Dec. 28, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - With the fall term over, Christmas offers the USD men’s rowing team a chance to rest and reflect on what has been accomplished so far this year. 

“The racing results are showing that the team is as strong as ever,” stated head coach Brooks Dagman.    A trip with our top weight adjusted eight to the Head of the American, a first for the program, resulted in a good performance and a 6th place finish against several tough opponents.  The Row for the Cure, as well as the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival and the San Diego Fall Classic, brought some mixed results as the racing lineups shifted.  The final race at Long Beach really showed what the team is capable of, with wins in the open eight, novice eight, novice four, and open pair.  While the Christmas Sprints are mostly about having fun, it is worth noting that the only other time USD has won the open eight there was in 2009.  The racing there is always heated. An 850-meter sprint is a great way to see how much the athletes are willing to suffer for a win.

The fall term also saw several great performances from our alumni racing squad.  The alums either won, or were close to winning, every event that they entered this fall.  It was great to see the guys that raced so well during their tenure as undergraduates still grabbing wins twenty-five years later.

“As we move into the spring term, the squad seems poised for one of the best seasons ever.  We will continue to check in with all of you regarding planning for the Crew Classic, as well as all of the other upcoming races,” stated Dagman.  “Thanks again to all of you that have supported USD men’s rowing this fall, the program has never seen such supportive parents and alums!  We really appreciate each and every one of you.”