GRP Row: U23s summer experience
U23 Athletes: Wesley Walker, Dallas Watson, Tatum Swanwick, Manon Field, Cecily Shaber, Jane Doyle, Kate MacBryde, JP Denfeld, Evan Gold, Daniel Malecki, Ben Harper, Sam van Adrichem Boogaert, Conor Kelly.
This summer, 13 GRP athletes trained in Craftsbury as part of the U23 program. The group represented colleges from across the country, all looking to sharpen their small-boat skills while away from their collegiate teams. Most NCAA and IRA programs emphasize large boats like 8+s and 4+s since those are the championship events, so the summer is an opportunity to focus on sculling—especially singles. Time in smaller boats is invaluable; rowing a single gives direct, immediate feedback, helping athletes connect their technique to boat speed.
The athletes arrived with a wide range of sculling experience but shared a common eagerness to improve. Evan Gold, fresh off a strong sophomore year at Cal, came in with little sculling background. With focus and resilience—even after “a fair share of being in the water”—he left the summer confident in his ability to scull. Ben Harper, a rising senior at Marietta and an experienced sculler, learned consistency: “Progress doesn’t come fast. The most important thing is putting in the meters every day.” He also thrived in the competitive training environment, which included time on the water with GRP’s senior athletes, pushing him to test his limits and build confidence heading into his final collegiate season.
Outside of training, the U23 rowers lived at Sterling College alongside U23 Ski and Biathlon athletes. The housing set-up created a fun and supportive community—bonding over work parties, hiking, swimming, craft nights, trivia with the senior athletes, and watching TV together. Each week, the athletes contributed to the local community through activities such as gardening, helping with community rows, and assisting in the dining hall. Rest and recovery were just as important as training, and a weekly off-day gave athletes a chance to explore Vermont through biking, hiking, yoga, or simply recharging by the lake.
Racing opportunities rounded out the summer. At the Eastern Regional Championships (ERAs), GRP’s small squad placed third overall as a team—a strong showing ahead of Canadian Henley. At Henley, the team achieved standout results with wins in the U23 W2x, U23 M4x, Senior W4x, and Women’s Single Dash. Three additional crews made the podium and six more finished in the top 10. The regatta’s unique structure, which allowed athletes to race in multiple boat classes, provided invaluable experience across sweeping and sculling. Evan Gold reflected on racing “across a bunch of disciplines—singles, doubles, quads, and even sweep on both sides,” while BU’s Dan Malecki capped off his summer with wins and podiums: “It was rewarding to apply everything I’d worked on all season and see it pay off.”
The U23 rowers now depart Craftsbury, ready to bring the technical gains and competitive confidence from the summer back to their collegiate crews. Want to be a part of the U23 program in 2026? Find info and application here.
