Jesuit Crew runs 2 seasons, September through November, which holds long distance racing, and December through May, which has short distance racing. Jesuit Dallas Crew had an explosive start to their 2024-2025 season, in the fall season, they secured multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals at many prestigious events as well as having the chance to participate in the world-renowned Head of the Charles Regatta, where crews from all over the world come to participate. In addition, Many new teammates joined, including Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors.
Two-Step Regatta
Jesuit’s crew team jump-started the 2024-25 campaign with the first annual Ranger Two-Step Regatta, which is an inter-squad meet that is a warmup for the crew season, it is a 2-thousand meter long race , it was held on Saturday, September 14 on White Rock Lake.
Head Coach Eli Brown was able to use the regatta as an opportunity to showcase the Rangers’ full roster ahead of the team’s first competition of the season. Most team members competed in the youth 2- event, and some in the youth 4+ and one freshman youth 8+ event.
“I’m incredibly proud of how our athletes handled the challenging conditions at the Ranger Two Step Regatta,” commented Brown. “Their focus, resilience, and determination showed just how committed they are to pushing the program forward.”
The pairing of junior Billy Fowler and sophomore Owen Kubalak got first place in the Youth 2- event, followed by the duo of sophomores Aaron Roy and Noah Fahrenbruch, who finished second, and Junior Gabe Gerik and junior Samuel Kephart rounded out the top three in the event.
Head of the Oklahoma
Jesuit Dallas crew officially opened the 2024-25 regatta season at the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta, held on October 5th and 6th on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City.
In the Youth 8+ event, the Rangers’ 1V boat secured a 4th-place finish with a time of 14:19.7, while the 2V placed 9th. Both boats battled fiercely in a competitive field, earning spots in the prestigious Night Sprints later that evening.
The Novice 8+ followed with a thrilling race, finishing just out of medal contention in 4th place, missing the podium by less than a second and only 10 seconds behind the first-place crew in an exceptional effort from the young squad. In the afternoon, Jesuit’s Youth 4+, U17 4+’s, and Novice 4+’s took to the water, each showing grit and determination. The Novice 4+’s had the standout performance of the day, capturing both gold and bronze medals, which the first gold medals for Jesuit since 2022, a fantastic achievement for the team.
“It was thrilling to watch these guys race with such energy and focus,” said Coach Brown. “The attitude they bring to every race is exceptional, and it’s great to see them trusting each other on and off the water. This kind of energy and camaraderie will drive them to become even stronger and more competitive as the season progresses.”
The day culminated with the highly anticipated Head of the Oklahoma Night Sprints, a thrilling 500-meter race under spotlights, with spectators lining the illuminated banks of the Oklahoma River. Jesuit’s 1V boat delivered one of the most exciting races of the weekend, storming down the course in a heated battle. As crews charged toward the finish line, the Rangers clocked an impressive 1:26, securing a hard-fought 3rd place in the grand final. The intensity and electrifying atmosphere made this sprint a standout moment for the team and fans alike.
On Sunday, the U17 8+’s delivered another strong performance, securing hardware and capping off a successful weekend of racing for the Rangers.
