About Us
Sweeps & Sculls was born from a passion for rowing and a desire to share that passion with others. Giving boys and girls in 6th through 12th grade in Wauconda and surrounding areas a positive environment and experience through the sport of rowing is one of the underlying tenets of Sweeps & Sculls Rowing. Using the ultimate team culture of rowing helps to teach values such as teamwork, physical fitness, responsibility, goal setting, accountability and other skills in a positive environment.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide people of all abilities an opportunity for physical activity through the sport of rowing.
Our Mission
Sweeps & Sculls Rowing strives to develop personal character, an ethic of cooperation, and physical fitness within the ultimate team culture of rowing. Sweeps & Sculls is a community program open to people of all abilities without regard to background or experience.
Core Values
Positive
- Inclusive
Goals
To inspire passion for the sport of rowing in the people that we touch.
To provide a positive environment for junior high and high school aged children.
To make each person the best rower that they can be.
- To educate people about the sport of rowing and provide a lifelong opportunity for participation in the sport.
Meet our Coaches
Sue Koscielski
Coach Sue started her rowing journey as an adult and quickly found a passion for the sport and a desire to continue to improve. From very early on, she sought opportunities including attending camps and competing at various regattas including Masters Nationals. Coaching soon became a natural extension of rowing as a way to share her experiences with others, and rooted in the belief that rowing can have a positive impact on people of all ages and abilities. Along the way, she has also sought out opportunites to improve as a coach and is currently a US Rowing Level 3 Coach, the highest certification offered.
In 2017, Coach Sue and her rowing partner, Mark Noel, realized not only a need for positive and inclusive youth sports in their community, but also a need for a sport like rowing that could reach youth and adults in a unique way. Coach Sue’s experience mentoring young people in various capacities, including coaching swimming, leading girl scout troops, and fostering children, combined with Mark’s experience as an assistant rowing coach lead them to create Sweeps & Sculls Rowing, a club with a strong culture that emphasizes a positive environment, inclusiveness, and safety.
Coach Sue is currently the Director and Head Coach at Sweeps & Sculls. In the first few years, she successfully navigated the club through expected hurdles such as initial growth, equipment acquisition, and facilities challenges, but also unexpected hurdles such as Mark’s untimely passing and the COVID-19 pandemic. It has not always been an easy road, but she is looking forward to continuing to build on the foundation that is in place, offering anyone that is interested the opportunity to build physical and mental skills through the sport of rowing, including herself.
