Three Syracuse Oarsmen Headed to U23 World Championships
7/14/2023 2:19:00 PM | Men's Rowing
Three Syracuse University oarsmen will compete at the upcoming 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, July 19-23.
Rising seniors Lachlan Doust (Australia), Sean McHugh (New Zealand) and Joe Willis (Great Britain) have made the squad for their respective home countries.
"What a well-earned honor it is for these three to be representing their home countries at the U23 World Championships," Syracuse Head Coach Dave Reischman said. "They all mentioned their freshmen year that U23s was a goal and they worked toward it and made it happen. I am so incredibly happy for them."
The five-day regatta takes place at Plovdiv's artificial canal with a total length of 2,300 meters that was designed to meet the contemporary requirements for staging major water sport events. The location of the course nestled between natural forests to offers fair and equal conditions in all lanes.
Doust, a Willoughby, Australia, native, earned an invite to U23 trials this summer and made the men's eight crew that will represent Australia in Plovdiv later this month. Doust, elected captain for the 2023-24 season, helped Syracuse to its second-straight fifth place finish at the IRA Championship Regatta in June.
"There is no greater honor than representing the Green & Gold of Australia at the upcoming U23 World Championships," Doust said. "The team has trained hard together, and we are looking forward to showing what we are capable of."
Willis, a Wokingham, England, native was selected for Great Britain's men's eight for the upcoming U23 World Championship. It marks the first time Willis will represent GB on an international stage. He placed ninth in 2019 at the GB Rowing U23 trials in a single as an 18-year-old. Willis sat five-seat in the Orange Varsity 8 that placed 5th at the IRA Championship Regatta and was a key member of the crew that secured Syracuse's first medal at Eastern Sprints in over 40 years on May 14.
"I have been working to get into a GB Worlds boat since I was 17 years old," Willis added. "Through a lot of hard work on myself as an athlete and a rower over the last four years I have managed to complete my goal, which seemed impossible during those four years, but I managed to do it. The feeling is surreal, but I didn't do it on my own and I owe everything to those who supported me and guided me over that time."
Willis and Doust will race in the same event at U23s at the end of the month.
"To be able to say I'm in the Great Britain 8+ and will be racing a very good friend of mine makes me excited," Doust added. "I am really happy for Lachlan [Doust] because we have shared similar experiences rowing together the last two years to get to where we are today.
Making the team was the first part, now we have to perform in front of the whole world," Willis added. "I am very much looking forward to it!"
McHugh makes his Rowing New Zealand debut at U23s as a member of the men's coxed four. The Auckland, New Zealand, native helped Syracuse's 2V8+ to a ninth-place finish at the IRA Championships.
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For more on the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, visit the event website here.
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Rising seniors Lachlan Doust (Australia), Sean McHugh (New Zealand) and Joe Willis (Great Britain) have made the squad for their respective home countries.
"What a well-earned honor it is for these three to be representing their home countries at the U23 World Championships," Syracuse Head Coach Dave Reischman said. "They all mentioned their freshmen year that U23s was a goal and they worked toward it and made it happen. I am so incredibly happy for them."
The five-day regatta takes place at Plovdiv's artificial canal with a total length of 2,300 meters that was designed to meet the contemporary requirements for staging major water sport events. The location of the course nestled between natural forests to offers fair and equal conditions in all lanes.
Doust, a Willoughby, Australia, native, earned an invite to U23 trials this summer and made the men's eight crew that will represent Australia in Plovdiv later this month. Doust, elected captain for the 2023-24 season, helped Syracuse to its second-straight fifth place finish at the IRA Championship Regatta in June.
"There is no greater honor than representing the Green & Gold of Australia at the upcoming U23 World Championships," Doust said. "The team has trained hard together, and we are looking forward to showing what we are capable of."
Willis, a Wokingham, England, native was selected for Great Britain's men's eight for the upcoming U23 World Championship. It marks the first time Willis will represent GB on an international stage. He placed ninth in 2019 at the GB Rowing U23 trials in a single as an 18-year-old. Willis sat five-seat in the Orange Varsity 8 that placed 5th at the IRA Championship Regatta and was a key member of the crew that secured Syracuse's first medal at Eastern Sprints in over 40 years on May 14.
"I have been working to get into a GB Worlds boat since I was 17 years old," Willis added. "Through a lot of hard work on myself as an athlete and a rower over the last four years I have managed to complete my goal, which seemed impossible during those four years, but I managed to do it. The feeling is surreal, but I didn't do it on my own and I owe everything to those who supported me and guided me over that time."
Willis and Doust will race in the same event at U23s at the end of the month.
"To be able to say I'm in the Great Britain 8+ and will be racing a very good friend of mine makes me excited," Doust added. "I am really happy for Lachlan [Doust] because we have shared similar experiences rowing together the last two years to get to where we are today.
Making the team was the first part, now we have to perform in front of the whole world," Willis added. "I am very much looking forward to it!"
McHugh makes his Rowing New Zealand debut at U23s as a member of the men's coxed four. The Auckland, New Zealand, native helped Syracuse's 2V8+ to a ninth-place finish at the IRA Championships.
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For more on the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, visit the event website here.
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