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Parkersburg South’s Spears signs with Jacksonville

During Monday’s ceremony inside the Parkersburg South High School cafeteria, Parkersburg South senior Luna Spears signs her national letter of intent to join the women’s rowing team at Jacksonville University (Fla.). Also pictured are her parents, Stefanie and Travis Spears. Jacksonville is an NCAA Division I program which is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — Leaving the Mid-Ohio Valley to join the NCAA Division I women’s rowing team at Jacksonville University in Florida next fall for her freshman year might be considered somewhat of a commute for Parkersburg South senior Luna Spears.

After all, Spears was born in Germany and spent time overseas as part of several locations she lived in. Her father is originally from Parkersburg and returned to the area after retiring from the military.

Monday afternoon inside the high school cafeteria, Spears signed her national letter of intent to continue her rowing career for the Dolphins and head coach Mike Lane.

“I just fell in love with the coaches and atmosphere about the school,” Spears said.

Spears, who maintains a 4.5 grade-point average, put academics first and her athletic endeavors second. As she sought out a school with her major in mind, Jacksonville became a perfect fit. She plans to focus on marine biology. The location on campus for her field of study is without shouting distance of the rowing boathouse.

Spears made an official visit to the school for two days in September.

“The campus has a little bit of everything as far as programs they offer,” Spears said. “Their boathouse is on campus, which I really liked. I can go from practice to my classes which are right next door.

“I fell in love with marine biology here. I just love everything about the ocean.”

At the urging of a friend, Spears took an interest in the sport during her freshman year. South crew coach Jason Womack remembers Spears arriving on the scene that winter. After the conditioning portion of training for the high school team, COVID kicked in and shut down the season. But Spears stayed true to the training.

“My freshman year, I had just finished soccer then I got a knee injury, so I went on a little break — I needed to work out again and one of my friends said I should come to crew practice,” Spears said. “I love the sport. Rowing is so peaceful to me especially when we do the usual practices. I’ve done other sports, but I love the excitement from crew.”

Womack, the South crew coach since spring of 2008, usually gives his student-athletes approximately a year before making a judgment on where they fit into the scheme of his program. By Spears’ senior year, the coach gave her more of a leadership role.

Not necessarily one to take control through her words, Spears definitely displays an impressive work ethic. Her actions speaks volumes.

“Luna has been amazing,” coach Womack said. “She has grown tremendously through the four years and it’s been probably one of the most difficult sets I’ve ever coached. She is an excellent athlete and a great leader.

“Once we came back in the spring of 2021 and fall, she kept standing out in technique and every boat I put her in. She got faster. They make the decision pretty easy when they stand out like that.”

After qualifying for youth nationals on three occasions, as well as the scholastic nationals, Spears has proven her mettle in such a short time. She joins a Jacksonville program which captured the 2022 MAAC Women’s Rowing Championship.

“Right now I am doing a million meters challenge rowing on erg machines every day — trying to rack up the meters and get faster,” Spears said.

Spears is the daughter of Stefanie and Travis Spears. She has one younger brother (Nicklaus) who is a freshman at Parkersburg South. During the six years she has lived in Parkersburg, she is welcoming the warmer weather of Florida.

“I’ve moved around my whole life and I haven’t lived in Florida, so I can check that off the list,” Spears said.

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com

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