Your Support Matters
The primary goal of Gryphon Rowing is to provide an exceptional student-athlete experience on and off the water. We work to create a positive and inclusive culture that focuses on developing the student as an athlete, a scholar and leaders in the community. Our aim is that the athletes who are part of our program today learn skills and build relationships that will help them succeed in their future endeavors. Your support will have a direct impact on their success as student-athletes and on the program.
OUA Varsity teams at the University of Guelph receive base funding from the Department of Athletic – these cover costs such as league fees and some travel. We rely on student-athlete fees and fundraising to meet the rest of our program’s needs. To minimize the financial burden on our student-athletes, Gryphon Rowing has set a goal to raise $20,000 annually to offset costs that are essential to the success of our program.
Make an Impact
You are so important to the success of Gryphon Rowing! Your donation will be used to:
- Make the cost of travel to the Canadian University Rowing Championships (Burnaby, BC) more accessible for student athletes ($8,000)
- Purchase race equipment including oars, stroke coaches, and cox boxes ($6,000)
- Provide access to specific strength and conditioning training throughout the year ($6,000)
In addition to these yearly costs, Gryphon Rowing is fundraising to upgrade its fleet of racing shells and coach boats. Priority equipment purchases for the next 5 years include men’s and women’s pair/doubles, a men’s eight, and 2 new coach boats. These upgrades cannot happen without your support.
About Rowing – 2023
The University of Guelph first competed in University Rowing in the late 1970s, when a group of carded national team athletes boated a competitive men’s eight on the newly flooded Guelph Lake. After a few short seasons, including a historic win at the OUA Championships, the program went into a 20-year hiatus until it was revitalized by Coach Brian Sulley in 2000, with the support of the Guelph Rowing Club.
Since then, Gryphon Rowing’s varsity athletes have earned medals on the provincial and national stage in both men’s and women’s rowing. A group of exceptional athletes including Mark Henry, Carly Zanatta, Kaitlyn Dennis, Grace Hutton, Hayley Chase, Kurtis Sobkowich, and Abbegayle Smith propelled the program’s success forward. In 2018, the women’s team finished 3rd overall in points at the Canadian University Rowing Championships
The strength of Gryphon Rowing is in its diversity. Through its unique novice program, Gryphon Rowing has introduced hundreds of University of Guelph students to the sport, many of whom have gone on to have successful rowing careers – and even race for Canada!
Run by a dedicated group of volunteer coaches, Gryphon Rowing looks forward to growing in the next 10 years; committed to building on the team’s legacy and core values of respect, inclusion, accountability, determination, teamwork, and personal development.
For more information about the program or questions about supporting the team, contact:
Sam Kosakowski – Alumni Advancement Manager, Athletics
skosakow@uoguelph.ca
519.824.4120 Ext. 58463
