Grand Valley State University’s oldest sport, rowing, celebrated its sixtieth anniversary, by holding an anniversary celebration on Sept. 7 at the GVSU Alumni House and Visitor Center. Current team members, coaches, alumni and supporters of the “Laker Navy” community were invited. The team took the opportunity to “christen” three new boats, and learn about the history of the rowing team. Alumni also got to relive their days of college rowing by going back out onto the water.

The rowing team was created in 1964 as GVSU’s very first competitive sport. Since its establishment, the team has won an array of championships, and ranks among the best rowing teams in the country.

Brendan Butterfield, the treasurer of the rowing team, said the celebration had an incredible turnout. 

“The sixtieth (anniversary) was an amazing event for alumni and supporters of the program,” Butterfield said. “There were (alumni) from all the decades before us in attendance.”

Butterfield has been rowing for eight years. He started rowing in high school, and then joined GVSU’s team as a freshman. Butterfield said rowing allowed him to form a community, and was a significant reason he decided to attend the University.

“As a freshman right after the pandemic, the rowing team was an instant in for someone looking to make friends,” Butterfield said. “Many of our athletes meet some of their best friends rowing and many athletes live together. Personally, rowing has given me a way to detox from the stress associated with classes.” 

Another member of the rowing team, Reece Thurston, said rowing builds community.

“The rowing team has allowed me to meet many new people, and feel a sense of belonging here at GVSU,” Thurston said. “Some of my best friends are on the team, and attending practice gives me something to look forward to every single day.”

Elements of teamwork and friendship have played an essential role throughout the team’s history. Rowing alumnus Trevor Robert said he not only met a close group of friends, but also his life partner through the sport. 

Robert started rowing at GVSU as a sophomore in 2018, but his time on the team was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His future wife played on the women’s rowing team at the time, and the two met on a team camping trip. Robert and his wife recently celebrated their wedding.

“I thought she was cute (and) kinda fun,” Robert said. “(I) started talking to her and the rest is history. In (our) wedding, two of my groomsmen were from the rowing team. (The team’s) comradery existed because we were pushing ourselves to the limits and it was really nice to know that they all had your back.”

Thurston said the connection between team members makes rowing stand apart from other club sports at GVSU.

“It’s unlike any other sport out there,” Thurston said. “When you’re rowing in a boat with seven other girls, you have to pull as hard as you can not only for yourself, but for the girls in front and behind you. One rower can’t individually make the boat go faster, you must rely on the group as a whole.”