Above: The Thompson Boat Center, home of GW Men's Rowing since 1959, photographed at the junction of the Potomac River and Rock Creek in 1960. Credit: Emil A. Press.
In 1959, GW Men's Rowing was officially recognized as a Varsity Sport after three years as a club program. That same year, the team moved into the newly built Thompson Boat House on the Potomac River, establishing what would be the programs home for over six decades.
Above: GW Men's Rowing moving under Key Bridge towards the Thompson Boat Center. Circa 1966-1967.
In 1962-1963, Coach Sandy Sanborn designed GW Men's Rowing distinctive racing oar pattern - a blue blade with three buff stripes. This simple yet recognizable design has represented GW oarsman for over 60 years, becoming a symbol of program identity across generations. From Dad Vail regattas to the IRA and now ACRA National Championships, these buff and blue blades create an instant visual connection between today's crews and their predecessors dating back to the early 1960s.
Above: GW Men's Rowing competing in the 1984 Head of the Charles Men's Championship Eights event. The crew consisted of coxswain Lee Silverberg, stroke-seat Simon Walker, Marty Guay, Robert Bartlett, Charlie Brown, Ed Zack, Dave Lincoln, Chuck Chu, and bow-seat Tim Timmermann.
In Fall 1984, GW Men's Rowing achieved a signifiant milestone by competing for the first time at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA. The program made its debut with entries in both the Men's Championship Eights and Men's Lightweight Eights categories. In this inaugural appearance, the heavyweight crew finished 34th of 40 entries in the Championship Eights, notably ahead of Dartmouth Rowing Club, while the lightweight eight placed 33rd in a field of 41 boats. This participation at America's largest rowing event represented the program's growing ambitions and marked an important step in GW Rowing's competitive evolution on the national stage.
Above: GW Men's Rowing winning gold in the Men's Varsity Heavyweight 4+ at Dad Veil Regatta. The crew consisted of coxswain Lee Silverberg, stroke-seat Brian Kilppenstein, Dave Wilson, Tim McNamara, and bow-seat Lou Donofrio.
The 1986 season marked a defining moment for GW Men's Rowing at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. For GW, the Dad Vail represented the pinnacle of spring racing - effectively serving as the program's national championship. The Men's Varsity Heavyweight 4+ captured gold, securing GW's first Dad Vail's championship in this event and establishing a significant milestone in program history. Complementing this achievement, the Men's Varsity Lightweight 4+ earned bronze in their category. This impressive dual-medal performance demonstrated GW's emerging strength on the national scene during an era when Dad Vail Regatta was the premier championship target for the program. The success validated years of development and positioned GW among the top performers in what was then their most important competition of the year.
Left to right: Alex Mundt, Matt Russell, _____, Chris Reite, Tony Spinelli, Scott McDonald, Jean _____ , Tim Downs, Aquil Abdullah. Not pictured Caroline Piror (Cox), John Devlin (Men’s Coach). The multi bay boathouse to the back left it where the crew lived.
In the Summer of 1994, the GW Men’s Varsity 8+ went to Japan as the guest of Hitotsubashi University. The team stayed in the Mitsubishi Boathouse (Yes, the company) in Toda, Japan, which was also the rowing venue for the 1964 Summer Olympics. Hitotsubashi University and Tokyo University had visited GW the previous season and invited GW to come visit. Georgetown University traveled with GW to make an even match up against the two Japanese universities. GW conducted double practices every day and during the downtime, went sightseeing. GW concluded the trip with a 1000m regatta during a windy, rainy, and choppy day on Tokyo bay, while fans from the nearby city, Toda, cheered along the banks of the racecourse in Saitama Kenei Toda Park. Several collegiate and corporate teams were present. In the finals, GW came in a close second to the NKK corporate team, which, as told by our Hitotsubashi University friends, had 6 oarsmen from the Japanese National Men’s 8+.
Above: The silver-medal winning GW Varsity 4- at the 2000 IRA National Championships on the Cooper River in Camden, NJ. From stern to bow: Justin Hutchinson (stroke), Jeremy Dutra, Sal Assenza, Jason Anklowitz (bow). This crew made history by securing GW's first ever IRA medal.
