The rallying cry could be heard throughout the weekend at Lake Wheeler Park.
“Let’s row!”
Women’s rowing teams from eighteen colleges and universities descended upon the 650-acre Raleigh lake for The Lake Wheeler Invitational. Teams cut through the waters of Lake Wheeler for more than 40 different races.
The energy was electric, with cowbells clanging and people hooting and hollering!
“Raleigh Parks is thrilled to host the Lake Wheeler Invitational and bring this national rowing event to the region,” said Parks Director, Stephen Bentley. “We are thankful for our partnership with UNC and Duke. Our hope is to make rowing more accessible to our community so everyone has the opportunity to row at Lake Wheeler.”
Thanks to a recent eight-year agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA), Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Lake Wheeler’s status as a premier rowing destination will continue to grow.
The agreement provides for upgrades to the rowing facilities. It also means the Lake Wheeler Invitational will take place every year, and the ACC Championships will take place here six times over the term of the agreement.
“The Invitational is a big event and it’s just going to continue to grow,” pointed out Lake Wheeler Park Manager, Chris Murray. “We see five thousand spectators and athletes over the course of two days. Add the new agreement and it really puts Lake Wheeler on the map for rowing.”