“We row for each other”: men’s rowing returns to IRA National Championship

A decade removed from a qualification in the 2015 IRA National Championship, and four from their last appearance in 2021, Holy Cross’ rowing team is back with title aspirations. The team, which features a deep roster of student-athletes from all classes and a variety of locations across the United States, has come together as one, captained by seniors Paul Bradley, William Mead, and Tyler Williamson. 

Mead’s rowing journey started in Denver, Colorado. After starting as a multi-sport athlete, Mead began to hone in to perfect his craft. Rowing is a niche sport, especially in Denver; Mead himself agrees. When the opportunity to compete at Holy Cross became a reality, his sales pitch was simple: although Mead was not the most exciting recruit, he walked in with a winning attitude, echoing a desire held by the program to continuously improve. 

For Williamson, rowing became a pastime after teaming up with some friends made in the swimming pool for his high school’s team. Of the sports, Williamson notes, “they’re both very similar,” and hold adjacent core values. 

As seniors, Mead and Williamson have witnessed the team evolve through their own eyes and respective careers. On maintaining a successful group, Williamson claims “the important part is to surround yourself with motivated people.” He added, “When you have that many kids who are trying to make the same improvements you have to keep up,” alluding to the nature of competition that is inherent with rowing. Mead echoed this sentiment, noting that, with a team so tightly knit in the quest for a shared goal, “it’s easy on the team to exemplify character when everyone shows up ready for success.” 

The two were both honored at a recent awards ceremony for their roles and influence in bringing up a program that is now nationally competitive. Mead was rewarded with the Father Joseph O’Callahan Award, Which is granted to an individual that exemplifies courage, character, leadership, and performance, and voted on by his peers. Williamson was honored with the Lawrence M. Chick Jr. Award, given to the athlete that best exemplifies the spirit of Holy Cross rowing. 

When talking about the award, Williamson was quick to pass the acclaim to his fellow teammates. “[They] had to be objective,” he started, alluding to his captainship, “there’s sixteen other guys that work just as hard as I do every single day.” Mead believes that this mindset is the reason his co-captain received the award in the first place: “[he’s] one of the highest performers but still this humble, deferring the credit. That’s what it’s about.” 

It is evident that coach Jim Barr has been integral in bringing up a team that is now returning to the biggest stage in collegiate rowing, reflected in the thoughts and words of those who’ve been chosen to lead his team. On Barr, Williamson says, “we love Jim. He propels the culture, and, as rowing is a team sport, it stems from team culture.” Mead agreed, and continued the praise, tabbing his four-year coach as “the greatest leader I’ve had to follow. We row for each other; I see that directly in Jim.”

In ten-plus years at the helm for a program that saw immediate success in his tenure, Barr brings a pedigree to Holy Cross’ rowing team that has allowed for prolonged successes. Of all his freshmen, he asks to “leave this team better than you found it.” It’s a safe assumption to say that this motto has guided a team on the road to national acclaim. “Especially on this iteration of the team, everyone enjoys it,” says Williamson. “Even our freshmen. Every morning they are really excited to row.” On the same note, Mead claims, “It’s really an internal sport. You always dream about buzzer-beaters and game-winners, but here, it’s all about winning together. It’ll be six in the morning, and people love being on Quinsigamond for practice.” This mentality, which the two credit to superb coaching, is at the forefront of the team’s winning ways.

As senior captains, the pair has learned to adapt through lessons brought about in a career that has connected them to a myriad of talented individuals. In Williamson’s eyes, “it’s really easy to do something when you know the people around you would do it too.” Williamson, who is in his second season of being a captain, made it a simple equation: “it all starts with Jim.” 

For Mead, the lesson to be learned was about leadership itself. In a sport where character and culture is exceedingly paramount, Will recognized that “the best way to lead is through humility.” Going in expecting to lead with a domineering mentality, Mead quickly learned that the opposite should be true of a captain. Of this, he notes, “nothing really changes with being a captain, you just need to be more intentional,” again emphasizing the importance of empathy.

The IRA National Championship takes place from May 30th to June 1st, and Holy Cross will be featured in four events, all of which will compete in preliminary races on Friday. At 9:50, the men’s third 8+, which features Matthew Provencal, Kyan Chase, Grant Pittaro, Nick Corsentino, Miles Miller, Patrick Boyle, Nikolaos Haralambous, James Hinton, and Michael Ruffini, will be competing, Then, at 11:10, the men’s 2nd 8+, headlined by Wilson Langkamp, Nicholas Cesario, Stephen Meier, Christian Giacomini, Ben Vieten, Michael Aronsohn, Henry Linton, Theo Balistreri, and Kevin Greed, takes the water. An hour later, the men’s varsity 8+ takes off, which features Mead and Williamson, Mateo Campos, Jack Amyot, Toma Sellar, Charlie Maxwell, Charlie Gottfried, George Elias, and Jack Petrus. The men’s varsity 4+, which features Nick Hessick, Tommy Morelli, Will Kunert, Cole Rice, and Jed Neal, will be racing at 11:40am.

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