GETTING STARTED

The Farmington Crew program began in the spring of 2002 with nearly 40 athletes, two coaches, and two shells.  In 2003, the program really started to take off under the leadership of Megan Batcho and Michael McVay. The program boasted 56 participants, and for the first time proved itself with some hardware: a bronze medal won by the boys second novice at the Connecticut Public Schools Rowing Association (CPSRA) Championship Regatta. Racing against established programs, Farmington Crew had a lot to prove and not many resources with which to prove it. Melissa Pessoa, a member of the inaugural girls boat, describes those first few seasons:

“We went to races in our own transportation. Switching shoes or getting a smaller size was not an option. Both boys and girls shared the same shell and split up water time evenly. Our uniforms were simple white t-shirts with black spandex. We didn’t stand out from a crowd, but I didn’t realize how much we didn’t have until we went to the first Riverfront Regatta.”

After the fall of 2003, Dr. Laura Butterfield, a science teacher at Farmington High School, stepped into the helm of the program. For 22 years, Coach Butterfield's leadership has been essential to creating a sustainable, but more importantly, dedicated team of rowers year after year.

IT TAKES COMMUNITY

The Farmington Crew program would have never flourished without the countless hours and unbelievable efforts put in by parents. These parents joined forces to form the Friends of Farmington Crew. Besides cheering their children on at every race, whether in summer sun or bitter winds, the booster club took Farmington Crew from a one-shell, one-shoe size program to a team with  more than a dozen shells, 100+ athletes, six coaches and a boathouse on the Farmington River. Through many varied fundraising ventures, the Farmington community has ensured that its rowers have the resources needed to perform at their highest ability.

BUILDING YEAR UPON YEAR

While each year has seen an increase in both the strength of the program and its rowers, a few years in particular stand out in the team’s collective memory. 

In Fall 2004, Farmington Crew welcomed an unprecedented 101 rowers and a seasoned coaching staff for the first time. Fall 2006 proved a noteworthy season when Rodney Meissner was brought on as coach for the girl’s team, and assumed the new girls head coach position in the Spring of 2007. This season proved to be an especially record-breaking season. Farmington placed fourth in the CPSRA Championship Regatta, with the 1st boys boat bringing home their first medal. This earned them a place in the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) Championship Regatta 

The 2007-2008 season got off to another exciting start with a particularly noteworthy first for the program: the 1st boys boat was invited to participate at the Head of the Charles, the world’s largest two-day rowing event. While the team went home without a medal, the event was heavily symbolic for a team that had started, just six years ago, with one shell and zero experience.

In the spring of 2008, the team earned five medals and placed third overall in the CSPRA Championship Regatta. They also had a boat make it to Petit finals at the NEIRA Championships. One of the highlights of the Spring 2008 season was the first Hayley Petit Cup regatta between Miss Porters Crew and the Farmington High Girls Crew teams. This will be an annual event that will raise funds for the Hayley Petit Scholarship fund.

PRESENT AND FUTURE

In 2026, for the first time in program history, every Farmington Boat medalled at the CPSRA Championship Regatta. The girls 1V earned a State Championship title for the first time since 2013. The program continues to grow, and is looking to overturn its aging fleet that has carried generations of rowers to this point. The current team is reaching new heights and incredible accomplishments thanks to the dedication of the athletes, coaches, and crew families that came before them. The team looks forward to a successful 2026-2027 season and beyond.

GO FARMINGTON!