The History of Marist Rowing

Marist College proudly carries on a tradition of competitive rowing on the Hudson River that goes back to the late 1700s.

Marist President Linus R. Foy established the college's crew in 1960, the year the former seminary opened its doors to lay students. After a year of training under the Red Foxes’ first head coach, Joe Catanzaro, Marist began racing in 1961.

Marist's Martin Boathouse was erected on Regatta Row in 1963 alongside the old boathouses of the University of California (later torn down) and Cornell University. Along side the Cal and Cornell Boathouses was the University of Washington Boathouse. The current Marist Martin Boathouse sits where the University of Washington’s boathouse stood. These were architectural relics of the U.S. Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships that drew thousands of spectators to both sides of the river from 1895 to 1949. In the Fall of 1974, Marist expanded its Women's Sports programs to include rowing.

Racing in the fall and spring, with training at warm-weather sites during academic breaks, Marist established itself as a force, winning races on its home waters and competing over the decades on the East and West Coasts, Canada and England. Our athletes proudly pull on Marist’s red and white blades alongside the best crews from across the country.

Marist College Rowing triumphs have included:

-- A gold medal for the Men's Junior Varsity Eight at the Head of 1970 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.

- -A silver medal for the Junior Varsity Eight at the 1971 Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.

-- Gold medals by the Men's Freshman Eight in the 1972 President's Cup Regatta in Poughkeepsie, the New England Rowing Championship in Worcester, Mass., and the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. The victory by Freshman Eight earned them an invitation to the ‘72 IRA National Championships in Syracuse, NY.

-- Victory for the Men's Varsity Eight in the 2002 Avaya Championships, a No. 15 national ranking and an invitation to Britain's Royal Henley Regatta, where the crew reached the semifinal.

-- Thirteen Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rowing championships in Men's and Women's shells.

For more on eras in Marist College Rowing, click the Home Page button below to learn more about the program from our coaches.