BOSTON, Mass. – Trinity College Men's Rowing joined alumni, family, and friends of the program on Saturday evening (October 17) along the Charles River in Boston, Mass., for a ring ceremony honoring the 2026 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Division III National Champion Varsity 8 crew.
The celebration took place during the Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR), near the Eliot Enclosure and Vineyard Vines Tent. Both the men's and women's rowing programs came together to celebrate the men's national championship crew while also recognizing the women's rowing team for its fourth-place overall finish at the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship this past spring.
"On the final weekend of May, the unlimited potential of Trinity Rowing was on display from Sacramento, California, to Atlanta, Georgia. The most fitting place to honor both the men's and women's teams for their respective national excellence was on the banks of the Charles River, surrounded by hundreds of people who love these programs dearly. We salute our rowers, coxswains, coaches, and supporters for their tireless dedication, and we congratulate them on bringing more trophies home to Hartford following an excellent 2026 campaign," said Trinity College Athletic Director Gavin Viano.
The National Championship Varsity 8 crew, comprised of Alenka Doyle '26 (Cox), Wyatt Mills '26 (8), William Carroll'27 (7), Jackson Moore '26 (6), James McGarry '26 (5), Brett Sandford '26 (4), Matteo Dembinski '27 (3), Owen Myers'27 (2), and Jack Lambros '26 (1), received their 2026 National Championship rings while proudly sporting their Trinity Rowing blazers and showcasing their well-deserved hardware.
The 2026 IRA National Championships were held on Lake Natoma at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, Calif., on Saturday, May 30. The Bantams edged New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rival Wesleyan University by a mere 0.150 seconds to claim the national title. The victory marked the program's second national championship and its second consecutive title under Head Coach Kevin MacDermott.
"It was a magical evening on the banks of the Charles River and an incredible opportunity to celebrate Trinity Rowing. Our Advancement Team and the Friends of Trinity Rowing staged an extraordinary event to recognize the men's and women's teams' achievements from 2026. Thank you to the 200-plus parents, alumni, friends, and athletes who helped make it such a memorable evening!" said Head Men's Rowing Coach Kevin MacDermott.
Beyond the national championship title, the championship crew boasted an impressive collection of individual accolades. Among the crew was 2025 IRCA Coxswain of the Year recipient Alenka Doyle '26, who joined Wyatt Mills '26 as a two-time IRCA First Team All-American honoree. James McGarry '26 and Jackson Moore '26 also earned their first IRCA First Team All-American selections.
Adding to the crew's list of accomplishments, Mills was named the 2026 IRCA "Oarsman" recipient, marking the program's second consecutive year earning the prestigious honor, following inaugural recipient Jack Carr '25 in 2025.
The accolades extended even further, with the Bantams collecting six NESCAC First Team All-Conference selections and four Second Team honors across the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
At the helm of the program, MacDermott boasts an impressive list of coaching accolades, including back-to-back IRCA Division III Coach of the Year honors in 2025 and 2026. MacDermott and his staff also earned NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2025, followed by the 2026 IRCA Division III Staff of the Year award. The award recognized the collective efforts of assistant coaches Nate Clark, Nicholas Roll, and Benjamin Goldberg, along with strength and conditioning coach Travis Brown, further highlighting the continued success of the Trinity Men's Rowing program.
The Trinity College Women's Rowing team also received well-deserved recognition during Saturday evening's celebration for its fourth-place overall finish at the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship this past spring.
The First Varsity 8 crew, comprised of coxswain Julianna Boris, Eliza Terrell, Zoe Ritter, Tessa Griffin, Allie Newman, Kaitlyn Mackin, Scarlet Coke, Adeline Newman, and Sophia Romano, earned a fourth-place finish in its respective championship race.
Meanwhile, the Second Varsity 8 crew of coxswain Nordelis Vega, Lou Szal, Ellie Jane Isaac, Riley Reynolds, Eleanor Burke, Juliana Golas, Eva Joslin, Erin Barbakoff, and Madeline Siris claimed a third-place finish in its respective championship race.
"It was incredibly special to have the Trinity Rowing family together in a perfect setting along the river on Saturday night of the Head of the Charles. We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our student-athletes. They work so hard year-round when no one's watching, so I'm incredibly thankful that we had the opportunity to celebrate them in style," said Head Women's Rowing Coach Peter Graves.
The Trinity College Men's Rowing team concluded its 2026 fall season at the Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, October 18, and will look to return to the water in the spring of 2027. Meanwhile, the women's rowing team has one final regatta remaining on its fall schedule, as the Bantams head to Philadelphia, Pa., for the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta on Saturday, October 24.
TRINITY ATHLETICS
