Parkersburg South is about to begin practice for spring crew. The team recently announced its coaching staff for the upcoming season.

Returning as the head boys coach is Justin Womack, a South alumnus who rowed three years for the Patriots, medaling as a novice, varsity middle weight and varsity lightweight.

In five years of coaching crew for South, Womack has had athletes row at the national level, receive college scholarships and row for West Virginia University, Marietta College and the University of Charleston.

Womack will be assisted this season by Shelly Peterson.

The Patriots have a new head girls coach in Kevin Sallee.

While this is first time serving as the head coach, Sallee is a familiar face around South crw as he has served as a lay coach for the past two seasons and as the equipment manager for five years.

He will be assisted by Amber Skidmore.

Conditioning for the spring season for students in grades 9 through 12 at Parkersburg South High School starts on Monday, Jan. 3. An informational meeting will be conducted at 7 p.m. that day in the Parkersburg South High School library.

Among items to be discussed are the location of conditioning, practice times, planned regattas, uniforms, and fundraising. As the weather warms up, practices will begin on the water in March.

Womack said South crew plans to conduct its first Indoor Open Rowing Competition at Parkersburg South for clubs and high school teams on Feb. 12.

The Patriot Crew team will be attending multiple regattas this year, including a national regatta qualifier.