In the spring of 1995, the first Gonzaga Crew put two "pre-owned" eight-man shells on the Anacostia River and raced in four events. Setting a standard for future Eagle crews, the Freshman 8 and 3rd 8 finished first and the Novice 8 and 4th 8 placed third. With this impressive start, Gonzaga was initiated into the sport of rowing and became one of only nine Jesuit high schools in the country to establish a rowing program. The foundation for this competitive team was laid in early 1994 when a group of interested students lead by Junior Matt Weeden approached Kevin Harris – Gonzaga history teacher, rower and local crew coach for help in establishing a rowing program at Gonzaga.

The Weeden family had recently moved to Arlington, VA from Philadelphia, PA where Matt had attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School. Although Matt had not rowed for the prestigious Prep crew program, he was an experienced sculler. Matt's exposure to the sport at Prep and the success of his sister, Kate Weeden, on the Yorktown Crew (coached by Kevin Harris) motivated him to pursue a crew program at Gonzaga. This lucky confluence of motivated students, an experienced and enthusiastic teacher/mentor, and an explosion of interest in high school rowing in the Washington Metropolitan area resulted in Gonzaga Crew.

Crew at Gonzaga owes its great start to the guidance and sheer hard work of Kevin Harris and the commitment and dedication of its charter rowers and parents. During the twelve months preceding that first regatta on the Anacostia, Kevin Harris submitted a rowing program proposal to the school administration, borrowed training and rowing equipment and persuaded Derek Parsons and George Kirschbaum to conduct a two-week introductory rowing course during the summer for the fledgling crew. Unsuspecting parents, attending a backyard luncheon to hear a presentation by Kevin Harris about crew, formed the first board of Gonzaga Crew Boosters that afternoon and enthusiastically embarked on the organizational and fundraising groundwork that made Gonzaga Crew a reality in 1995.

Successful fundraising efforts resulted in the acquisition of two used racing shells: the Exorcist and the George Preston Marshall. Mr. Kirschbaum was hired as Head Coach and Eric Edmonds became Assistant Coach. By the Spring 1995 Regatta season, Gonzaga Crew consisted of 47 competitive novice rowers and Gonzaga added a new team to its tradition of excellence and achievement in sports.

1995

Founded by Kevin Harris

George Kirschbaum, Head Coach

Eric Edmonds, Assistant Coach

Gonzaga Crew begins competition as a novice rowing program out of Thompson Boat Center (TBC) on the Potomac River. Senior Matthew Weeden is named Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention.

1996

George Kirschbaum, Head Coach

Tessa Spillane, Assistant Coach

Crew acquires another 8, the "Joe Kozik." Gonzaga extends its winning tradition to the water. The Varsity Lightweight 8 places third in the Northern Virginia Championships, fourth at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup Regatta ("Stotesbury") in Philadelphia and fifth at the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championship (the "Nationals").

1997

George Kirschbaum, Head Coach

Eric Edmonds, Assistant Coaches

Now accorded veteran status, Gonzaga Crew competes against well-established, experienced rowing programs. Another 8 is added to the fleet, the "Adamas." Indicating just how far the rowing program has come by its third season, Crew now owns three 8s, four sets of oars, two launches, Cox-Boxes, ergometers and assorted other training equipment necessary to support the developing program. A sure sign of its veteran status, Crew receives a designated work-out room at school. Junior Mike Bonnit is an All-Met Honorable Mention.

1998

George Kirschbaum, Head Coach

Eric Edmonds and Jen Severidt, Assistant Coaches

Crew acquires another shell, a racing 8 christened the "Die Macht 8." The Freshman 8 competes at Stotesbury and the Nationals. Senior Mike Bonnit is the first Gonzaga oarsman named to the All-Met first team. Charlie Gans and Sean Holman are All-Met Honorable Mentions.

1999

Dave Foley, Head Coach

Brendan O'Malley, Assistant Coach

The generous gift of Gonzaga alumnus Richard Loftus ('56) funds the purchase of a four-man shell - the "Captain Casten." Under the direction of new head coach Dave Foley, Gonzaga Crew sets a new competitive standard. Crew enters five boats in the National Capital Area Scholastic Rowing Championships (the "NCASRA Championships"). Four boats compete at Stotesbury and the Nationals. At the NCASRA Championships, the Varsity 8 finishes third, winning bronze. The Varsity 4, the 2nd 8 and 3rd 8 each place second, winning silver. The Freshman 8 makes team history by advancing to the semi-finals at the Nationals.

