing machines to complete their distance quotas. The minimum distance per rower is 30 km.

TYRA has a boathouse near 21st and Riverside, but due to low water levels the teams are forced to row at the University of Tulsa's boathouse in Catoosa and other various facilities.

Rowing continues to grow locally, but many people are unaware of programs like TYRA.