Rowing Club

GVSU Rowing

Established as Grand Valley's first competitive sport in 1964, rowing has a longstanding tradition tradition of athletic and academic excellence.
 

Kyle Barnhart - Interim Head Coach
[email protected]

Bryce Drobnick - Club President
[email protected]

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Grand Valley Rowing Team

GVSU Rowing Team at the 2023 ACRA National Championship

Team Schedule

Fall 2024

September 7: 60th Anniversary Events

September 21: Family Day (GVSU Boathouse)

October 5: Head of the Grand (Lansing, MI)

October 13: Head of the Rock (Rockford, IL)

October 18-20: Head of the Charles (Boston, MA) *varsity fours only

November 3: Bald Eagle Collegiate Invitational (Indianapolis, IN)

Spring 2025

March 1-8: Spring Break Training Camp (Clemson, SC)

March 29: Percy Priest Sprints (Nashville, TN)

April 5: Lubbers Cup Regatta (Grand Rapids, MI)

April 27: MACRA Championship Regatta (Indianapolis, IN)

May 3: Team Banquet (GVSU Alumni House)

May 14-18: ACRA National Championship Regatta (Oak Ridge, TN)

Join the GVSU Rowing Team

Building Champions Since 1964

Fill out the Recruiting / New Athlete Interest Form

Grand Valley consistently ranks among the best rowing teams in the country. GVSU crews have won more than 25 national championships and the team has won six team points national titles. 

Rowing at GVSU is a great opportunity to extend a competitive athletic career beyond high school. Our team consists of athletes who rowed in high school as well as those with no prior experience. Athletes who excel in endurance or team sports in high school can easily transfer their athleticism to rowing. The best rowers are those who are willing to work hard and crave competition.

Practices take place in the evenings after classes. In the fall, we attend three to four head (distance) races and in the spring we attend four to five sprint races across the country. As a first year rower, you will be competing against other first year rowers.

Year at a Glance:

  • Fall - Introduction to the team and rowing at GVSU. Fall training and competitions across the Midwest.
  • Winter - Indoor training at our dedicated facility in preparation for spring championship races.
  • Spring Break - Training trip to a southern destination.
  • Spring - Competitions around the country on weekends in March, April and May, culminating at the ACRA National Championship.

Interested athletes can complete the recruiting form to receive more information.

Aerial shot of the rowing team with an eight man boat practicing on the Grand River

Team History

Established in 1964 as Grand Valley's first sport, rowing has been a strong tradition for more than 60 years and has a long history of success.

Grand Valley Rowing challenges its student-athletes to reach the highest level to which they aspire both academically and athletically while continuing to build and sustain a nationally competitive intercollegiate rowing program.

ACRA National Championships Titles

2022 - Women's Varsity 8+
2022 - Women's JV 8+
2019 - Women's Novice 8+
2019 - Women's Varsity 4+
2018 - Women's 2-
2015 - Women's Varsity 8+
2014 - Women's Team Points National Champions
2014 - Women's Varsity 8+
2014 - Women's JV 8+
2014 - Women's Varsity 4+
2013 - Overall Team Points National Champions
2013 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2013 - Women's Varsity 8+
2013 - Women's JV 8+
2013 - Women's Novice 8+
2012 - Overall Team Points National Champions
2012 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2012 - Women's Varsity 8+
2012 - Women's Novice 8+
2011 - Overall Team Points National Champions
​​​​​​​2011 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2011 - Women's JV 8+ 
2011 - Women's Novice 8+
​​​​​​​2010 - Overall Team Points National Champions
​​​​​​​2010 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2010 - Women's Varsity 4+
2010 - Women's Novice 8+
2010 - Women's 1x​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​2009 - Overall Team Points National Champions
2009 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2009 - Women's JV 8+
2009 - Women's Varsity 8+
2008 - Overall Team Points National Champions
2008 - Women's Team Points National Champions

2008 - Men's Lightweight 4+
2008 - Women's Novice 8+
2008 - Women's JV 8+

ACRA Honors

American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Awards:

90 All-American Honors, including:

  • 40 athletes named First Team All-American
  • 19 athletes named Second Team All-American
  • 10 athletes named Third Team All-American
  • 21 athletes named Freshman All-American


93 Academic All-American Awards

7 Coach of the Year awards

GVSU Rowing is a founding member of the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) which began holding the club national championship regatta in 2008. In 2022, ACRA named the team points trophy for former GVSU head coach John Bancheri who helped launch ACRA and led the Lakers to the first six ACRA team titles.

Dad Vail Championship Titles

2022 - Women's JV 8+
2013 - Women's Team Points Champions
2013 - Women's Varsity 8+
2013 - Women's Novice 8+
2010 - Men's Varsity 4+
2009 - Women's Varsity 8+
2008 - Men's JV 8+
2008 - Women's Novice 8+

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GVSU Club Sports

News

GV rowing team celebrates sixtieth anniversary - Grand Valley Lanthorn

GV rowing team celebrates their sixtieth anniversary, an article posted by the Grand Valley Lanthorn.

Sep 19, 2024

Max Schweikert and Trevor Young finish 5th in the Bassmaster College Series

After qualifying in the 2024 Bassmaster College National Championship, Max Schweikert and Trevor Young finish 5th at the Bassmaster College Series in Saginaw Bay.

Jun 6, 2024

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Page last modified September 16, 2024