2000

Dave Foley, Head Coach

Dan "Killer" Kilpatrick, Eric Leeder and Jen Severidt, Assistant Coaches

Crew builds on its impressive 1999 season. At the NCASRA Championships, the Lightweight 4, Freshman 8, 3rd 8 and 4th 8 each capture first. The Varsity 8 and 2nd 8 finish second. The Freshman 8 continues its tradition of post-season success, placing fifth at Stotesbury.

2001

Dave Foley (Head Coach)

Eric Leeder and Casey Lingan '96, Assistant Coaches

A new 8, the "Doctor C," is added to the fleet. During the regular season, most Gonzaga boats place first, second or third. This competitive surge continues in the post-season as the Lightweight 4, Varsity 8 and 2nd 8 all advance to the semi-finals at Stotesbury. The hopes of the Freshman 8 to continue its strong showing at Stotesbury are dashed when a pre-race collision at the starting line prevents the boat from competing. At the Nationals, all Gonzaga boats advance to the semi-finals. Junior Marty Gehrke is an All-Met Honorable Mention.

Dave Foley, Head Coach

Melissa Conradi, Assistant Coach

Pat McCloskey, Freshman Coach

Gonzaga Crew enjoys a sensational season. A new Vespoli M2 joins the fleet. The new 8 is christened the "Joe Curseen, Jr. '72" in honor of a Gonzaga alumnus who died of inhalation anthrax contracted from letters addressed to the Senate Office building after the September 11 attacks. The Freshman 8 finishes first in the Anacostia Classic, the area championship for lower boats. At the NCASRA Championships, the Varsity 8 places third. The 2nd 8 finishes first. The Lightweight 4 finishes second to capture the silver medal.

The powerful 2nd 8 makes team history, recording an undefeated season and winning the bronze medal at Stotesbury. At the Nationals, the 2nd 8 caps its remarkable season by finishing fourth. In recognition of the tremendous growth of the Gonzaga rowing program, The Washington Post awards Dave Foley "Coach of the Year" and names the 2nd 8 "Best Boat." Senior Marty Gehrke is the second Gonzaga oarsman to be named to the All-Met first team.

Dave Foley, Head Coach

Tom Spooner, Assistant Coach

Denise Kersten, Freshman Coach

Keith Roussill ’97, Assistant Coach

In another outstanding season, Gonzaga Crew records seventeen (17) first place finishes in the regular season and wins the 2003 NCASRA Mens' Team Trophy.

The Varsity 8 places first at the Charlie Butt Regatta, the Mayor's Challenge and the Darrell Winslow Regatta.

A new Vespoli M2 (temporarily named "The Sully" by the crew to honor their manager, Ryan Sullivan) arrives in time to be raced at Stotesbury, where the Varsity 8 makes team history by advancing to the finals.

The 2nd 8 delivers another amazing performance, an undefeated season, National Capitol Champions, NCASRA Champions and the silver medal at Stotesbury. At the Nationals, in a heart-stopping battle for silver, Prep, Chaminade and Gonzaga all cross the finish line within seven-tenths of a second. Upon videotape review, judges place the 2nd 8 fourth. The Washington Post again names the 2nd 8 "Best Boat."

Significant changes mark the 2003 season. Anticipating the construction of the Swedish Embassy on the compound where the high school shells are kept, Crew Boosters begin efforts to move Gonzaga Crew out of TBC. Gonzaga Crew becomes an Associate Member of the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association (ACBA) and relocates to its new boathouse on the Anacostia. Months later, TBC announces that the high school compound will be permanently closed in February 2004. After five impressive years of growth and accomplishment, Dave Foley leaves Gonzaga Crew to pursue an MBA at the University of Michigan. Tom Spooner succeeds as head coach. Senior Eric Gehrke is the third Gonzaga oarsman to be named to the All-Met first team. Paul Hamm and Neal Sonnenberg are All-Met Honorable Mentions.

2004

Tom Spooner, Head Coach

Kevin O'Connor, Freshman Coach

Jonathan Kidwell, Assistant Coach

Bob Brown, Booster President

The season begins with the christening of three shells: the Rev. Allen P. Novotny, S.J., a new Filippi eight, the Brother Jon V. King (formerly known as the Sully), the Matthew Weeden ‘95, a new Filippi four.

In a highly competitive season, Gonzaga Crew wins the Men's Team Trophies for the NCC and NCASRA Championships. At the NCC, the Senior 4, Junior 4 and Second 8 place first, the Varsity 8 and Third 8 place second and the Novice 8 places third. At the NCASRA Championship, the Second 4 and Second 8 win gold and the First 4 wins bronze. The Second 8 and JV 8 make the finals at Stotesbury. For the third consecutive season the Second 8 medals, bringing home a bronze medal. Gonzaga Crew raises the bar again as the Varsity 4 and JV 4 make history by winning bronze medals at the Nationals in Orlando.