The 2000 IRA National Championship Regatta marked a historic achievement for GW Men's Rowing as the Varsity 4- captured the silver medal defeating powerhouse rowing programs including Washington, Harvard, and Cornell, establishing a new standard of excellence for the program on the national stage. This breakthrough performance at college rowing's most prestigious championship event demonstrated GW's emergence as a competitive force among the nation's elite programs. The silver medal represented not only the team's first IRA success but also validated years of program development and set the foundation for future success at the championship level. This landmark achievement remains one of the program's most significant accomplishments during its varsity era and highlighted GW's ability to compete with traditional rowing powerhouses at the highest level of collegiate competition.
Above: GW alumnus Aquil Abdullah (left) and partner Henry Nuzum representing the United States in the Men's Double Sculls at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Abdullah made history as the first African American rower on the U.S. Olympic team and finished sixth in the final, just 3.93 seconds from a bronze medal.
GW alumnus Aquil Abdullah '96 made history at the 2004 Athens Olympics, becoming the first African American rower to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. This groundbreaking achievement broke a significant racial barrier in a sport traditionally lacking in diversity at the elite international level.
Competing in the Men's Double Sculls with partner Henry Nuzum, Abdullah delivered an impressive performance on rowing's grandest stage. The American duo advanced to the Olympic final and ultimately finished sixth overall, missing the bronze medal by just 3.93 seconds in a closely contested race.
Abdullah's journey from GW to the Olympic Games represented not only a personal triumph but a significant milestone for both the university's rowing program and the broader landscape of American rowing. His pioneering achievement opened doors for future generations of diverse athletes in the sport while establishing GW's connection to Olympic rowing history.
Above: The 2009 Varsity 8+ that earned GW's first-ever IRA qualification in the premier event. From stern to bow: coxswain Lia Simeone, Karel Bryukhanov (8), Thomas Schryver (7), Craig Helmstetter (6), Dominic Abruzzese (5), William Lee (4), Curtis Batts (3), Robert Berns (2), Grant Lafarge (bow). This crew finished 9th at Eastern Sprints and 15th at the IRA National Championships.
The 2009 season marked a significant milestone for GW Men's Rowing as the Varsity 8+ earned the program's first-ever qualification to the prestigious IRA National Championships. This achievement represented GW's entry into national championship competition with its premier boat.
At the Eastern Sprints Championships in Worcester, MA, the Colonials placed 9th overall after a breakthrough performance. GW held off a charging University of Pennsylvania crew in the heats to advance to the Petite Final—already a program first. The Colonials then demonstrated their competitive strength by leading through the first half of the final and ultimately finishing ahead of established programs including Navy, Dartmouth, and MIT.
This ninth-place finish secured an automatic bid to the 2009 IRA National Championships in Sacramento, California, where the crew placed 15th nationally. The qualification established GW's Varsity 8+ among the nation's elite programs and began a new chapter in the program's competitive history.
Above: The 2009 Varsity 8+ that achieved record fall racing results. From stern to bow: Cox Lia Simeone, Karel Bryukhanov (8), Dominic Abruzzese (7), Craig Helmstetter (6), Colin York (5), Guy Tawney (4), Curtis Batts (3), Robert Berns (2), Thomas Schryver (bow). This crew placed 19th at the Head of the Charles and 7th at the Princeton Chase—the best finishes in program history at these prestigious fall regattas.
The Fall 2009 season saw GW Men's Rowing achieve unprecedented success at two of collegiate rowing's most competitive head races. Despite challenging conditions including heavy snow and strong winds in Boston, the Varsity 8+ placed 19th overall and 12th among collegiate entries at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in the Championship Eights event.
Building on this momentum, the crew delivered an even more impressive performance at the Princeton Chase, finishing 7th out of 43 boats in the Varsity Eight race—just 13 seconds behind the victorious Princeton crew. The GW JV8+ also competed in the Varsity event, placing 34th overall, while the program's two freshman crews demonstrated depth by finishing 12th and 15th in their category.
