Founded in 2015 as Tennessee Heat, our dragon boat club began with a shared passion for paddling and community. Under the leadership of Mike and Alice Michelle, we embraced a spirit of camaraderie and adventure, participating in local races and building a tight-knit group. Despite financial challenges, our founders’ vision kept us afloat, and by 2018, we had grown enough to make a mark at the KARM festival. The turning point came in 2020 when we rebranded as Tellico Heat, reflecting our evolving identity and commitment to excellence. Today, we continue to honor our founder’s legacy of all ages and skill levels, while striving for competitive success.

Our journey has been about more than just dragon boating; it has been a celebration of passion, perseverance, and the spirit of togetherness. Every paddle drawn through the water serves as a testament to our collective effort, echoing our motto, Paddle More, Age-Less, and inviting everyone in Tellico Village and nearby communities to join our vibrant club.

Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club is a multi-faceted club where we embrace all skill levels from novice to seasoned. Many of our club members participate in our fitness and endurance paddles.  If you choose to race, you may never look back. If not, we would love to save you a seat while we take in all that the morning has to offer while we exercise with friends. You will find your connection.

As we look ahead, the Tellico Dragon Boat Club remains committed to enriching lives and nurturing connections through the exhilarating sport of dragon boating. We invite you to be a part of our story – to embrace the camaraderie, the laughter, and the powerful sensation of paddling in sync with your teammates. Together, we continue to honor our past while eagerly anticipating the adventures that lie ahead. Join us, and let’s paddle together into the future, where every moment on the water celebrates our shared unity and shared goals.

Paddles Up!

What is Dragon Boat (Deb Hyde 2025)

History

Dragon Boat began over 2,000 years ago in China on the banks of the life-sustaining rivers in the valleys of southern China as a fertility ritual thought to bring good luck to the coming crop season.

Over the years a second story was introduced to give the festival a dual meaning. Legend has it that Qu Yuan, a great warrior and poet, threw himself in the river Mi Lo as a protest against the political corruption of the day. The people loved Qu Yuan very much and raced out in their fishing boats to the middle of the river in a vain attempt to save him. They beat on drums and splashed their oars in the water, trying to keep away the dragons that occupied the rivers.

Today Dragon Boat is an international sport and the fastest growing water sport in the world and a favorite among charities and corporations for fundraising and team-building benefits. Dragon boating truly is the ultimate sport for all abilities and no previous experience is required as full training will be given on the day.

Paddling for Others

Dragon boat racing is a popular sport in the United States, with an estimated 175,000 participants and over 100 festivals. The sport has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with races taking place in areas near water across the country.

• There are around 175,000 dragon boat participants in the United States.
• There are more than 100 dragon boat festivals in the United States.
• There are more than 150 recreational dragon boat clubs in the United States.

Engine Room SS1 JC

Dragon boat racing is widely recognized as a beneficial exercise activity for breast cancer survivors, with many teams around the world specifically formed for women recovering from breast cancer, allowing them to improve their physical health, mental wellbeing, and foster a strong sense of community through the sport. This practice is often referred to as “Breast Cancer Paddlers” (BCP) and is largely inspired by research from Canadian sports medicine specialist Dr. Donald McKenzie, who demonstrated the safety and benefits of dragon boating for breast cancer survivors, even after lymph node removal, challenging the previous belief that vigorous upper body exercise could lead to lymphedema.

Pink Heat – 2nd Place 2024, Kentucky

• Physical benefits: Dragon boat paddling provides a low-impact, repetitive upper body workout that can help improve muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health, which are important for breast cancer survivors during recovery.
• Mental health benefits: The social aspect of being part of a dragon boat team can significantly improve mental wellbeing by providing support, camaraderie, and a sense of accomplishment.
• Research-backed: Studies have shown that dragon boating is safe for breast cancer survivors and does not increase the risk of lymphedema when practiced appropriately.

Physical and mental benefits are applicable to people dealing with all cancers.

