About the Team

This is VolWake, the official wakeboarding club of the University of Tennessee. We offer a few membership options to University of Tennessee-Knoxville students that allow them access to the team boat. Members sign up weekly for spots to participate in a variety of water sports. We also offer a plethora of apparel for all of our members and supporters. There is NO SKILL REQUIRED for interested members, only a love of the water, so come join us on the Tennessee River where good times and night rides await.

VolWake started around the late 80's to early 90's as a ski club where they mainly rode on Melton Hill, or for a brief period they rode on the old Master-craft test lake. Over the years the club has evolved and the boats have gotten bigger in order to accommodate the large interest in all kinds of water activities.

Presently the club tries to stay involved in any way possible including our favorite hobby other than wake sports: community service. Each year the officers organize at least 4 community service opportunities that allow us to give back to a community that has helped us grow so big over the years. This along with the time our officers spend assisting at the Marina is how we like to represent our brand.

Although there may be several clubs around the country that participate in the same activities as us, we are one of a kind. Over the past few years we have put extreme effort into building an actual brand around our university club. This has opened several opportunities for us to evolve, and we are always looking for more support. If you are interested in supporting us, or even just saying hi, please reach out to us through our email (volwake@gmail.com) or our instagram (@VolWake) and one of our officers will be in touch as soon as our busy school schedules allow!

About the
Officers

Get to know the leaders of our club for the 2025-2026 season!

Philip Dubuc

President

Hey! I’m Philip Dubuc and I am the 2025-2026 Volwake President. I am 21 years old senior studying Construction Science and Management. I am from Cincinnati Ohio and have grown up on Norris lake most of my life. I’ve been involved with the club since my freshman year and I am excited to have such a great team for my last year. I will serve to do what is best for the club regardless what my personal interests are. I hope to see everyone always have a good time on and off the water. My goal is to be able to leave this organization better than I got it and know I made a difference.

Calvin Schaerer

Vice President

Hey! My name is Calvin Schaerer and I am excited to be serving as the vice president of Volwake this year. I am a senior studying mechanical engineering here at UT, and I have been a part of Volwake every semester since I was a freshman. I am also from Knoxville, TN and have lived here my entire life. Beyond riding, I also bring my passion for photography/videography to the club, so you will often find me out of the boat with my camera on days i'm not driving! Outside of the club, I've worked at a few boat dealerships, and interned at Supra and Moomba boats a few summers ago. One of these positions was a pro shop lead, so if you ever have any questions about gear, Im happy to share advice and point you in the right direction! Volwake has not only given me the chance to grow as a rider, but also to make so many friends and be a part of community that shares the same love for being out on the water. I look forward to meeting all the new members this fall and spring, and having a great time out on the water this year!

Natalie Lawton

Secretary

Hi!!!! My name is Natalie Lawton and this year I have the opportunity to serve as VolWake’s secretary, which means I’ll be keeping everyone in the loop by updating our schedule and ride times each week! I’m a junior majoring in Business Management with a collateral in Sales, and this is my third year as a member of VolWake. I’m from a small town in Illinois and grew up boating on lakes in the Midwest. When I joined my freshman year, I’d never wakesurfed before, and now I jump at every chance to get out on the water! VolWake has been one of the best parts of my college experience. I’ve met so many awesome people and made lifelong friendships through this team! I can’t wait to meet our new members, and I’m so excited to get back on the water for another year of memories with this group!!

Conner Hackett

Treasurer

Hey, I’m Conner. I’m a senior studying business management, and I’ve been part of VolWake for the past four years. This year, I’m serving as the team’s treasurer. Being on the team has been such a big part of my college experience, and I’m excited to help keep things running smoothly and see what we can accomplish this season!

Allie Owens

Public Relations and Social Media

Hi! My name is Allie Owens, and I’m currently a senior majoring in Sports Communications. I grew up by the coast and have always had a love for the water. This year, I have the amazing opportunity to serve as the head of Public Relations and Social Media for Volwake! In my role, I plan events such as fundraisers, charity events, member events, service days, officer retreats, and more. I’m also the face behind everything you see on our social media! This will be my fourth year on Volwake and my third holding an officer position. Being a member of this team has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve found my family here and will forever cherish the memories I’ve made with my friends. As a third-year officer, my goal is to give back to Volwake all that it has given to me. I want to ensure we host and participate in events that give back to our community, while also organizing team events that bring members closer together. I always strive to share the excitement and adventure of our club on social media so that others can see the joy Volwake brings to its members. I am beyond excited for this season and to serve Volwake again!

Riley Fera

Merch

Hey! My name is Riley Fera, and I am so excited to serve as VolWake’s Merch Chair and Driver! I am a Junior in the nursing program and have been a member of VolWake for 2 years! I’m originally from Chicago and now live in Nashville. I also lived in California for a few years where found my love for surfing, which I am so happy to be able to translate to the lake and on the river! I am so excited to meet new members this year and add to the VolWake family!

Logan Bliss

Sponsorships

Hey! My name is Logan Bliss and I am a Junior majoring in Finance with a collateral in Real Estate. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and have had a lakehouse at Norris Lake since I was born and have grown up surfing and wakeboarding from a young age. I now work as a Realtor selling lakehouses and have found my passion helping people live the dream they’ve always wanted. I am excited for this year of Vol Wake and am planning to bring many new sponsorships to support our organization as the director. Excited to see you guys out on the water!

Bella Roberts

Driver

Hey yall! I’m Bella Roberts and I’ll be a boat driver this coming season! I’m a junior studying marketing and this is my 3rd year apart of VolWake. I grew up and have been going to Dale Hollow Lake my whole life and have always loved wakesurfing and just being out on the water, and in the winter months I love to go snowboarding! I’m super pumped for this coming season and can’t wait to see yall out on the water!