These results at the Head of the Charles and Princeton Chase marked the highest finishes in program history at these prestigious fall regattas, setting a strong foundation for the winter training period and the championship spring season to follow. The performances signaled GW's continued emergence as a serious contender on the national rowing scene.
Above: Trofym Anderson '14 pictured on the far left after having won Gold in the coxed four event at the Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy.
GW Men's Rowing's impact extended well beyond collegiate competition during the 2013-2014 season, with several current and former Colonials representing their countries in prestigious international competitions.
The program celebrated its first World Champion when Trofym Anderson '14 captured gold with Canada's Coxed Four at the 2014 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy. Anderson, rowing in the bow seat, helped the Canadian crew overcome a fifth-place position at the 500-meter mark to claim victory in a dramatic final.
Meanwhile, David Morgenstern '11 earned a bronze medal with the USA Lightweight Men's eight at the World Rowing Championships in Korea, adding to GW's international medal count.
The program's global footprint expanded further with Jordan Volpe '16 competing for the United States in the Lightweight Men's pair at the U23 World Championships. This marked Volpe's second consecutive summer representing the U.S. in international competition after previously competing in the Double Sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Austria.
Rounding out GW's international presence, Kasey Colander '14 rowed with the United States Men's eight at the World University Games in Russia, further demonstrating the program's ability to develop world-class talent.
These international achievements highlight GW Rowing's emergence as a program capable of producing athletes who compete at the highest levels of the sport worldwide.
Above: GW Men’s Rowing at the 2016 Henley Royal Regatta in the Henley-on-the-Thames, United Kingdom. From Left to Right: Assistant Coach Tom Guncik, Maddux Castle ‘18, Jordan Volpe ‘16, Matt Kerwin ‘19, Bob Hobert ‘19, Hugo Tribe ‘18, Jon Ghaul ‘17, Kevin Garvis ‘19, Brendan Keegans ‘17, Joe Gorman ‘17, Ben Delaney ‘18, and Head Coach Mark Davis.
For the first time in the program's 60 year history, the GW Men's Rowing team competed at the 2016 Henley Royal Regatta. The team fielded two boats to compete in the Visitor's Challenge Cup at the 2016 Henley Royal Regatta. Read: In Their Own Words: GW Men's Rowing on Henley Royal Regatta.
The Visitor’s Challenge Cup is a Men’s 4- event open to all ages and skill levels.
Above: The 2017 GW Men's Rowing team on Lake Natoma in Folsom, CA.
At the 2017 IRA National Championships, the 1V8+, 2V8+, and 3V8+ either tied or beat their respective seeding coming into the regatta.
The 1V8+ won the Third-Level Final to tie the best finish in program history at No. 14 in the nation. The 2V8+ rowed in a competitive Petite Final to notch a program-best national ranking of 12th. The 3V8+ rounded out GW's entries with a third-place showing in the Third-Level Final to clinch a final national ranking of No. 15.
GW concluded the 2017 season with a final national ranking of No. 15.
At the 2018 Annual Georgey Awards, an Athletic Department-wide award ceremony celebrating year-long accomplishments, the Men's Rowing team won the Raise High Our Community Team of the Year Award. This award is given to the athletic team that made the largest impact in our GW and D.C. community. The team logged over 1000 hours of community service.
In the same year, Jeffrey Dixon '19 won the Male Raise High Our Community Athlete of the Year Award, where he was nominated with two other teammates, John Knies '20 and Charlie Horton '21. Bob Hobert '19 won the Male Red Auerbach Award for the Best All-around Student-Athlete.
Above: GW Men’s Varsity 8+ crossing the finish line in 1st place on June 2, 2019. Crew: Coxswain Berkeley Melvin ‘19, Stroke Brendan Youmell ‘22, John Knies ‘20, Riley Toporowski ‘22, Bob Hobert ‘19, Matthew Kerwin ‘19, Patrick George ‘22, Jay Jacobs ‘19, Alex Maycock ‘21
On the final day of the 2019 IRA National Championship, the Men's Varsity 8+ won the 3rd level final placing 13th in the United States - a GW Men's Rowing Program record.