Rose Ceremony

Why Dragon Boat?

• Wonderful Way to Enjoy the Lake!
• Great Exercise! Non-Impact, Full Body Workout!
• Dragon boat is a team sport that works out many parts of the body, including the back, shoulders, lats, legs, and core.
• THDBC embraces all fitness abilities, meeting you where you at your current level and through skill-building and encouragement, propels you toward your fitness and/or competition goals.
• The Club provides opportunities for a low-impact full-body workout, cardio fitness, and sporting competition on various levels, as well as building camaraderie in a truly synchronous group activity, while enjoying beautiful Tellico Lake.

“I joined to race but I gained so much more in the process physically and mentally.” 

“What better environment to enjoy life here in Tellico Village, than being on our beautiful lake, while we enjoy friendships and get a great work-out. This is one of the best things I have done since moving to Tellico Village.” 

What is Dragon Boat?

A dragon boat is a canoe-like craft made of wood and fiberglass. A crew of paddlers sitting in rows and paddling in unison moves the boat through the water. The goal is good paddle technique and synchronicity that propels the boat smoothly.

New to Us 10 Paddler Boat

“The paddles enter the water at the same time, the paddles pull back at the same time, and they leave the water at the same time, finally ending in the ‘swing’; paddles are flared out and skim over the water to be positioned for the next stroke. It’s harmonious and a splash of bright colors only to disappear into the water for the next stroke.  When the whole boat “gets it” it’s a beautiful thing.”

Sandi’s Soldiers 1 2025 JC

Boat size varies, with the 20-person boat being the most prevalent but 10-person boats are gaining popularity in competitions. The 20-person boat is about 40 feet long and the 10-person boat, about 30-feet long.

Paddling brings Shared Memories

Roles and Positions in the Dragon Boat

Paddlers are seated two per row and paddle continuously on the same side for the duration of the race. A steersperson keeps the boat on track and provides commands to manage the boat.

Heat 1 200M Final- Chicago

Races are held at various locations in venues suitable for the on-water competition, with teams set up on shore, and areas for spectators and vendors.

Dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It is truly an impressive sight to see a dragon boat surging towards the finish line with 20 paddlers pulling hard with every stroke in perfect unison to the drummer’s beat [drummers are not used for practice sessions] and the calls of the steersperson. Combine the competition and excitement of the races with the fun and atmosphere of the festivities that typically occur at a dragon boat festival, and you have a great event for participants and spectators of all ages.

Tellico Heat at Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival

Boats Used by Tellico Heat

Through 2024, THDBC leased a 20-person boat from Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing.  Dynamic provides dragon boats and related equipment, professional race logistic services, and unique experiences for charities and participants. Highlighting the world’s eighth fastest growing sport and implementing a customer service focus, Dynamic has become a nationally recognized expert in the dragon boat event management market.

PADDLES UP

Dynamic stores our boats during the off-season and delivers back to us in the spring, at a time determined by club management.

Tugaloo

The season ends in late October and Dynamic picks up our boats for storage over the winter.

In the summer of 2024, THDBC purchased a used 20-person boat from Dynamic, the “sister” of the leased boat that we have been using for several years. A generous donation from Miser Wealth Partners supported the acquisition. The Club was able to make good use of both boats!

In late 2024, an anonymous benefactor donated a used 10-person boat. This is an amazing gift that provides added practice flexibility and the ability to prepare for 10-person competitions.

New to Us 10 Paddler Boat

10 Woman Team – Peachtree City, Georgia 2025

Blessing of the Boats 2025

The boats are tied up at the Tugaloo docks from where we launch our practice paddles.

New to Us 10 Paddler Boat

Our boats do not have the colorful dragon heads on the bow that you will see at festivals. For festivals boats are provided by the festival event organizer with the colorful heads and drum. The traditional “dotting” the Dragon’s eye is part of the festival opening ceremony that awakens the dragon and unleashes its fire, giving boats and their crews the strength of the dragon.

