James River Rowers is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization devoted to providing financial support for the James River High School Crew Team.

All contributions are tax deductible.

Although crew is a varsity sport involving approximately 90 male and female athletes, it receives no funding from the county or public schools.  James River is the only public high school in the Richmond metro area to offer crew as a sport, and many of our athletes continue with it in college. The costs to acquire "gently used" equipment and maintain racing shells, oars, and safety equipment make our athletes deeply grateful to the sponsors who enable them to continue.

James River Rowers relies completely on the volunteer support of parents and coach Mike Johnson. Our regattas, fundraising efforts, registration, equipment maintenance, web support and more could not get done without the participation of parents. Please answer the call to action when volunteers are needed. Your support is crucial.

We appreciate any contributions or sponsorships, and especially your volunteer support!

Please email us with your questions or enquiries:

Head Coach: Chuck Alexander
Chuck Alexander brings 30 years of rowing experience to James River Crew.  Chuck’s rowing career  started on the James River as an oarsman at the University of Richmond.  He was a competitor at the national and international level for Vesper Boat Club as a part of their Olympic and National Team Development programs in both sweep and sculling events.  Chuck participated in the World Championship trials 1999 - 2001 in the lightweight men’s single.  He coached Learn to Row programs at Vesper for adults and high school students.  Chuck was the captain at Vesper Boat Club and a member of the board of directors, as well as the managing director at the Masters Rowing Association and remains a current competitive member of the Virginia Boat Club.  Chuck and his family of 5 returned to the Richmond area in 2015 and he joined the James River Crew coaching staff in 2016.  His eldest daughter (Class of 2019) rowed with James River Crew. 

Assistant Coaches
Steve Bosshard
Steve Bosshard has been rowing for eight years and has competed in both sculling and sweep rowing events in several Masters National Championship regattas and the Masters World Championship regatta where he won a gold medal in his age group in the Men's Double Sculls. He is currently president of Virginia Boat Club, the adult rowing club which shares the boathouse with James River High School. "Coach B" is a West Point graduate who is a retired Marine aviator and retired airline pilot.

Paul Georgiadis
Paul Georgiadis is starting his third year as an Assistant Coach with JRHS Crew. After rowing at Georgetown University, Georgiadis worked with three others to re-found the defunct Virginia Boat Club in 1986. Since then, he  has rowed in its masters program as a sweep rower and a sculler. He has raced throughout the Mid-Atlantic and competed with the Xpress Composite 8 in the Head of the Charles in 2004 and 2005. From 2012-2019, he served as the Novice Men's coach for the VCU Crew. Georgiadis is an attorney and father of three, including current JRHS Crew member Anthony Georgiadis, JRHS '25. 

Faculty Sponsor
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is a passionate and experienced rowing coach whose journey in the sport began in 8th grade, on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. With an early love for rowing, Coach Schlesinger spent every afternoon rowing with the Bethesda Chevy Chase Crew Team. During Coach S's time with the Barons, they achieved an impressive feat by clinching three consecutive state championships in Maryland.

Coach continued to row for a short period during a year at Virginia Tech, before reprioritization of commitments for several years. As a VT graduate, he transitioned into coaching and joined the St. Mary's College Seahawks as an assistant coach in 2017. Here, they spent two years helping the transition of the young rowing program to new leadership. 

Currently, Coach Schlesinger is in their fifth season as the assistant coach of the James River High School rowing team. As both a Chemistry Teacher at the school and assistant coach, the team has consistently displayed remarkable growth, achieving notable success in local and regional competitions.

Board President: Eric Bowers, [email protected]

Board of Directors: Eric Bowers - President, Hank Holswade - Treasurer, Laurie Gleason - Secretary

Our Mailing Address:

James River Rowers
P.O. Box 36344
Richmond, VA 23235

Robious Landing Park/James River High School
3800 James River Road
Midlothian, Virginia 23113

• From the South take I 95 N
• Take Exit 62 onto Route 288N (Chesterfield/Midlothian)
• Exit right onto Huguenot Trail/Robious Road  E (Rt. 711).
• Bear right and go approximately 2 miles.
• Turn left at first light onto James River Road

• From the East take I-64 W
• Exit onto Route 288 S (Chesterfield Exit #288)
• Exit at Huguenot Trail/Robious Road E (Rt. 711)
• Turn left and go approximately 2 miles.
• Turn left at the first stop light onto James River Road.

• From the North take I-95 S
• Exit at 84B (295/64W to Charlottesville)
• Take Exit 288 S (Chesterfield) and follow that
• Exit at Huguenot Trail/Robious Road E (Rt. 711), turning left at light
• Go approximately 2 miles
• Turn left at the first stop light onto James River Road.

• From the West take I-64 E
• Take Exit 175 onto Route 288 S (Chesterfield)
• Exit at Huguenot Trail/Robious Road E (Rt. 711), turning left at light
• Go approximately 2 mile
• Turn left at the first stop light onto James River Road.