Seniors Bobby Brown and Sean Riordan are the fourth and fifth Gonzaga oarsmen to be named to the All-Met first team. Andrew Killion, JT McGrath and Wally Sedgewick are All-Met Honorable Mentions.

2005

Tom Spooner, Head Coach

Kevin O’Connor, Freshman Coach

Jonathan Kidwell, Sean Riordan & Scott Gorman nS.J., Assistant Coaches

Mike Stack, Booster President

The 2004-05 season marks an important transition for Gonzaga Crew. The coaches, with the support of the Gonzaga athletic department and the Gonzaga Crew Boosters, embark on a strategy to make Gonzaga Crew more competitive with the top teams throughout the northeast. As part of this strategy, Gonzaga Crew begins a fall rowing program that includes several races to help rowers improve their rowing technique and physical stamina. Gonzaga Crew’s performance in the fall exceeds all expectations, winning the Occoquan Chase and placing 15th in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston against some of the top teams from throughout the world.

However, despite Gonzaga's reputation as a top-notch competitor, the National Capitol Area Scholastic Rowing Association (NCASRA) Crew Council objects to Gonzaga's fall rowing, saying it is not consistent with NCASRA rules, and sanctions Gonzaga from participating in any NCASRA-sponsored events in the spring of 2005. The penalty is harsh and unfair since many Virginia rowers participate in fall rowing programs on an individual, club, or school basis. Rather than capitulate to NCASRA, Gonzaga Crew resigns from NCASRA to pursue a schedule as an independent team. In a gesture consistent with the forthright spirit of Gonzaga Crew, a shore wall in Georgetown is painted in purple with the words, "Sanction Us."

Gonzaga Crew enters the brave new world as an independent team with confidence and emerges with impressive results. Gonzaga boats sweep dual meets against Wilson, Bethesda- Chevy Chase and St. Albans. The boys row well against some of the top teams on the east coast in an invitation-only regatta at St. Andrews.

For the first time, Gonzaga Crew rows in the Northeast Junior Regional Championships, with the Second 8, Third 8 and the Second Freshman 8 winning gold medals.

At Stotesbury Cup, the Gonzaga Second 8 wins the silver medal while the Varsity 8, Third 8 and Freshmen 8 reach the semi-finals. At the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championships, the Varsity 8, Second 8 and Freshman 8 reach the semi-finals with the Second 8 reaching the finals.

Senior Co-Captain Michael (Packey) Stack and Sophomore Carl Thunman are named to the Washington Post’s first All-Met team. The Gonzaga Second 8 is named by the Post as the best second 8 in the region. Packey Stack also received the Kevin Harris Award.

With each passing year, our Gonzaga oarsmen continue to match their athletic accomplishment with academic success. In the finest tradition of our Gonzaga scholar-athletes, Senior Co-Captain Ty Newell is named salutatorian for Gonzaga's Graduating Class of 2005.

2006

Tom Spooner, Head Coach

Jenn Bradley, Assistant Coach

John Linnehan '01, Freshman Coach

Jack Pfeiffer '02, Assistant Freshman Coach

Mr. Ken Eggleston, Booster President

2006 was another highly competitive year for the Eagles.  The team began by welcoming new faces on the coaching staff.  In his third season as head coach, Tom Spooner welcomed assistant Coach Jenn Bradley, freshman coach John Linnehan ’01 and freshman assistant Jack Pfeiffer ’02. The varsity team continued to enjoy the benefits as an independent program, and thrived at the championship regattas.

After a slow start to the racing season, the varsity Eight made key changes to its lineup and found success towards the end of the season.  The boat finished in the top six in time trials at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, and missed the final by only 2 seconds in its semi-final.  The  2nd Eight showed speed throughout the entire season, culminating in a first place finish at the Northeast Regional, a fifth place finish at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, and a sixth place finish as SRA Nationals.

In other news, the team acquired a new racing shell, a Fillipi 8 to be christened the LCDR Erik S. Kristensen ’90 in September ’07. Individually, Carl Thunman was named first team All-Met for the second consecutive year and competed for the United States in the World Junior Rowing Championships in Amsterdam. Former coxswain and current rower Will Minor received the Kevin Harris Award.

