A Summer of Success for Syracuse Oarsmen

Several Syracuse University men's rowers spent the summer months training and competing around the United States and internationally. The Orange hope to carry that momentum into the fall for a successful season.

"I was excited to see so many Syracuse rowers in action this summer across the domestic and international race circuit," Syracuse assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jason Elefant said. "Not only did we have two incoming freshmen get a taste of international rowing at the U19 and U23 levels, but we also saw a lot of our guys working hard with their home clubs or at camps this summer, culminating with a few medals at Club Nationals in July."

U23 World Championships – Racice, Czech Republic (July 7-11)
Jordan Backer '25 raced with Team USA in the U23 Men's Straight Four (BM4-) after winning the US U23 Trials in this boat class. The USA entry was a young crew aiming to get experience at the international level, with all crew members aged either 18 or 19. This crew finished 5^th in the C Final, 17^th overall in the event.

USRowing Summer Nationals – Cherry Hill, NJ (July 13-18)
Six Syracuse rowers competed in Cherry Hill in July. Finn Conlon, a rising junior, earned a gold medal in the U23 8+ for Mendota Development Camp (Madison, Wisconsin). Rising sophomore Reilly Egan also earned a medal, when he placed third in the U23 4+ with his club, Buffalo Scholastic. Evan Kinter '23 (Mercer), Jack Wilbur '24 (Sarasota), Aidan Pompa '24 (New York AC), and Isaac Evans '25 (Oklahoma City) also raced at Summer Nationals.

U19 World Championships – Plovdiv, Bulgaria (August 11-15)
Incoming freshman Declan Fry earned a seat in the U.S.'s U19 Men's Straight Four (JM4-) after being invited to the USA Selection Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., earlier in the summer. Fry's 4- finished third in the B final and ninth overall in the event.

Henley Royal Regatta – Henley-on-Thames, England (August 11-15)
Syracuse had 4 rowers competing at Henley Royal Regatta this summer, including incoming freshman and high school teammates Tommy Schrieber and Jack Gorman.

Schrieber and Gorman sat in seats seven and six, respectively, in the St. Joseph's Prep 8+ that competed in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for high school eights. After advancing with a bye in the first round on Wednesday, St. Joseph's Prep won a tight Thursday matchup against Shiplake College to advance and face St. Paul's School, the bronze medalist from this year's UK National School's Championship. St, Paul's beat Schrieber and Gorman's crew ending their run at Henley.

Senior Laurence Joss raced with his home club, Tideway Scullers, in the Prince of Wales event for intermediate quadruple sculls. Laurence rowed bow of the Scullers' crew that progressed through its early rounds all the way to the semifinals, where they fell to eventual winners Leander Club on Saturday.

Joe Willis '24 raced for Leander Club with his pair partner in the Silver Goblets event for senior pairs. Willis and his partner earned a spot in the event via the Henley Qualification Regatta and won their opening race on Friday, before losing in the Saturday semifinal to a pair from Cambridge University.

"At Henley we had four guys racing and two make it to the weekend, which is always a big accomplishment," Elefant said. "I was impressed with our contingent of U.S. and U.K. guys racing out there. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements everyone has made over the summer when the season picks up in a few weeks back on campus."

The men's rowing team begins practice in September and will announce a fall race schedule in the coming weeks.

Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Backer

Finn Conlon

Isaac Evans

Declan Fry

Jack Gorman

Laurence Joss

Evan Kinter

Aidan Pompa

Jack Wilbur

Joe Willis

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