Best Finishes:
Varsity 8+ - 13th Place (2019), 14th Place (2014, 2017)
2nd Varsity 8+ - 12th Place (2017)
3rd Varsity 8+ - 11th Place (2016)
Varsity 4- 2nd Place, Silver Medal (2000)
Above: The 2021 GW Men's Rowing Team after finishing 7th overall at the 2021 IRA Championships at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, NJ.
Despite being cut as a varsity sport, the GWU Men's Rowing Team delivered a historic performance at the IRA National Championships securing 7th place overall - the best finish in program history. All three Varsity 8's achieved their highest respective placements ever: the 1V8+ finished 12th, the 3V8+ finished 9th, and the 2V8+ finished 7th after winning the Petite Final by open water against rowing powerhouse Brown, along with ousting Navy, Cornell, Stanford, and Wisconsin.
Above: The 2021 GW 2V8+ that made program history at IRA Championships. From stern to bow: Alec Esmond (coxswain), Aidan Rowland (stroke), Rory McKirdy (7), Oliver Broadrick (6), Clement Banwell (5), Oliver Peacock (4), Jack Hanson (3), Cole Dorsey (2), and Brendan Carney (bow). This crew dominated the Petite Final, defeating rowing powerhouse Brown by open water to secure 7th place overall - contributing to GW's best-ever team finish in their final varsity season.
Above: GW's ACRA National Championship boats from 2022. Top: The gold medal-winning Varsity 8+ with coxswain Luke Ames, Paddy George (stroke), Brian O'Rourke, Clement Banwell, Max Hanna, Noah Axford, Oliver Broadrick, Raymond Sanders, and Gaspard Cuvelier (bow). Bottom: The champion Second Varsity 8+ featuring coxswain Rishab Raval, Matthew Lepis (stroke), Braeden Arthur, Clendenin Stewart, David Herman, Marshall Thompson, Malcolm Nyman, Alex Canfield, and Braden Barnett (bow). These crews captured both premier events in GW's first ACRA appearance.
After transitioning to club status in 2021, GW Men's Rowing announced their arrival on the collegiate club scene with a historic performance at the 2022 American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships. In their very first appearance at this prestigious regatta, GW captured gold medals in both the Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 8+ events—the two premier boat categories in collegiate club rowing.
This remarkable double championship victory demonstrated the program's resilience and competitive spirit following their status change from varsity to club. Building on the momentum of their strong 7th place finish at the 2021 IRA National Championships in their final varsity season, GW established immediate dominance in their new competitive environment.
The team's commanding performance at ACRA proved that GW Rowing's commitment to excellence transcended their administrative classification, firmly establishing the program as a powerhouse in collegiate club rowing from the very start of this new chapter in team history.
Above: GW Men's Rowing's bronze medal crew at the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta in the Men's Collegiate Fours category. From right to left: Matthew Lepis (stroke), Braeden Arthur (3), Samanvitha Kaushik (coxswain), James Thompson (2), and Braden Barnett (bow). This crew secured GW's first-ever medal at the prestigious regatta, placing 3rd among 44 entries.
In October 2023, GW Men's Rowing achieved a significant milestone in program history by capturing the bronze medal in the Men's Collegiate Fours category at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. Competing against a deep field of 44 entries from across the country, the GW four demonstrated exceptional skill and determination to secure a place on the podium at the world's largest two-day rowing event.
This third-place finish marked the first-ever medal for GW at the Head of the Charles, where the program had been competing since their initial appearance in 1984. Navigating the challenging 3-mile Charles River course with its notorious bridges and turns, the crew's performance represented a breakthrough moment for the program on one of rowing's biggest competitive stages.
This bronze medal achievement not only showcased the continued competitive excellence of GW Men's Rowing but also established the program's ability to achieve success at the highest levels of collegiate club rowing across all boat classes and regatta formats.