SEBASTIAN - When high school rowing coach Tom Lange founded his program three years ago, the team's novice athletes laughed at his goal of qualifying for national competition in three years.

They were just learning the basics: holding oars and that the racing boats are called sculls. That's in a state with many well-entrenching rowing programs.

But this year the Sebastian River High School athletes' turned their smiles into resolve.

On April 27, the Rowing Sharks emerged from a state competition in Tampa with standings qualifying them for Lange's goal: a national high school rowing competition in Tennessee on May 23-24.

"I can't say enough about these athletes:" 32 males and females, Lange recently told the team's parent group.

But now the Rowing Sharks face another daunting hurdle: quickly raising thousands of dollars to get there.

Not just one, but six, of the program's rowing crews are going to the national event involving 80 rowing programs and 2,000 athletes.

The rowing program is entirely supported by donations and fees. And all that was used up when the season ended at the state competition in Tampa, said Donna Barone, president of the Rowing Sharks parents' booster group.

So money is being collected through car washes, as well as at donation collections at Wal-Mart, Publix and Hale Groves.

Anyone wanting to donate directly may mail a check payable to the Sebastian River High School Crew. The address is Tom Lange, Sebastian River High School, 9001 90th Ave., Sebastian, Fla. 32958. Please indicate that the check is for the Rowing Sharks.

For more information about the fundraising, call Barone at 571-9083. The club's web site is at Sebastiancrew.com.

A bus to the event costs $5,400 with a discount from the company, Magic Carpet Ride. Plus there are the costs of a budget hotel a half hour from the race site on the Melton Reservoir at Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Also the team will need meals -- all expenses that parents and students are trying to raise in a two-week period through fundraisers around the community, especially in Sebastian.

Members of the Rowing Sharks will be at the following fundraising sites:

CARWASH

Monday May 19, 2:30 to 6 p.m., Sebastian River High School.

DONATION COLLECTIONS

Sunday May 11. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hale Groves, 9250 U.S. 1, Wabasso

Monday-Thursday, May 12-15. 3 p.m. to dark. Wal-Mart, Sebastian

Saturday-Sunday, May 17-18. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hale Groves, 9250 U.S. 1,

Wabasso

Saturday-Sunday, May 17-18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Publix, Roseland.

Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, 10 a .m. to 5 pm.,. Publix, Oslo Road.