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 of raising $100,000 this year (September 2024 – April 2025) to offset costs that are essential to the success of our program.
Make an Impact
In the Fall of 2024, Gryphon Rowing suffered a major setback with the loss of the club truck, trailer and most of our racing fleet. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the rowing community, we were able to finish our season and the team went on to place 3rd and 5th at the Ontario University Rowing Championships, and 5th and 6th at the Canadian University Rowing Championships (Women’s and Men’s Team standings respectively).
Our current fundraising goal of $100,000 will support the first steps of getting back on our feet for next season. We will being replacing the equipment we lost, including:
- Trailer ($60,000)
- Eights ($30-40,000)
- Coxed Fours ($30,000))
- Pair/Doubles ($20,000)
- Singles ($15-20,000)
In addition to the equipment costs listed above, Gryphon Rowing fundraises annually to offset costs that are essential to the success of our program. These funds are used to:
- Make the cost of travel to the Canadian University Rowing Championships (Victoria, BC) more accessible for student athletes (approx. $10,000)
- Provide access to specific strength and conditioning training throughout the year ($6,000)
About Rowing
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. In 2018, the women’s team finished 3rd overall in points at the Canadian University Rowing Championships
Gryphon Rowing looks forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary in the Fall of 2025 (second era). We are committed to building on the team’s legacy and core values of respect, inclusion, accountability, determination, teamwork, and personal development. Stay tuned for more information about how we plan to celebrate our 25th anniversary on the weekend of September 20, 2025.
For more information about how you can support Gryphon Rowing, including making a leadership gift to sponsor and name a boat, please contact:
Sam Kosakowski – Alumni Advancement Manager, Athletics
skosakow@uoguelph.ca
519.824.4120 Ext. 58463
Updates
Supporters
Show Donor Wall >>
Kevin Kortekaas$250.00
Row it like you stole it!
Pam Currie$50.00
Chantal Sy$15.00
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Wendy Crawford$100.00
Diane Henry$400.00
Brenda Symons-Moulton$100.00
Jakub Kwiecinski$500.00
Julia Bruzzese$150.00
Emily Gill$50.00
Megan Balsillie$250.00
Ainsleigh Hennig$80.00
Teresa Reitz$500.00