Gonzaga Boys, Bethesda-Chase Girls Defend WMIRA Rowing Titles

The Gonzaga crew team was aware of the mounting pressure they would face pursuing their third successive Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association title. As each victory added another accolade, so did the expectations rise, narrowing the tolerance for mistakes within their acclaimed program.

However, on Sunday in Fairfax Station, the Eagles' premier varsity eight crew tuned out the distractions—likening it to fitting blinkers on a racehorse—and managed to secure a narrow victory, solidifying their status as a dominant force within the WMIRA league.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work,” senior Will Decker said. “This is a lot of guys’ third and fourth year on the team. It really shows the dedication, the effort and just the level of consistency this team has had.”

Despite lagging throughout most of the competition, Gonzaga mounted a strong comeback and touched the finish line in 4 minutes 22.3 seconds, narrowly edging past Jackson-Reed (4:24.2) as well as St. Andrew’s (4:25.3), all racing along the Occoquan River at Sandy Run Regional Park.

Despite some anxious moments — Coach Tom Daley joked about having a heart attack while watching the race alongside Athletic Director Terry Kernan — Gonzaga’s rowers were always confident their performance would come together. They made a group decision with about 400 meters left to empty the tank.

We maintained our belief that we would recover," senior Andres Krizan stated. "We did not panic at all; we simply remained composed.

Jackson-Reed emerged victorious in the second varsity eight with a time of 4:33.2, while Gonzaga claimed victory in the third race with a timing of 4:43.0.

B-CC girls go back-to-back

On the girls' side, Bethesda-Chevy Chase successfully defended their title. The Barons secured their victory with greater ease compared to Gonzaga, taking an early lead and completing the race in 4:54.6, which was a significant margin ahead of second-place St. Andrew’s.

Coach Brian Comey, who is entering his third year at the helm of B-CC, stated that this victory carried "much deeper emotions" due to elevated expectations. Instead of operating as underdogs, they faced increased pressure each day during their preparation.

After B-CC’s boat reached the dock following the race, Comey gathered his athletes around him. The team formed a close-knit circle and simultaneously bounced up and down, causing vibrations that shook both the dock and the water beneath them.

"I believe all these tears and emotional outpourings just demonstrate how deeply significant this is for them," Comey stated.

Although not flawless this spring, the Barons understood their potential as they headed into Sunday. The four veteran players knew exactly what was needed to lift the trophy once more.

"We understand that our team has been quicker this year, and we've sensed it throughout the entire season; hence, we were keen for it to reflect in the outcomes," stated senior Ava Teleki.

B-CC beat out St. Andrew’s (4:58.7) and Whitman (4.59.7). Jackson-Reed won the second varsity eight (5:09.7), and National Cathedral School took the third (5:18.3).