Virginia Men's Rowing (VMR) may appropriately be thought of as the de facto twelfth varsity-men's sport at the University. VMR races at regattas across the United States and, on occasion, even in Europe. It recruits high school athletes as well as on-Grounds athletes. Those recruits range from young men who have won scholastic national rowing championships to those who arrive on Grounds having never seen a rowing shell.

The typical club team at UVa competes exclusively against club teams from other colleges. VMR, however, is unique in that it competes against the varsity crews from other colleges. Only if another college does not have a varsity crew does VMR compete against its club. In addition, VMR has produced Olympic and national-team athletes and intends to continue doing so.

VMR is one of the largest club teams at the University. Each year, anywhere from thirty to fifty young men train six days a week, from the first day of classes in the fall through the end of the academic year in the spring. Over the winter recess, we travel south for one week, where the athletes practice two and three times a day. We stay in Charlottesville for spring break and continue our training for the upcoming racing season, which typically begins on the weekend after spring break.

Our spring championship races include the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships, the Dad Vail Regatta, the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Championship, and the newly established USRowing Collegiate National Championship.