Dynamic Boat with Dragon Head

Dynamic Boat with Dragon Head

The Paddlers

The paddlers sit facing forward and use a specific type of paddle. The leading pair of paddlers, or “strokes” or “strokers” set the pace for the team. All other paddlers synchronize their strokes to the stroke paddlers. The result of the split second difference of delay can result in a caterpillar or centipede effect whereby each successive pair of blades hits the water a fraction of a second behind the blades in front, with the collective stroke of the boat falling out of synchronization. Highly experienced paddlers will feel the response of the boat and its surge or resistance through the water via the blades of their paddles, and will adjust their reach, and the catch of their blade tips, in accordance with the power required to match the acceleration of the hull through the water at any given moment.

Paddles Up

Social Recreation & Fitness

The engine room in a dragon boat is the middle section of the boat, usually made up of the middle eight paddlers. The engine room is responsible for generating the majority of the boat’s power. The engine room is typically made up of the stronger and heavier paddlers on the team.

Engine Room SS1 JC

Dragon boat rockets are the paddlers in the last three or four rows of a dragon boat. Rockets are known for their strength and speed, and are called upon to provide an extra push at the start and finish of a race. They support the engine room, which is made up of the middle rows of the boat. The water moves faster for the rockets because the first 14 seats push water back. Rockets are also known as the “white water” or “last kick”. Rockets are sometimes considered the most difficult positions because the paddlers must continuously stroke through the turbulent water created by the other paddlers. However, newer paddlers may be placed in the rocket position to learn technique and timing.

The Drummer and Drumming

The drummer is utilized during a race to assist with the entire boat with the timing. The drummer sounds the pace provided by the stroke for the rest of the boat to hear.

SS2 Pacers and Sandi

A drummer is required during racing events, but for Community Festivals the event manager may provide a drummer. For United States International Dragon Boat Festivals, the Club must provide a drummer.

Donna & Pacers

The Steersman

The steersman, also known as the steerer/sweep, controls the dragon boat with a steering oar similar in function to a tiller which is mounted at the rear of the boat. For Community Festivals, the event manager may provide a sweep. For United States/International Dragon Boat Festivals, the Club must provide a steerer/sweep. The boat is balanced side-to-side and front-to-back. The steerer and coach are responsible for assigning seats for safety and optimal performance.

Johnson City 2025

First 10-Person Race is History in Montgomery

Sweep Checking Balance and Counting Off for Safety

 

Leaving the Dock

2025 Tampa PanAm Race

Coach and Paddlers

The next section tells the story of the origins of the club:

“Before There Was Tellico Heat, There was TENNESSEE HEAT”

Tellico Heat Dragon Boat Club History:

Tennessee Heat to Tellico Heat 2015-2025

Humble Beginnings

About Tellico Heat Today (2025 Media Archive)

Tellico Heat DBC

Bring on the Heat

Tellico Heat History

Written by Ginger McDonald

Humble Beginnings

Tellico Heat got its start as the Tennessee Heat when Mike and Alice Michelli built a home in Kahite in 2015. They had moved here from The Villages in Florida, and were active in the Florida Heat Dragon Boat Club there. When there was no local club here, they decided to try to start one. The first informational meeting was sometime in early 2016. There were maybe a dozen people attending the meeting which was held in the quilting room at the Chota Rec Center. Dave and I were living part time in Tellico Village at the time, and if there were other meetings after that, I didn’t attend them. The name Tennessee Heat of Tellico Lake was chosen as we were a sister club of the Florida Heat, and we wanted to encourage membership from outside of Tellico Village. We have had members from Rarity Bay since the beginning. I recall one gentleman from Rarity Bay joined the first year, and proceeded to ask out every unattached woman in the club, one by one. His very first question when we introduced ourselves was, “Are you married?” Once he had dated every woman in the club, he moved on. The 2016 season started in late March with a rented boat from Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing in Knoxville. Dynamic has always been a big supporter of the Tennessee/Tellico Heat. We were moored at the Kahite docks, which I loved!!! I didn’t attend the first practice, but I was at the second. We had a 3 minute warm-up, and I thought I was going to die. Of course I didn’t, and gradually we all built up skill, speed and stamina. By the end of April, our warm-up was out to Heron Island, about a 10 minute paddle at the time. Alice or Mike were our sweeps, but they lassoed Tom Borloglou as a steerer by the end of the summer. We rarely had more than 10-12 paddlers in the boat. I believe the club had 16 members that first summer. Can you imagine their patience? Here they are, both experienced international racers, going out 3 times a week with total rookies! The paddles were clacking and splashing, but we all were loving it. I signed up after my first practice.