2007

Tom Spooner, Head Coach

John Linnehan '01, Freshman Coach

Jenn Bradley and Jesse Burns, Assistant Coaches

Mr. Terry Ethridge, Booster President

The 2006-7 season began in the fall with the christening of the team’s newest Filippi 8, the LCDR Erik S. Kristensen ‘90, an event attended by members of Navy Crew, Erik’s parents and friends, the Gonzaga team, and many others. (Pictures here.) In the fall season, Gonzaga competed at the Occoquan Chase, the Head of the Charles (finishing 51/80), and the Head of the Occoquan finishing 4^th in the 8+ and 1^st in the 4+. With an exciting start to the year, the Eagles once again began winter training atop Kohlman Hall in anticipation for the spring season. The team also acquired an additional erg room in the basement of Kohlman Hall, and purchased of six new ergometers.

Gonzaga had a great showing at the '07 Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints in February. Captains Colin Ethridge and Carl Thunman took home gold medals in their events (Junior Ltwt Men 2000 (Age 17-19) and Junior Men 2000 (age 18)), and many boys erged their personal bests.

The spring racing season started with a bang in Philadelphia at the first Manny Flick with the Varsity and 2V finishing first in their races and the Junior 8 finishing 3^rd against some strong early season competition. The following week was a dual against BCC and Dematha, and Wilson the week after with significant defeats in all races. Against BCC and Dematha, the 1V and 2V won their races with the Junior 8 defeating BCC’s 2V. The 1F also won and the 2F overcame BCC’s 1F. Against Wilson, the 1V, 2V, 1F, and 4+ all won their races, with the Junior 8 losing the BCC’s 2V and the 2F losing to Wilson’s 1F.

The first real test, however, for the so far successful crews came the next week at St. Andrews’ Invitational. The Varsity defeated for the first time St. Joes Prep, coming in 2^nd in the race to future Stotes champs Thomas Jefferson (TJ). The 2^nd Varsity finished 5^th in a tight race for 3^rd, while the Junior 8 won their race against very tough competition. The freshman placed 3^rd against two Prep boats, while the second freshman placed 2^nd.

The following week was the newly named David P. Foley Cup (formerly the God Cup) against St. Albans, with the anonymous Gonzaga donation of a cup named after former Head Coach Dave Foley. The 2^nd Varsity defeated St. Albans’s 2V, with the Gonzaga Junior 8 coming in only a second behind STA’s 2V. The Freshman lost a tight race by only a second while the 4+ defeated STA by several. The Varsity lost in a very exciting race. Neck and neck until the 750, STA pulled of an enormous lead gaining almost a boat. Gonzaga fought back and in the sprint came back several seats, eventually only losing the race by 3 seats, 1.3 seconds. Mrs. Sam Kristensen, mother of Erik (for whom our 1V boat is named) rode along the 1V race in the launch. Also, a learn-to-row was held after the race, proceeds which went to benefit the Gonzaga Gala.

With several weeks off, the crew began three weeks of training prior to Stotesbury. At Stotes, the 1F placed 17^th in trials and 6^th in their Semi-final. The Junior 8 placed 10^th in trials and got 4^th in their Semi against schools that prioritize their Junior 8 before their 2V. The 2V got 8^th in trials and also got 4^th in their Semi in a tough race. The Varsity got 9^th in trials and was placed in a difficult Semi with Prep, Chaminade, and Mainland, also getting 4^th. With somewhat disappointing results, the crews looked on to the following week to finish some unsettled business.

At SRA Nationals in Camden, NJ, the Eagles were back. The freshman had an unfortunate end to their season, finishing 6^th but beating Mainland. The junior 8 finished 4^th in a tough heat with Prep, and the 2V finished 3^rd, just out of qualifying, in a very good race against Winter Park (2V champs) and New Trier (mid-west champs) but defeating Ocean City. The Varsity finished 2^nd in their heat, putting them in a repechage against St. Andrews and Ocean City in which they got 1^st. In the Semi against Prep, Greenwich and St. Albans, the Varsity finished 3^rd defeating St. Albans by a second and behind Greenwich by .8, just out of qualifying. In the petite final they finished second to St. Albans, but ahead of Chaminade who had beaten them the previous week, as well as St. Johns (who crashed into them at the Charles), New Trier, and Florida crew Belen Jesuit.

Senior Carl Thunman was named to the Washington Post All Met team, and Dan Gallagher (Sr.) and James Stewart (Jr.) received All Met Honorable Mention. Senior coxswain Dan Albornoz was Senior Class Salutatorian, and Dan Gallagher received the Kevin Harris Award at the Crew Banquet.