Boats – Jesuit Dallas – Head of the Oklahoma
Youth 8+ (Also competed in 500m Night Sprints)
- Boat #1: Walker Bowman (Coxswain), Aaron Roy, Noah Fahrenbruch, Billy Fowler, Owen Kubalak, Stavy Gonzales, Samuel Kephart, Luke Egner, Gabe Gerik
- Boat #2: Sunil Shah (Coxswain), Nikhil Shah, Benjamin Smith, Jackson Gregg, Aidan Hernandez, Barrett Gibbins, Christian Raju, Fabian Garcia, Henry Sears
Youth 4+
- Boat #1: Sunil Shah (Coxswain), Billy Fowler, Owen Kubalak, Stavy Gonzales, Noah Fahrenbruch
Youth U-17 4+
- Boat #1: Walker Bowman (Coxwswain), Aaron Roy, Samuel Kephart, Luke Egner, Gabe Gerik
- Boat #2: Dominic Broome (Coxswain), Koen Mathys, Carter Dailey, Noah Walsh, Ryder Walker
Youth U-17 8+
- Boat #1: Sunil Shah (Coxswain), Aaron Roy, Noah Fahrenbruch, Nikhil Shah, Owen Kubalak, Luke Egner, Christian Raju, Fabian Garcia, Benjamin Smith
- Boat #2: Dominic Broome (Coxswain), Noah Walsh, Bernardo Meza, Koen Mathys, Carter Dailey, Jett Pruitt, Ryder Walker, Jonathan Evans, Nathan Hoffmann
Youth 2-
- Boat #1: Jonathan Evans, Bernardo Meza
Youth Novice 4+
- Boat #1: Sunil Shah (Coxswain), Caleb Knight, Sebastian Ordaz, Graham Roberts, Matthew Gerst
Novice 8+
- Boat #1: Nathan Hofmann (Coxswain), Caleb Knight, Sebastian Ordaz, Graham Roberts, Matthew Gerst, Caleb Hudson, Sebastian Perales, Charlie Tighe, Thomas Taherzadeh
Head of the Charles:
Jesuit Dallas had the opportunity to compete at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta on Sunday, October 20th, facing off against top crews from around the globe. The head of the Charles regatta is the largest in the entire world, crews come from all over the world to compete, and the only way to get a chance to compete is by entering a raffle for a seat. Jesuit fortunately got this opportunity for the first time in 4 years. The Ranger’s Men’s Youth 8+ boat placed 73rd with a time of 16:59.569, finishing 90 seconds behind the 10th place crew.
“Racing at the Head of the Charles was an incredible opportunity for our athletes,” said Coach Brown. “While we made strong efforts, this experience has only motivated us to push harder and close the gap between ourselves and the top crews. I’m proud of the team’s resilience, and we’re more determined than ever to keep improving.”
The Rangers’ Youth Varsity 8+ shell included Walker Bowman (coxswain), Aaron Roy, Noah Fahrenbruch, Stavy Gonzales, Jesus Rosales, Billy Fowler, Owen Kubalak, Luke Egner, Gabe Gerik and Barrett Gibbins(reserve).
Pumpkin Head Regatta:
Jesuit Crew delivered standout performances this past weekend at the 40th Annual Pumpkinhead Regatta, competing against regional crews that they had not yet faced this season. The U17 8+ claimed a gold medal, while the Youth 8+ brought home bronze, marking impressive achievements for the team.
The Rangers’ U17 8+ toppled the field with a 9:45.4 adjusted time, crossing the line nearly four seconds ahead of Texas Rowing and over 20 seconds ahead of Austin Rowing Club. The Rangers’ Youth 8+ finished another hotly contested race in 9:28.9, narrowly missing silver while finishing well ahead of Austin, who clocked a 9:47.4.
“We took on new challenges as a team this weekend,” said Head Coach Brown. “It was incredibly rewarding to watch our athletes step up, challenge themselves, and find their rhythm together. The results are a testament to the hard work and spirit our athletes bring to this program.”
In total, Jesuit Dallas sent six boats to then annual showcase, as the Rangers’ junior Novice 4+ narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with a 12:13.4.
“This year’s results also showed significant improvement from last year’s finishes at Pumpkinhead,” said Brown, “A clear indication of the team’s growth and dedication. Every boat demonstrated competitive efforts, underscoring the progress Jesuit Crew has made this season.”
Head of the Brazos:
This past weekend, Jesuit Crew traveled to Waco for the Head of the Brazos Regatta, competing in the Collegiate/Open category against athletes from Texas A&M, TCU, Baylor, and Texas Tech. Racing as a full team, with freshmen integrated into varsity boats, Jesuit showcased the depth and development of the program. With our crews narrowing the gaps between them, we continue to build internal competition that will drive the team’s momentum and speed.
Jesuit entered three 8+s in the Collegiate/Open category, earning 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, and fielded four entries in the Collegiate/Open 4+s, placing 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 9th. These results highlight the team’s ability to compete at a high level while continuing to strengthen its foundation.
“We challenged ourselves against collegiate-level competition this weekend and saw a full-team effort from top to bottom,” said Coach Brown. “This regatta was an important step for us as we continue to develop our speed and push toward our goals for the fall season.”