 
The Dragon Boat Wagon – 2016 Kahite

After getting our act together and learning that dragon boating was fun in 2015, we looked forward to the next season. But first I need to talk about a few of the characters that we were dealing with. I already told you about the guy from Rarity Bay.

Mike and Alice, our founders, was quite a pair. They did everything all in, and sometimes got themselves into trouble with their passion. She was the better paddler of the two, but he was the better coach. She had been to Thailand and Italy with FL Heat.

John Kadau was our elder statesman in his mid-80’s. He was a tall, skinny (although he claimed he once weighed over 300 lbs!) former Marine with a large white handlebar mustache.  Everyone at the Wellness Center knew him, because he was always there! He wore handmade hilarious tee shirts about drinking beer and avoiding his (long-suffering, but good-humored) wife. He was never a terrific paddler, but we loved him!

John Kadau – Drums & Dragons 6-24-17

Dragon Boat Fun

He came down to Tugaloo early, and bailed the boat by himself religiously.  He always had a bandage somewhere. He reminded me of Mayhem in the commercials!

Just One of Many t-shirts from 2017

There was Craig Michalski, who lived in one of those massive houses near the Yacht Club. He found us our first sponsor, and volunteered with C.O.P. If he was on duty when we were going out, he would come down to Tugaloo in his squad car, and threaten to arrest us.

Paddling in Choppy Waters

Sue Newman was another founding member who moved away from Tellico Village, but not before deciding we needed a Senior Day Care Center, and then doing something about it! Our Place is her legacy. They all eventually moved away from Tellico Village, but I still smile when I think of them.

There were no races in 2016. All we did was work on our form, stamina and recruitment. Honestly, we didn’t have enough paddlers to enter a team anyway. We learned our commands, and how to give a Paddlers Salute to the neighbors of Kahite. We did most of the drills you know and love now; ladders, guys vs. girls, zig-zags, stretches, cluck-clucks, etc. We would paddle all around the Kahite peninsula, as well as around Heron Island and over to the Sequoyah Museum. The waters around Kahite aren’t as crowded as the main village, and we made good use of them three times a week. There were drills we didn’t like. Mike bought a tent-like contraption that he hung in the water off the back of the boat. He named it Mathilda. She put all kinds of drag on the boat, and we groaned every time he brought it out. Mathilda was definitely a 20-something gadget. She was not good for our 60-something backs, and Mike eventually abandoned Mathilda…Thank God! We also abandoned he drill I called a ‘Tug of War’ for the same reason. The front of the boat would paddle while the back of the boat would hold, then vice versa. It made us all laugh, but we had too many injuries.

By the end of the season, we were making the boat move fairly smoothly in the water. Dynamic would encourage us by asking if we wanted to work or act as a guest paddler at any of their festivals, and a few of us did.

When Chris picked the boat up in the Fall of 2016, we were sad. Over the 2016-17 winter, in an effort to recruit more people, the club decided to search for a morning in the main village. Tom and Marsha Borloglou helped us secure a mooring at Tugaloo, right next to their pontoon boat. We used their boat to store our water, the rudder, and our car keys. We had a bad habit of dropping our keys in the water between their boat and the docks, so we initiated the “key bag” to get everything safely stowed before we even stepped on the docks. There are about 6 sets of keys down there under that pontoon boat! Just ask Dee! Tom was the first of us to learn how to steer. He was also the founding member of the Tellico Heat Swim Club.

