History of Duke Crew
Squaring-up early since 1978
Beginning of the Program
1978 - 1998 Originally told by Olympian John Moore
Duke Crew was founded by two undergraduate women who utilized a generous donation to construct our first boathouse and purchase a Pocock 8. From these humble beginnings, they gradually built an identity for the team. The early years were marked by challenging practices and inconsistent recruiting, but a significant turning point came in 1986 when Ery Kehaya donated a substantial quantity of stock to the program. This funding sustained it well into the 1990s. It also caught the attention of Duke athletics, who created an entire department (Club Sports) to supervise these funds. Today, Club Sports manages 34 teams, demonstrating the impact our team had on Duke’s culture.
1978 - 1998 Originally told by Olympian John Moore
Duke Crew was founded by two undergraduate women who utilized a generous donation to construct our first boathouse and purchase a Pocock 8. From these humble beginnings, they gradually built an identity for the team. The early years were marked by challenging practices and inconsistent recruiting, but a significant turning point came in 1986 when Ery Kehaya donated a substantial quantity of stock to the program. This funding sustained it well into the 1990s. It also caught the attention of Duke athletics, who created an entire department (Club Sports) to supervise these funds. Today, Club Sports manages 34 teams, demonstrating the impact our team had on Duke’s culture.
Undaunted by fog, this mens crew heads out for morning practice
Resilience and Growth
1998 - 2020 Recounted by Alfredo Garcia (Divinity '08)
A period of restructuring occurred after Duke Crew split into a Varsity Women's Program (NCAA D1 Rowing) and a Club Men's Program. With funding slashed, the men's team was small and struggled to maintain numbers. Fundraising became creative, with strategies such as delivering carnations on Valentine's Day, refereeing intramural basketball games, and hosting shirtless car washes. These efforts eventually financed a new Resolute 8+ (the bane of novice rowers to this day), demonstrating the resilience of our alumni. Over the next decade, Duke men's rowing flourished as a competitive organization, winning medals at numerous regional regattas. Riding this wave of success, the class of 2017 endowed the club with new equipment, including two Hudson 8+s, four 4+s, and two pairs. These are the boats we currently row.
1998 - 2020 Recounted by Alfredo Garcia (Divinity '08)
A period of restructuring occurred after Duke Crew split into a Varsity Women's Program (NCAA D1 Rowing) and a Club Men's Program. With funding slashed, the men's team was small and struggled to maintain numbers. Fundraising became creative, with strategies such as delivering carnations on Valentine's Day, refereeing intramural basketball games, and hosting shirtless car washes. These efforts eventually financed a new Resolute 8+ (the bane of novice rowers to this day), demonstrating the resilience of our alumni. Over the next decade, Duke men's rowing flourished as a competitive organization, winning medals at numerous regional regattas. Riding this wave of success, the class of 2017 endowed the club with new equipment, including two Hudson 8+s, four 4+s, and two pairs. These are the boats we currently row.
John Moore poses with Barbara and George H. W. Bush. The money received during 1986 helped propel John Moore to the 1992 Olympic Games in his coxed pair.
From COVID to Coed
2020 - 2024 Written by Jack Clodfelter (Trinity '27)
The pandemic posed a significant challenge as many students returned to their home countries or graduated, leaving the team with low membership. This problem required a breath of fresh air. To revive the club, the board voted to go coed for the first time in 30 years, marking a new era of rowing. As a result, we tripled in size between 2023-24. Our new generation of rowers is now prepared to lead the team into the future. We continue to compete in notable regattas along the East Coast during the fall and spring seasons and train year-round.
2020 - 2024 Written by Jack Clodfelter (Trinity '27)
The pandemic posed a significant challenge as many students returned to their home countries or graduated, leaving the team with low membership. This problem required a breath of fresh air. To revive the club, the board voted to go coed for the first time in 30 years, marking a new era of rowing. As a result, we tripled in size between 2023-24. Our new generation of rowers is now prepared to lead the team into the future. We continue to compete in notable regattas along the East Coast during the fall and spring seasons and train year-round.
The varsity mens 4+ poses for a victory shot after winning SIRAs in 2016.
Contact Duke Club Rowing:
clubrowing@duke.edu
egor.sergeev@duke.edu (president)
egor.sergeev@duke.edu (president)
