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OAKLAND, Calif. — This year marks the 150th anniversary of Cal Men’s Rowing, the oldest sport at the University of California, Berkeley.
“Its a huge milestone anniversary for the team,” said head coach Scott Frandsen. “The Boat Club was started in 1875 and 150 years later, here we are with all the history and success that we’ve had.”
That tradition of success includes three Olympic gold medals for the United States (1928, 1932, 1948) and 19 national championships, most recently in 2023.
For Frandsen, who rowed for Cal before competing in three Olympics for the Canadian national team, the programs strength has always been rooted in its people. “Our older alums, they’re still getting together, you know, 65, 70 years later and talking about their stories,” Frandsen said. “It gets into your blood and it’s a lifelong passion.”
For rower Michael Chandler, who also serves as financial and fundraising director of the Friends of Cal Crew, the legacy of excellence brings extra energy to him and his teammates. “We’re lucky. We get to represent the 150 years every time we go out to race. It’s a wonderful and special feeling when it all clicks together.”
Frandsen also credits Cal alumnus T. Gary Rogers and his family for their fundraising efforts. The T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center replaced the Ky Ebright Boathouse, which was built over a century ago. “We have the program that we have because of Gary Rogers and its the best collegiate program in the world,” Frandsen said.
The Friends of Cal Crew hosted a weekend of celebratory events in October to ensure the team’s future. The three-day event, hosted at the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center, brought together alumni, current rowers, and supporters for a reunion, gala, and fundraiser in support of the Rogers Cal Crew Forever Fund.
More info can be found here.
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