In 2017, the Secret City Dragons, a dragon boating team in Oak Ridge, asked to practice with us. We agreed since we rarely had half a boat. Esther Wallace, a dragon boating dynamo and coach, brought young, energetic paddlers in their 20s and 30s to our team. We had to suppress our jokes about her age.

In 2017, the Secret City Dragons lost their mooring in Oak Ridge, and asked if they could come down to practice with us. We had no objection, since we rarely had half a boat. Esther Wallace was a dragon boating dynamo, active in SRDBA, and a pretty good coach. The infusion of young blood definitely upped our game. Most of her paddlers were in their 20’s and 30’s, and were a great bunch of “kids.” We had to shush our “old fart” jokes for a time, as they quickly got tired of them.

Left-to-right-Claudia-Nicholson-winning-costume-designer-Marie-Gemender-our-wonderful-drummer-John-Kadau-great-paddler-and-team-booster.-—-at-Volunteer-Landing-Marina

Esther helped with steering, coaching, and buying our first carbon fiber paddles. She didn’t tolerate our lackadaisical behavior, and some of us didn’t like that. She enforced discipline, saying, “Heads in the Boat.” She also convinced us to enter our first festival in August 2017, sponsored by Tennessee Clear Water Network (TCWN).

Esther helped with steering and coaching, and helped us buy our first carbon fiber paddles (the all black Eclipse paddles that are still hanging around. Eclipse was later bought out by Hornet. Esther didn’t tolerate a lot of our lackadaisical shenanigans, and a few of us didn’t like that. We had to shut up when she said, “Heads in the Boat.” Imagine! She also talked us into entering our first festival in August, 2017. It was sponsored by the Tennessee Clear Water Network (TCWN).

Seven Members of the Tennessee Heat Dragon Boat Club Paddle with Chattanooga Dragon Boat Club 2017

Seven Members of the Tennessee Heat Dragon Boat Club Paddle with Chattanooga Dragon Boat Club 2017

Most of us had no idea what this festival thing was all about, but off we went to Volunteer Landing in Downtown Knoxville to find out! We recruited Jack Gemender’s wife Marie to be our drummer, and Claudia put together a fabulous Energizer Bunny costume for her, which won the prize for best drummer’s costume!

2017 Tennessee Heat Volunteer Landing Race

Marie took her job seriously, and led the boat in breathing exercises before and after each race. We surprised ourselves by taking 2nd place overall! To be honest, we ate Charlotte Fury’s dust in the finals, but we didn’t care. We got medals!

Final Race Salute

August 2027 Tennessee Heat Medal Ceremony – Volunteer Landing

That, of course, was due to the Oak Ridge youngsters on our boat, but many of us were hooked. We set our sights on KARM for next year.

 It was at TCWN that the Charlotte Fury taught us the tradition of forming an arch with our paddles, and congratulating the other teams after a race. We still carry on that tradition today.

Final Race Salute

Near the end of that season, Mike called a meeting after practice. He wanted to build an elite senior racing team and believed we could achieve it. He proposed practicing more frequently, doing dry-land conditioning during the season and off-season, and focusing on diet and health. His goal was making the internationals. The uncomfortable silence after he asked, “Who is with me?” was deafening. (Looking back from 2024, things have changed!)

A few weeks later, the For Sale sign went up in the Michelli’s yard, and they went back to The Villages. Oak Ridge found a new pace to moor their boat, and they went back home too. They took 6 of our more serious paddlers with them. It was a blow, but we were OK. It was time to recruit. We were on our own.

In 2017, our founders, Mike and Alice Michelli, moved back to Florida and didn’t participate in our first festival, TCWN. 

