NEW HAVEN, Conn. –
In unprecedented times, Yale University Athletics is rallying together as One Bulldog Nation. While the health and safety of everyone must be at the forefront of every decision, Yale Athletics celebrates the outstanding accomplishments that our winter postseason-qualifying teams and spring programs have made this season. Today we begin honoring the outstanding senior classes of our teams that had their seasons cut short. Here is heavyweight crew.
While injuries or adverse weather periodically remind members of the Yale Heavyweight Crew Team that there are never guarantees in sport, the COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in a canceled season and athletic careers prematurely cut short. For younger rowers, the canceled season is undeniably painful but offers silver linings: months of uninterrupted athletic development, additional time to focus on studying, and increased reverence for the racing season. For the Class of 2020, however, the canceled season is heartbreaking. For many seniors, their competitive rowing career has ended. No Senior Day. No last IRAs. No new coat of blue paint at Gale's Ferry.
The Class of 2020 consists of 16 rowers from four countries:
Thomas Beck,
Thomas Bischoff,
Woods Connell,
Magruder Dent,
Thomas Digby (captain),
Nicholas Helms,
Katherine Hofmann,
Garth Holden,
Leonard Jenkins,
Henry Kamp,
Nikita Kvasniov,
Will Powers,
Liam Sherif,
Edgar Staunton,
Jack Webber, and
Jonathan Winter. Among this cohort are multiple IRA All-Academic Honorees, IRA Champions, World Champions, and likely future Olympians.
Just a few weeks ago, the seniors were gearing up to lead the Bulldogs on one of the best runs in Yale Crew history. The Elis topped the IRA/USRowing preseason coaches' poll after coming off their third straight IRA National Title and a fifth consecutive Eastern Sprints Championship, and the team's depth was stronger than ever. While we will not see such predictions come to fruition, the legacy of the Class of 2020 will never be forgotten. Although this is not the final chapter the Class of 2020 hoped for, the story these rowers have written thus far is an epic tale of friendship, dedication, and historic success.
The early end of the season has led the seniors to begin reflecting on their Yale careers. Digby, captain of the 2019-20 crew, says that he will never forget winning the first IRA National Title in Yale Crew history by 0.069 seconds during his first year. Of his time at Yale, Digby says that "Yale Crew has left me nothing but proud, I leave three for three at the Ivy League, National, and Yale-Harvard Championships."
Jenkins is most proud of beating Harvard at the 2017 Yale-Harvard Regatta in the 2V during his first year. Jenkins remembers that "we had beaten Harvard by less than a second at the IRAs…and we had a fire under us to give them our best race." Like Jenkins, Holden also considers racing Harvard in the 2V to be his favorite memory at Yale. Holden will never forget "taking a length on Harvard in the first 30 strokes and then opening it up for another three miles." The 2V ultimately beat Harvard by 9 seconds that year.
Bischoff fondly remembers beating Harvard in the 3V during his first year. "We had previously lost to Harvard three times earlier that season. Our Captain, Rob, had been sidelined due to illness but he wasn't going to let his last race at Yale pass him by… The boat wasn't necessarily better, but we gained so much confidence knowing that Rob was putting it all on the line for us and that we were doing the same for him…we won by two boat lengths."
The seniors boast some impressive rowing accomplishments aside from those at Yale. At the 2018 World Championships, Connell coxed the US four to a gold medal, and Digby and Jenkins both won silver medals in the eight for Great Britain. Digby had already captured a world title the summer after his first year in New Haven.
At the 2019 World Championships, Jenkins won gold in the eight for Great Britain, Digby won gold in the straight four for GB, Connell won silver in the eight for the U.S., and Beck placed 8
th in the straight four for the U.S.
Yale's Craig W. Johnson '68 Head Coach
Steve Gladstone often reminds his athletes to "enjoy the process." The process encompasses everything from grueling early morning workouts and pushing yourself to your limits, to spending spring break doing double days and rowing through freezing rain. In some ways, the training process could be looked at as a means to an end; the process gives you memories, unbreakable bonds with teammates, and hopefully a national title. However, at a moment in history like this, heeding Gladstone's advice is even more important. Perhaps the process is about more than delivering victories and beating Harvard. The process can be an end itself, revealing to athletes what they are capable of, teaching athletes to love passion driven work, and giving athletes teammates that will be brothers and sisters for life.
To this effect, Dent's favorite memory is not of an official competition or championship, but of the final fall practice on the Housatonic River his sophomore fall. The workout was a team favorite: a 7,000-meter intra-squad race. After the race, assistant coach
Mike Gennaro disqualified three out of four boats, including Dent's boat, for exceeding the strict rate cap. Dent explained that "despite the draconian umpiring by [coach Gennaro]…the workout reminds me of the strong comradery the Yale Crew team espouses, the loyalty, the trust…and the love for making Yale boats go fast."
When the Yale squad learned of the season cancelation, emotions ranged from shock to disbelief, anger to sadness. Bischoff said that "people wanted to find ways to still race, to stay together, but it eventually sank in that this was the end of the line."
The team went out for one final row all together. The team divided into boats based on class year (seniors vs. juniors vs. sophomore) in one all out open rate 2k. The race was not aimed at training for an upcoming season, but to do something everyone on the team loves. Row.
Oh, and who won? The seniors of course.
