“Rowing has taught me discipline, resilience and teamwork, and I’m excited for the opportunity to keep pushing myself at the next level.”
~ Methuen’s Hudson McCaffery, who earned a scholarship to row at a D1 college
On a recent rainy afternoon, Methuen youth took time from their rowing practice on the Merrimack River to share their love of the sport of rowing as part of the Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program (GLCBP).
Rowing is a rapidly growing low-impact team sport that builds exceptional fitness, discipline and lifelong friendships for youth. Participation in this sport offers a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, strength, and builds confidence and self-esteem, while demanding high accountability because every team member is essential to move the shell. The location of Greater Lawrence Rowing on the Merrimack River – specifically at the Abe Beshara Boathouse in Lawrence – offers a tight-knit group of athletes an opportunity to compete locally, regionally and nationally in competitive regattas.
High school sweethearts and New York natives Sarah and Simon McCaffery have called Methuen home since purchasing their first house here in 2005. Simon, a guidance counselor at Methuen High School and assistant girls cross-country coach there, and Sarah, a science teacher at the Tenney Grammar School, are huge supporters of the local rowing program, open to all youth in the surrounding area. They share that their weekends and most weeknights during the season are spent there or on the road at competitive regattas, supporting their children and local youth, who have become like family.
The McCafferys are the proud parents of three athletes (Hudson, age 18; Oliver, age 16; and Julia, age 13) who have found a second home at Greater Lawrence Rowing, where they each have excelled in the sport. Sarah and Simon were both active rowers on the State University of New York at Geneseo team.
They were thrilled when, during the Covid pandemic, Hudson was open to trying something new.
“Rowing is very good at developing you as a person,” he said. “It helped me grow. We have a very healthy team and it’s very relaxed. For people who stay in this team environment, it’s a great way to push yourself.
“I’ve been rowing for six years. This program afforded me to receive a generous scholarship to row at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where I will be studying business economics, with a minor in music,” he said.
Outside of crew, Hudson is in a two-person death metal band, Torment Ritual.
“It’s tough balancing rowing with my music, and I hope to ultimately take my degree and use it in the music industry,” he said.
The team continues to grow bigger, stronger and faster each year, drawing student-athletes from across the Merrimack Valley who are eager to challenge themselves both on and off the water. This season marked another major milestone for the program, with a record number of Greater Lawrence rowers recruited to compete at the collegiate level. The team celebrated those accomplishments last month during a college-athlete signing event at the boathouse where athletes, families, coaches and supporters gathered to recognize the hard work and dedication that led to the next step in their rowing careers. Hudson was among those honored. He will continue his rowing career at the Division I level.
“Being recruited as a D1 rower means that all of the early mornings, tough practices and sacrifices were worth it,” Hudson said. “Rowing has taught me discipline, resilience and teamwork, and I’m excited for the opportunity to keep pushing myself at the next level.”
The program also celebrated success on the water this spring, as the Boys U16 boat qualified for the US Rowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Fla., last month. Competing at nationals is a significant achievement and reflects the continued growth and rising competitiveness of Greater Lawrence Rowing on the regional and national stage.
Oliver shared: “I started rowing two to three years ago. Before rowing, I was really reserved. I was not outgoing and I didn’t have confidence in my abilities. I developed confidence in myself, my body and my friendships through this program. It’s the best way to gain friends. Through rowing, I made my closest friends in the boat.”
Looking ahead, Oliver hopes to row competitively in college, with a goal of also attending a college with Division I rowing opportunities, like brother Hudson.
Methuen native Julia Carter is an assistant coach for the program: “I’ve been rowing on the Merrimack (River) for over 10 years. I started with Methuen Crew years ago, which was a sister club to Essex Rowing (no longer a local club). The community is the best part of this sport. It’s unlike any other team sport. In a boat, you are so much bigger than yourself.
Athletes have to be on the same page with the other crew members. You must be able to trust each other. We are in this together. Your teammates rely on you physically. In a boat, if a person doesn’t give it their all, everyone is affected by it. The Boathouse program is a hidden gem.”
Carter works under the direction of Rowing Director and head varsity coach Mike Kapp and alongside head novice coach Thomas Kapp.
“Mike and Tommy rebuilt this program over the past five to six years. There have been a lot of positive changes through their time here. This is my first year coaching here, and it’s very rewarding. We have a high team standard, and we’ve all been working on this. I appreciate being a part of the growth of this important program,” she said.
The GLCBP has served the region for 31 years, said Executive Director Jed Koehler.
“We started out as a summer sailing, boating, canoeing and kayaking program. Over the years it has grown. The boathouse is an important part of the community because it’s here for the children of the Merrimack Valley. Over the year, we have about 3,700 to 4,000 members who utilize the boathouse. In the summer, we average 510 children a day, Monday through Friday,” said Koehler, who is the organization’s fourth executive director.
These kids took a shot
& now they’re hooked on rowing!
MethuenLife chatted with these Methuen teens, who agree that joining Greater Lawrence Rowing has been an incredibly positive and rewarding experience.
*Danika Dean, age 15, home-schooled: “I’ve been coming since fall of 2024. I did the summer program and participated in sailing. I won a rowing contest and joined after that. The social aspect of rowing is the best. I love the people here. Everyone gets along well, and it’s the best community that I’ve been a part of in any sport I’ve joined. Rowing is not hard to pick up.There aren’t a ton of rules. The more you specialize, the faster you become. There’s not offense and defense, like in other sports.”
*Haley Musumarra, age 17, student at Central Catholic High School: “I started rowing when I was in eighth grade. I started because I used to do swim team for a long team – since age 5 – and I wanted to try something new. I tried out the middle school session, then summer session, and came back for team aspect. The people here are great. We all get along. I’m friends with everyone here. I like all the people. I like the sport, but having people that I like here is the best part. It’s fun to come to practice.”
*Aaliyah Veloz, age 18, Central Catholic High School Class of 2026: “I’ve been involved here for six years. During Covid, I was taking a break from basketball. The only thing open activity-wise were outdoor activities,” says Aaliyah, a rowing captain who starts at Dartmouth College in September. “This was something new to look forward to. … I love the team culture. I advocate for myself and the younger people. … I love the tradition of the sport. I push myself every day.”
Novice Girls, racing at the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga Springs, NY. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH MCCAFFERY
The Lawrence Regatta hosted 5 teams from across the region for a day full of racing.
This season, a record number of Greater Lawrence rowers was recruited to compete at the collegiate level. Shown on Senior Signing Day are (from left) are Coach Thomas Kapp, Hudson McCaffery, Joella Roberts, Ellie Mamakos, Hazel Faulkner, Colin MacLean and Coach Mike Kapp.
Senior Hudson McCaffery is rowing his way to a fifth-place finish at US Rowing Northeast Regionals.
