Celebrating 100 Years of Rowing
OUR PAST
The Olympic sport of rowing includes 137 years of participation in San Diego, since the founding of the San Diego Rowing Club (SDRC) in 1888. San Diego State began competing in 1925, after SDRC’s Coach Chuck Lentz started training the men in 1924.
Prior to 1925, the State Normal School – the institution that is the forebearer of SDSU – had women’s rowing clubs for physical education as well as social clubs. The women’s crews would often put barges and shells on the water for 500-yard competitions with four boats racing along the downtown waterfront.
SDSU Rowing has experienced some great years with large teams and notable victories at the Crew Classic, Western Sprints, the Intercollegiate Rowing Association nationals, and even the Royal Henley Regatta.
OUR PRESENT
This Fall, the men and women are training together at the MBAC and on campus with head coach Bernie Aparicio. Bernie rowed for the Aztecs and subsequently went on to compete in the Light Men’s Quad at the 2023 World Championships.
Over the past two decades, collegiate Sport Clubs across our nation have been growing and getting more competitive. SDSU has taken note, and this has led to the creation of the Competitive Sports Program supported by Associated Students. The Program supports our Aztec Rowing Club by advising the team officers as well as providing administrative and human resources support. Associated Students also allocates funding to the Club to help with part of the operating costs.
An emerging challenge for Sport Clubs is the escalating cost of operation. In particular, the ability to recruit and retain high quality coaches. We want to create a quality team of competitive crews at all levels. In order to do so, the club’s fiscal resources need to grow. Therefore, the Aztecs are calling for 100 supporters to donate $1,000 for each of the next five years to achieve this goal.
ROWING VALUES
Rowing has simple values. Show up every day. Put in hard work. Respect your team. These are the ingredients to success. Our alumni affirm that this work ethic has carried on to their professional lives. Team members learn leadership through the club. Officers take on important roles and administrative functions with the support of the Associated Students Competitive Sports Department. The current team leadership includes three women and four men, who undertake responsibility for Aztec Rowing’s future.
Young men and women learn to respect each other and to understand that gender does not determine roles. Many of our historic men’s crews have been led by female coxswains who trained, coached, and encouraged their crews to success. Today, the team includes women rowers in addition to coxswains. Through rowing, we form bonds of friendship that can last a lifetime.
OUR FUTURE
For the Aztec Rowing Club to thrive, the program needs our support.
To Celebrate 100 Years of Aztec Rowing, the goal has been set to have “100 supporters donate $1,000 for each of the next five years.” This campaign will create a perpetual operational fund to elevate coaching, and consequently our rowing program.
Donations of $5,000 annually will receive a legacy rowing oar with the blade painted Aztec colors red, black, and white.
All donations of any amount will be gratefully accepted! Donations can be made via a secure link by clicking Donate to Rowing Club Today! or by check.
If donating by check, please make payable to The Campanile Foundation and note AS Rowing Club in the memo.
Checks should be mailed to:
San Diego State University
Attn: The Campanile Foundation 5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1968
Please increase your donation through your organization or corporate match program.
GO AZTECS!