George Washington University Athletics
Men’s Rowing Wraps up Fall Season
11/5/2018 10:18:00 AM | Men's Rowing
Colonials prepare for competitive spring
Opening the 2018 fall season, the George Washington men's rowing team graduated six rowers in exchange for a strong class of 20 first-year student-athletes from programs across the country and around the world.
"I try not to get too excited about an incoming first-year class, as they have never rowed for GW, or attended classes," said head coach Mark Davis. "But after this fall season, I can tell you that this first-year class is special. They have good depth, speed, strength and amazing energy. The future of the programs is in great hands with this group".
After seeing a record rainfall for the DMV area for the month of September, the Colonials debuted four of the fifteen first-years at the 54th Head of the Charles Regatta, located on the Charles River in Boston.
Representing the team in the Championship Heavy Four was Patrick George, Riley Toporowski, Bob Hobert and Matt Kerwin, coxed by Berkeley Melvin. The boat placed ninth out of 18 crews, with a time of 18:11.382, beating Princeton, Wisconsin and Penn. Holding down the program's 2017 achievement of placing sixth in the Men's Club Four was team captain Colin Burns, Oliver Peacock, Rory McKirdy, Jay Jacobs and Laurel Wain. The boat maintained their admirable finish by maintaining sixth place out of 55 other crews with a time of 17:15.890.
This year's fall racing season came to a close at the Princeton Chase held on the Carnegie River in Princeton, New Jersey. GW sent five boats, three 8's and two heavy coxed 4's. The 1V8+ had a total time of 13:35.122, earning the Colonials 10th in a race of 32 entries. Also finishing top ten in their event, the 1V4+ posted 15:16.432, following one minute and three seconds behind was the 2V4+ finishing at 16:19.589 in 20th place. Both the second and third varsity crews struggled to hold their own in Men's Varsity 8+ event, as the 2V8+ placed 24th and the 3V8+ was 27th out of 32 other crews.
"I was pleased with our fall results, but we have a long way to go and a lot of work to put in if we want to reach our goals," Davis said. "We are back on the water and plan to stay until TBC pulls the docks. Then we will be indoors crushing the ergs and weights."
The fall racing season may be over, but the Colonials are just getting started as they phase into intense indoor strength and erg training regimen in preparation for the spring racing season. The team also welcomes back alumni Maddux Castle and David Lincoln as assistant coaches for the 2018-19 season.
The team plans to kickoff 2019 by taking some strokes in DeLand, Fla. for their annual winter training trip. The spring racing season will be kicked off with the Mar. 30 scrimmage held in Princeton against Georgetown and Princeton crews. During the spring season, all strokes taken on both erg and water will be in pursuit of qualifying and placing favorably in the 2019 Intercollegiate Rowing Associations (IRA) Championship regatta. The events will be held on Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif.
Players Mentioned
