After Helping Avon High School Crew, Sen. Witkos Joins Team Practice

Farmington – On May 12, Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) met with the Avon High School Crew teams at Batterson Park Pond to learn more about their programming and get a lesson in rowing directly from the student athletes.

Earlier this year, Senator Kevin Witkos, Representative Tim LeGeyt and Representative Derek Slap worked together with Hartford officials to extend an engine waiver to allow the crew team to continue operating its current boat in Batterson Park Pond, which is owned by the City of Hartford. In December, an agreement expired which had allowed the team coaches to use gas powered engines on their launch boats. The city proposed renewing the agreement to require the use of electric motors, which would have cost the team tens of thousands of dollars for new equipment in a very short period of time and could have jeopardized the season. By organizing meetings between the Avon team and Hartford officials, local state lawmakers including Witkos were successful in securing a waiver extension to allow the team to continue to practice with its current equipment. Efforts for a long-term waiver are now continuing.

Watch to learn more about the Avon High School Crew team. Video features John Kostal, Boys Crew head coach, and Sen. Witkos at the team practice on May 12: