George Washington University Athletics
Off The Line
Remarks by GW Men’s Rowing Head Coach Mark Davis at the 2019 GW Invitational Regatta
After a discouraging IRA’s last spring, two of our finals were cancelled due to bad conditions and our 1V conditions race their final in conditions most would call horrific, the 2019 team is determined to never let that happen again. Their goal is to have all GW boats racing in the A/B semifinals, putting us in the top 12 in the country. It is a lofty goal but one the team has worked diligently for.
Last weekend in our first race of the season against Harvard and Cornell we had a new milestone for the program. We have been doing this race since 2015 and for the first time we beat Cornell. Our 2nd varsity eight and 4th varsity eight both finished ahead of Cornell, having amazing races and shocking the hometown race announcers.
This weekend out on the water was a mixed bag. Some solid races but still a lot of work to do.
We have a talented group of freshmen this year with two freshmen in the varsity eight, five in the 2nd varsity eight and three in the 3rd varsity eight. More importantly, we have a very strong senior class, who I will introduce in a second. The best part of my job is watching the growth and development of these young men. When they arrive at as first years, I was just happy they found their classrooms and didn’t get lost on campus. In the last four years, they have: interned on Capitol Hill, State Department, SEC, the National Archives, doctor’s offices, clerked in small business, President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and have more community service hours than any other team at GW.
On the water, they have represented GW for the first time at the Royal Henley Regatta. They were part of record-setting performance at the IRA championship in the varsity, second varsity, and third varsity eights. Raced for the US at the U23 World Championship. Taking GW to higher levels in a field where the teams keep getting faster and faster.
I am very proud of what this senior class has accomplished over the past four years. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of their lives. BUT I am more excited to see what they will do in the next twenty years. I know they will continue to raise high.
Bob Hobert, ESIA ‘19, Antonia Lycouris, CCAS ‘19 and Mark Cenit, GWSB ‘89 Honored at Invite
Seniors Bob Hobert and Antonia Lycouris earned the Paul Wilkins Awards for outstanding seniors of the men’s and women’s rowing programs, and Mark Cenit was honored with the Dave Wilson Alumni Award for his Buff & Blue Fund Challenge Match.
Hobert, a native of Chicago, was recognized by Coach Davis for his consistent levels of energy for each and every practice and competition. In his remarks, Mark said that Bob is one of the few student-athletes he had ever coached who he felt he would personally let down if he didn’t bring his best coaching game to every practice. He sat in the V8 for the entirety of his career and competed at the USRowing U23 World Championship Trials. Bob serves as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was a leader in GW’s community service national championship in 2017. He interned at the US Department of State in Fall 2018.
Antonia Lycouris was recognized by first-year Head Coach Marci Robles for her leadership and support during the coaching transition with the GW women’s rowing program. Robles noted her strong, quiet presence on the team, and consistent efforts in a challenging season.
Gallery: (4/13/2019) GW Rowing Invitational Banquet
After a discouraging IRA’s last spring, two of our finals were cancelled due to bad conditions and our 1V conditions race their final in conditions most would call horrific, the 2019 team is determined to never let that happen again. Their goal is to have all GW boats racing in the A/B semifinals, putting us in the top 12 in the country. It is a lofty goal but one the team has worked diligently for.
Last weekend in our first race of the season against Harvard and Cornell we had a new milestone for the program. We have been doing this race since 2015 and for the first time we beat Cornell. Our 2nd varsity eight and 4th varsity eight both finished ahead of Cornell, having amazing races and shocking the hometown race announcers.
This weekend out on the water was a mixed bag. Some solid races but still a lot of work to do.
We have a talented group of freshmen this year with two freshmen in the varsity eight, five in the 2nd varsity eight and three in the 3rd varsity eight. More importantly, we have a very strong senior class, who I will introduce in a second. The best part of my job is watching the growth and development of these young men. When they arrive at as first years, I was just happy they found their classrooms and didn’t get lost on campus. In the last four years, they have: interned on Capitol Hill, State Department, SEC, the National Archives, doctor’s offices, clerked in small business, President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and have more community service hours than any other team at GW.
On the water, they have represented GW for the first time at the Royal Henley Regatta. They were part of record-setting performance at the IRA championship in the varsity, second varsity, and third varsity eights. Raced for the US at the U23 World Championship. Taking GW to higher levels in a field where the teams keep getting faster and faster.
I am very proud of what this senior class has accomplished over the past four years. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of their lives. BUT I am more excited to see what they will do in the next twenty years. I know they will continue to raise high.
Bob Hobert, ESIA ‘19, Antonia Lycouris, CCAS ‘19 and Mark Cenit, GWSB ‘89 Honored at Invite
Seniors Bob Hobert and Antonia Lycouris earned the Paul Wilkins Awards for outstanding seniors of the men’s and women’s rowing programs, and Mark Cenit was honored with the Dave Wilson Alumni Award for his Buff & Blue Fund Challenge Match.
Hobert, a native of Chicago, was recognized by Coach Davis for his consistent levels of energy for each and every practice and competition. In his remarks, Mark said that Bob is one of the few student-athletes he had ever coached who he felt he would personally let down if he didn’t bring his best coaching game to every practice. He sat in the V8 for the entirety of his career and competed at the USRowing U23 World Championship Trials. Bob serves as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was a leader in GW’s community service national championship in 2017. He interned at the US Department of State in Fall 2018.
Antonia Lycouris was recognized by first-year Head Coach Marci Robles for her leadership and support during the coaching transition with the GW women’s rowing program. Robles noted her strong, quiet presence on the team, and consistent efforts in a challenging season.