As I said in the last chapter, our founders, Mike and Alice Michelli, moved back to Florida in 2017 and did not participate in TCWN, or first festival. During Mike and Alice’s time leading the club, they were adamant about us NOT joining the Southeast Regional Dragon Boat Federation, or about having any club officers. I think they were afraid of opening anyone up to liability, but I honestly don’t know. We were a very loose-knit group, getting by with little organization, and less money. Our dues the first year were $50, I believe. But the next year, in an effort to entice new members, the dues were lowered to $25. So finances were tight! That only lasted one year. Bob Eddins served as our treasurer.

We recruited hard at New Villager meetings and had enough paddlers to enter KARM in 2018. I was captain, though we didn’t place.

Look for Dee Foster, Bob Werner, and our occasional drummer, Marie, in the photo below.

Tennessee Heat November 1, 2018

“Drums on the Dam,” a festival supporting United Way of Sevier County, was held near Douglas Lake. Our captain, Sue Clontz, negotiated a half-price entry for us as “senior citizens.” We won second place behind Smoky Mountain Distillery, sparking a rivalry. This motivated us to work harder for years. Secret City (Oak Ridge) came in third, upsetting Esther. The race is on our website.

Tennessee Heat Prepares for Drums on the Dam

Several of us recruited hard at New Villager meetings, and the next spring (2018) we had enough paddlers to enter KARM. I was captain for that race. We didn’t place at KARM, but all of us had fun! Look for Dee Foster and Bob Werner in the above photo. [And our occasional drummer, Marie]

Drums on the Dam 2018

“Drums on the Dam” was a festival supporting United Way of Sevier County, and was held at a nice location near the dam on Douglas Lake. Sue Clontz was captain, and talked UW into letting us enter for half-price because we were “senior citizens.” Score! We took 2nd place in the finals behind the team sponsored by Smoky Mountain Distillery, which set up a fun rivalry. We used “those Smoky Mountain Boys,” as we called them, as motivation to work harder for several years.  We wanted to beat them bad! Secret City (Oak Ridge) came in behind us (not far behind us, but definitely in 3rd place), and Esther wasn’t happy about that. There is a video of that race on our website somewhere.

2019 was when we finally started to take off. We were still self-coached at this point, but our training was starting to pay off. We organized ourselves into some semblance of order with me as President, and Sue C as my VP.  Several people helped with membership, hospitality, and social events. I believe we were up to about 40 members by then. Dennis Faillo joined us from the Florida Heat in The Villages, and brought with his a few drills, including my favorite, The Dirty Dozen. We were still struggling with having enough steerers, but Chris Behling with Dynamic came and gave us a steering clinic that spring and got a few more of us going. Tom Borloglou was still steering with us, and Kathy Watson joined us, and quickly figured out that paddling wasn’t her thing, but she could steer!

We trained hard for KARM in June. Our goal was to break a minute in a 200 meter race. We were so close we could taste it! In our 1st heat, our time was just a few seconds over a minute. KARM was managed by 22 Dragons that year, and our “coach” was Lynn Meinert, an experienced racer.  She wanted us to slow down our pace so we could pull more water, so we tried it. In our 2nd race, our time was 59+ seconds!  The videos were interesting.  We always started out slow, but then as we pulled water, we would gain more and more speed! We would fly right past everyone. We had finally done it! That time put us in the finals. I don’t remember who we raced against in the finals, but we ended up winning the Community division, as well as the trophy for Mixed Division. Unfortunately, KARM has told us before the race, that because we didn’t pass some fund-raising threshold, we weren’t eligible for any trophies. Since it was a rainy, cold and generally miserable day, most of us had left after our final. Only Patrick and I were there to pick up the trophies that we had been told we wouldn’t get. Oops!