Class of 2020 Profiles
Thomas Beck, from Sandy, Utah, competed in the 2V for most of his time at Yale, winning silver medals at Eastern Sprints and bronze medals at IRAs. He persevered through illness to find success as both a port and starboard. Tom, an avid skier, excelled as a Yale oarsman through his friendliness and love of competition.
Thomas Bischoff, from Califon, N.J., had a sizable personality around the boathouse. Affectionately known as "Bisch," he was a fixture of the 3V. His impressive strength made him an asset to the team, which was highlighted by a win at Eastern Sprints his junior year. Bischoff plans to use his experience as a T.A. to teach high school after Yale.
Woods Connell, from Bethesda, Md., was the 2V coxswain his three seasons at Yale, highlighted by two silver medals at Eastern Sprints and two bronze medals at IRAs. Woods brought an intensity to rowing, the classroom and beyond that fueled his constructive competition. Woods' consistency and work ethic will be missed.
Magruder Dent, a Chevy Chase, Md., native, walked on to the team his first year and raced in the 4v and 5v during his Yale career, culminating with a win at Eastern Sprints in the 5V his junior year. Magruder was a scholar as well as an athlete and was an early inductee into the Phi Beta Kappa society. Magruder's old-school work ethic and charm made him a special rower.
Thomas Digby, from Oxfordshire, U.K., was the captain of the 2019-20 team. A leader on and off the water, and a record holder on the ergometer, he helped spur the success and development of the team from his rookie season onward. With three victories in the 1V at both Eastern Sprints and the IRA Championships, Digby looked to win an unprecedented four times. An approachable captain who led by example with his dedication and commitment to Yale Crew, he will surely find success in his future rowing endeavors.
Nicholas (Cole) Helms, an Ely, Minn., native, had little experience on the water before coming to Yale. He developed his rowing skills quickly and rose to become an important part of the team, both through his contributions to the 3V and 4V and his kind demeanor and positive attitude. Helms plans to teach high school and coach rowing after Yale.
Katherine Hoffman, a Barrington, R.I., native known as "Kass," was the 4V coxswain for her three years at Yale. She was a versatile coxswain who easily transitioned to the task at hand and could easily go from boat to boat. Hoffman's easygoing humor was important to the boathouse atmosphere, and her coxing never failed to inspire competition among boats. She will be working with Teach for America after Yale.
Garth Holden, from Johannesburg, South Africa, found success in the 2V during his time at Yale, including two silver medals at Eastern Sprints and two bronze medals at the IRA national championships. His humor and guitar skills were often present on campus, the bus, or the boathouse, but those talents never detracted from his commitment to rowing.
Leonard (Lenny) Jenkins, from Whakatane, New Zealand, excelled as one of the program's top rowers throughout his career at Yale. As a member of the 1V for its 2018 and 2019 IRA National Championships, he also holds the distinction of competing internationally for both Great Britain and New Zealand. Very few Yale oarsmen are as committed and driven as Jenkins.
Henry Kamp, from Sydney, Australia, was a fixture in the 2V during his career at Yale. He was known for being a notably skilled rower. Soft spoken but friendly, and (often) vegetarian, Kamp's rowing nuance helped him contribute to silver medals at Eastern Sprints and bronze medals at the IRA National Championships. He consistently proved himself through action and not words by seat racing his way through the ranks of the team.
Nikita Kvasniov, a London, U.K., native, had little experience rowing before he walked on to the team midway through his first year. He quickly became a skilled oarsman, stepping up to the 4V for Eastern Sprints and the Yale-Harvard Regatta. Kvasniov continued on to win the 5V race at Eastern Sprints his junior year. Good natured and kind, he helped create cohesion between different classes and boats and significantly progressed as a rower during his time at Yale.
Will Powers, from Greenwich, Conn., spent most of his Yale career in the 3V but rowed in the silver-medal winning 2V at Sprints his junior year. Powers succeeded in bringing the team together. He always pushed himself to be better and never stayed complacent, particularly in his senior season before it was cut short.
Liam Sherif, from New York City, followed in the footsteps of his father, a Yale oarsman. The walk-on helped the Bulldogs' 5V win at the 2019 Eastern Sprints, Sherif's Yale rowing career was defined by consistent improvement. Whether through his calm and collected attitude or weight-efficient rowing, he was always a friendly presence ready to tackle indoor and water workouts.
Edgar (Conway) Staunton, a Fairfield, Conn., native, competed in various boats during his time at Yale, including the 2V his rookie year. A member of Yale's premier folk group
Tangled Up In Blue, Stanton helped lead through friendly encouragement and forthright advice. What he lacked in height in a sport of giants, he more than made up for in heart and strength.
Jack Webber, from Chester, U.K., won Eastern Sprints in the 3V his first year before competing in the 4V his sophomore and junior seasons. Suffering an unfortunate knee ligament injury his senior season, Webber was an important and enduring part of the team. Even with some setbacks, he consistently brought a lively spirit and passion to rowing and the boathouse.
Jonathan (Jono) Winter, from Auckland, New Zealand, and his eager attitude both on and off the water will leave a notable absence. During his first spring at Yale, Winter moved up to the 1V when captain Rob Hurn was injured and, with short notice, helping power Yale to its first ever IRA championship in 2017. With continued success in the 2V in later years, he was both engaged and productively relaxed despite some injuries.
