USRowing is pleased to announce that Ellen Tomek and Andrew Reed have been selected as the 2017 USRowing Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively.
Voting for the awards is done by the athletes and coaches of the senior national teams, and both Tomek and Reed will be honored at the 2017 Golden Oars Awards Gala on Nov. 15 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Tomek made history at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla., earlier this month by winning silver in the women's double sculls. Along with teammate Meghan O'Leary, the U.S. crew became the first-ever American boat to earn a silver medal in the event at the world championships; four crews had previously won bronze: 1977 (Lisa Hansen Stone/Liz Hills O'Leary); 1978 (Lisa Hansen Stone/Liz Hills O'Leary); 1987 (Anne Marden/Barb Kirch); 1990 (Kris Karlson/Alison Townley).
A native of Flushing, Mich., Tomek began her rowing career at the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a degree in Economics, is a two-time Olympian and nine-time national team member. She finished fifth in the women's double at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and sixth in the same boat class at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with O'Leary.
"I'm shocked, surprised, grateful. There's a lot of things coming to mind right now," voiced Tomek, moments after being notified of her award. "This is such a great honor, especially coming from your teammates and coaches voting. I couldn't have achieved the success I've had without Megan (Tomek's partner in the W2X) and Sarah (Trowbridge, Tomek's coach) among others, but to be honored is such a great feeling."
Male Athlete of the Year, Andrew Reed, was seven-seat in the U.S. men's eight that won silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. Reed grew up in Wayland, Mass., and rowed at Harvard University where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in Human Evolutionary Biology.
Reed began his career at the USRowing Training Center just last fall, following a win in the men's pair with teammate Jordan Vanderstoep at the USRowing Fall Speed Order. Reed and Vanderstoep won the event at the 2017 National Selection Regatta in May before joining the men's eight selection group.
"This whole summer and September have been amazing. As a team, we seem to be in a great place, and I can't wait to see where we go from here," reflected Reed. "To be honored as the Male Athlete of the Year, that means so much to me."