One of the main goals of the Spartan Alumni Rowing Association is to fund capital campaigns for new equipment to be used by Case Crew. The money raised by students goes into their sports club account and any equipment purchased with those funds is owned by the university. Any equipment bought with S.A.R.A. funds is owned by S.A.R.A. It sounds confusing but it really isn't since this arrangement gives the team and coaches much more flexibility. At the moment, SARA owns two shells and their details are below. For a list of shells own by the university you can CLICK HERE.

unamed:

2008 Pocock Hypercarbon Midweight 4+ - carbon laminate, bow coxed

The first shell purchased as part of the Alumni Victorious Campaign. The boat was delivered in April 2008 by Pocock and is yet unamed.

positive α:

2007 Pocock K2 Standard Line Midweight Pair/Double

"The alpha" was purchased with a lead gift from Doug and Erynn Rathburn and delivered to the boathouse in August 2007 by Pocock. The name, positive α, in financial circles means "a measure of a portfolio's return in excess of the market return". As a metaphor for rowing, it implies that Case rowers will outperform their competition. Doug & Erynn also donated two sets of 2002 Ultralight Smoothie Vortex Edge Concept 2 sculling blades for use with the shell. Images from the shell dedication.

Eights:

Red Stripe: 2001 Vespoli DM 8+
Agnar Pytte: 1986 Kaschper midweight 8+ - fiberglass and wood, stern coxed

Fours:

Hot Sauce: 2002 Vespoli Ultralite DM 4+ - carbon double skin laminate, stern coxed
Leonard Case Jr.: 1984 Schoenbrod heavyweight 4+ - fiberglass and wood, stern coxed

This "ideal" fleet for the team would allow the coaches and rowers the flexibility to train when needed and be competitive in the races they enter. The team currently only has 1 eight, 1 four and 1 pair that are considered "competitive quality".

Desired Fleet:
2 Eights
2-3 Fours
2 Pair/Doubles
1 Single
1 Trailer to take equipment to races - the team currently has to borrow a trailer or pay to get to races
Oars for each boat
Rowing Electronics and Timing Devices for each

Rowing shells remain stiff and competitive for roughly 5 years, and the ages of the current fleet are listed below. Newer shells are used by the faster, more experienced crews while the older shells are generally used for training novices and in emergencies. Below is a list of currently used by the team and sample costs for various pieces of equipment on the wish list:

There is only one boat in the above list that is within the typical useful, competitive life for a racing shell. Most of the racing the team does is in four-person boats. The newest shell is five years old and the second boat that's still used everyday is 12 years old. The boats not in bold are kept servicable but only used in a pinch due to their age.

Please contact SARA if you'd like to help donate a piece of equipment to the team. We raise funds throughout the year that allow you to easily donate all or a portion of a new piece of equipment.

SWEET J:

1995 Vespoli Performer D hull 4+ - carbon glass laminate, stern coxed

The team named the boat to honor the man who has shaped CWRU Crew into what it is today.... thanks Tim.

Members of the CWRU Crew & Alumni worked hundreds of hours fundraising in order to donate the boat - mostly selling concessions at Cleveland Browns games and concerts at the old Municipal Stadium. It was delivered by Dave Trond of Vespoli USA to the 1995 National Collegiate Rowing Championships in Cincinnati. The shell was originally ordered with a light grey hull and navy blue decks, but Vespoli messed up the order and painted the hull white. The first four people to row the shell also donated a set of four 1995 Ultralight Concept 2 Big Blades. Stroke: Tuck Pescosolido, Three: Craig Agricola, Two: Doug Rathburn, Bow: Scott Atkinson.

The boat was sold to First Boat in April 2008 to offset the purchase of the new Hypercarbon Pocock 4+