Westerville Crew incorporated in 1996 for the purpose of promoting competitive rowing among Westerville-area high school students. It has grown from 18 members to approximately 95 members since then. When it incorporated, Westerville Crew had no racing shells, oars, launches, motors, trailer or other assets. Since 1996, Westerville Crew has acquired 9- eight man racing shells, one four-man, 5 safety launches each with a 9.9 HP outboard motor, a large trailer capable of carrying 5 sixty-foot shells, more than 70 oars, two forty-eight foot docks and dock ramp, and a storage area on Hoover Reservoir rented from Hoover Yacht Club.

Westerville Crew has grown quickly through car washes, candy sales, dues, and especially the generosity of the community, families and friends.

While sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer often require years of practice to compete at the high school level, rowing is a sport in which almost anyone can compete. There are categories for lightweight, mid-weight and heavyweight crews; for novice, junior varsity and varsity crews; and for men and women.

Crew is one of the few truly coed sports. For example, a men's boat often has a woman as a coxswain and is reported to be the most rapidly growing sport for college women. For example, Ohio State University offers 20 rowing scholarships for women.

Finally, crew is the ultimate team sport. It requires exquisite timing among all eight rowers comprising a boat. Every motion of the body and oar must be perfectly timed with all other crewmembers. Additionally, crew is a physically demanding sport that affects all major muscle groups of the body. This mix of physical demand and precision timing builds camaraderie and trust among team members.