George Washington Men's Rowing has endured much change and uncertainty over the past two years. The team has rowed under three head coaches, trained through the sudden end of its most promising season to date at the start of COVID-19, and spent months training alone, with no racing in sight, away from any semblance of team dynamic. To top it all off, GW Men's Rowing was among seven GW teams removed as a varsity program - "streamlined," as GW chose to call it - over a Zoom call scheduled 30 minutes prior.
Nonetheless, during the Grand Final Year as a varsity program in 2020-21, GWMR made program and university history by placing 7th as a team at the IRA Championship. These program-best finishes in the 1V, 2V, and 3V events came without much acknowledgement from GW, let alone a sendoff or welcoming ceremony upon returning to campus that other teams were regularly afforded.
History was made in the face of silence from the university and athletic department, who so profoundly claim to be beacons of "Determination, Commitment, and Respect." No one except the 32 men and women on the team believed the results were possible. Four of the team's athletes even went on to compete for TBC Racing at the Henley Royal Regatta this past summer, advancing all the way to the quarter finals, only to be eliminated by a crew comprised mostly of U23 World Champions.
The GW administration and officials have shown a complete lack of determination, commitment, and respect for GWMR athletes who continued to put their physical and mental health on the line every day to proudly represent a university that did and does not value them. Administrators instead misguided and upended the lives of 32 athletes, a group of college students who simply wished to save the future of the storied team that they love, who declined other recruiting opportunities and worked their entire lives to represent the Buff and Blue. They cared more about attaining a number on a spreadsheet than maintaining fundamental resources for the university's highest nationally-ranked team.
Though GWMR still has not been given a clear answer for the cut, and the battle to rightfully regain immediate reinstatement to a Division 1 varsity team remains ongoing, the squad has remained intact and focused on producing on the water, in the classroom, and in the community, proudly cementing the traditions that have been instilled by generations of alumni that have come before.
The team has exhausted all options, and is now in a position where engaging the school on legal grounds is the remaining choice, having communicated the whole time this would be the last option the team would take. Administrators have consistently manipulated athletes to believe they were on the side of the team, but through the past 18 months it has become clear that was not the case. Please read below as to how you can help the team in this effort for reinstatement.
This fall, GW Men's Rowing has the opportunity to race at the Head of the Charles. They are poised, they are pissed, and they have something to prove. They will be racing in the Men's Collegiate 8+ (Bow 34). This will be the first time that GWMR will race an 8+ at HOCR since 2013. This opportunity represents all of the blood, sweat, and tears that this team has shed since it was announced that they would lose their varsity status. GWMR will have the opportunity to compete directly with teams they were competitive with during the past spring season and they look forward to this chance to compete with some of the top IRA and club teams in the country.
When it comes to practice day to day, the men and women of GWMR have not missed a beat.
Transitioning to a club program has given GWMR the opportunity to recruit novice rowers to the team. With the introduction of 20 new freshmen and novices, the squad is feeling stronger than ever.
New coaches Nate Goodman (Head Coach), Dusan Nikolic (Assistant Coach), and Brian Comey (Novice/Freshman Coach).
To help support GW Men's Rowing in this push for reinstatement, please email the chair of the board of trustees at trustees@gwu.edu or mail physical letters to:
825 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
202-994-0507
A suggested message:
Dear Ms. Speights & The George Washington Board of Trustees,
I am writing to express that The George Washington University was wrong to cut the GW Men's Rowing Team. Furthermore I am writing to alert you that treatment of the rowing team has fallen extremely short of the standards of your institution. I fully support the team in the endeavor to be reinstated and implore the university trustees to have a comprehensive evaluation of the decision to cut the team in the first place.
Kind Regards,
________________________________________
Otherwise, please consider making a direct donation to the team's operation fund. Any donations made to this fund are exclusive to the team and will enable the team to continue operating at the level of our esteemed program.
How to Donate
There are two easy ways to donate. The first is to donate online by using the link: go.gwu.edu/give2mencrew
The second way to donate is by mail. All donations should be addressed to
The George Washington University
PO BOX 98131
Washington DC 20077-9756
*On any written donations please make sure to address them to GW Men's Rowing.
For those who want further confirmation that their donation has been processed, you may reach out to our Treasurer, David Herman '22, at dherman21@gwu.edu.
Please reach out to our social media platforms with any questions or concerns. Thank you all again and we look forward to seeing you all on the water.