That August, we again entered the “Drums on the Dam” Festival in Sevierville, and those Smoky Mountain Boys beat us again! Those dirty gym rats! This time they were a bunch of very fit, 20-something, hard-bodies from the Cross Fit Gym in Sevierville.  Even though they had never paddled before that weekend, they beat us by almost a second.  We came in third behind Oak Ridge also. Still, we felt we had done really well!  And we bragged about it when we got back!  There’s no denying the teams that beat us are MUCH younger than us.

Tellico (1) Competes with Smoky Mountain Boys (2) and Oak Ridge (3)

Even though they had never paddled before that weekend, they beat us by almost a second. We came in third behind Oak Ridge also. Still, we felt we had done really well! And, we bragged about it when we got back! There’s no denying the teams that beat us are MUCH younger than us.

The team placed third in the “Drums on the Dam” Festival, narrowly losing to younger teams from a Cross Fit gym and Oak Ridge. Despite the loss, the team felt proud of their performance.

The Turning Point

2019 was when we finally started to take off. We were still self-coached at this point, but our training was starting to pay off. We organized ourselves into some semblance of order with me as President, and Sue C as my VP.  Several people helped with membership, hospitality, and social events. I believe we were up to about 40 members by then. Dennis Faillo joined us from the Florida Heat in The Villages, and brought with his a few drills, including my favorite, The Dirty Dozen. We were still struggling with having enough steerers, but Chris Behling with Dynamic came and gave us a steering clinic that spring and got a few more of us going. Tom Borloglou was still steering with us, and Kathy Watson joined us, and quickly figured out that paddling wasn’t her thing, but she could steer!

We trained hard for KARM in June. Our goal was to break a minute in a 200 meter race. We were so close we could taste it! In our 1st heat, our time was just a few seconds over a minute. KARM was managed by 22 Dragons that year, and our “coach” was Lynn Meinert, an experienced racer.  She wanted us to slow down our pace so we could pull more water, so we tried it. In our 2nd race, our time was 59+ seconds!  The videos were interesting.  We always started out slow, but then as we pulled water, we would gain more and more speed! We would fly right past everyone. We had finally done it! That time put us in the finals. I don’t remember who we raced against in the finals, but we ended up winning the Community division, as well as the trophy for Mixed Division. Unfortunately, KARM has told us before the race, that because we didn’t pass some fund-raising threshold, we weren’t eligible for any trophies. Since it was a rainy, cold and generally miserable day, most of us had left after our final. Only Patrick and I were there to pick up the trophies that we had been told we wouldn’t get. Oops!

That August, we again entered the “Drums on the Dam” Festival in Sevierville, and those Smoky Mountain Boys beat us again! Those dirty gym rats! This time they were a bunch of very fit, 20-something, hard-bodies from the Cross Fit Gym in Sevierville. Even though they had never paddled before that weekend, they beat us by almost a second. We cam in third behind Oak Ridge also. Still, we felt we had done really well! And we bragged about it when we got back! There’s no denying the teams that beat us are MUCH younger than us.

(Link to the Connection article about the team)

2019 – Drums on the Dam in Sevierville 3rd place behind a much younger Smoky Mountain Boys and Oak Ridge.

KARM 1st PLACE!

June 27, 2019 KARM

Five years later, our own Randy Clark would capture some very similar images!

Now, a Tellico Heat Tradition

Tellico (1) Competes with Smoky Mountain Boys (2) and Oak Ridge (3)

2019 Tellico Heat places third at Drums on the Dam behind two much younger teams. 

2020 Rebranding as Tellico Heat.

The turning point came in 2020 when we rebranded as Tellico Heat, reflecting our evolving identity and commitment to excellence.

Kahite Sweeties performed the National Anthem at the second annual IntraClub Races, accompanied by their founding member, Ginger MacDonald. The singing group wore a diverse array of Tennessee Heat and Tellico Heat shirts. A tribute to the coaches was sung with rounding applause and a few tears.

Kahite Sweeties Sing the National Anthem at the 2nd Annual Intra-Club Races

Steerer Guides Paddlers to the No Wake Zone

Thank you, Ginger for sharing this history.

Visual History Slideshow