UCONN MEN'S CREW NOVICES '25-'26 PART 2

As winter training gets into full swing, we’re excited to introduce the next set of novices who were a major part of one of our strongest novice seasons. From first strokes to race-day results, our novices continue to raise the bar every day and strengthen the team’s spirit. Their commitment to pushing each other on and off the water is building toward a strong spring season ahead. Of course, we’re also introducing our novice coxswains, who lead crews to victory on the water and drive performance on the ergs. Below is our second round of novice spotlights, highlighting who they are, what brought them to UConn Men’s Crew, and how crew has shaped their time at UConn so far.

Peter J Lynch

Peter Lynch in stroke seat of the Gold winning Novice 4+ at Wormtown Chase

PJ Lynch joined UConn Men’s Crew to continue rowing at the collegiate level after building experience in both swimming and rowing during high school. He says the college environment is much more focused and competitive compared to what he was used to before. The biggest challenge he has had to overcome and is still working on is early morning practices, but being on the team has helped him stay on a consistent schedule that keeps him focused on his responsibilities. His favorite part of the team is putting in extra work with his teammates during erg hours, and his family sees rowing as a big positive influence in his life.

Mackenzie Keenan

Mackenzie holding the bow number of the HOCR boat.

Mackenzie Keenan brings prior high school coxing experience to UConn Men’s Crew and reached out to our head coach soon after committing to UConn. Before crew, she competed in gymnastics and cross country, and she says the sense of community within rowing stands out because success in the boat depends on shared effort and trust across the entire lineup. One of the biggest challenges she has faced as a coxswain is that progress isn’t measured by numbers, but by feedback from coaches and fellow athletes, which makes improvement harder to gauge. Being part of UCMC has helped her connect with people she wouldn’t have met otherwise. She especially enjoys team breakfasts after practice as a way to build trust off the water, and while her family and friends were once unfamiliar with the sport, they are now very supportive.

William Gifford

Will in the middle of the Silver medal winning Novice 8+ at Wormtown Chase.

William was drawn to UConn Men’s Crew by a simple goal: going fast. Before rowing, he competed as a semi-professional bowler and says there are surprising similarities between the two sports, even though rowing is more competitive and physically demanding. One of the challenges he’s worked to overcome is keeping his head straight in the boat. Being part of the team has become central to his college experience, with his daily routine built around training and races, which is something he genuinely enjoys. His favorite team moment so far was beating Christian Thompson (Vice President) in the 5K, and his family and friends describe the sport, in his words, as “calm.”

Keira Wild

Keira (4th from the left) winning Bronze at the Head of the Housatonic.

Keira is continuing her coxing journey at UConn Men’s Crew after competing in high school and wanting the chance to experience a different team environment. She says that being part of collegiate rowing has been rewarding, pointing to the strong sense of community and the opportunity to continue doing what she loves. Some of the biggest challenges she has faced are early morning practices and limited boat availability, which has sometimes meant waiting for coxing opportunities, though she values what she learns from watching the rowers. Being on the team has helped her form close friendships within such a large campus, where teammates relate to and support each other. Her favorite memory so far is coxing the gold-medal novice four at Wormtown Chase, and her family and friends are proud of her for continuing the sport she loves.

Declan Howell

Declan (2nd from left) winning gold at the Head of Housatonic.

Declan rowed with a club team in Texas and wanted to continue the sport after committing to UConn. As a former competitive swimmer, he says rowing feels more rewarding because there is a clear sense of improvement over time, along with a more supportive and team-driven environment. One of the biggest challenges he’s worked through is learning that a press that feels lighter and more controlled can actually move the boat faster than one that feels harder. Being part of UCMC has given him friends who keep him accountable day to day. His favorite team moment so far is winning a gold medal at the Head of the Housatonic and carrying Sydney (coxswain) out of the boat after the race. His friends and family find the sport interesting, since many first picture kayaks and canoes before racing shells.

Sydney Monka

Sydney (on top) winning gold at the Head of Housatonic.

Sydney was initially drawn in by Sammy (coxswain) and later decided to try coxing after meeting Adi and other team members recruiting on campus. She says that as a naturally loud former high school captain, the coxswain role felt like a great fit. A competitive track and cross country runner, she often connects racing strategy from running to how she thinks and understands what rowers feel during races. One of her biggest challenges has been learning rowing terminology and building confidence in her calls, knowing the boat depends on her lead  and she says her confidence improves each time she coxes. She describes joining UCMC as “A random side quest” that became one of the best decisions of her college experience, giving her a strong community and early-morning motivation. Her favorite memory so far is coxing a gold-medal novice four, and while her friends and family were surprised at first especially since they thought she’d never wake up for early practices they are now very supportive of her journey in the sport.

This group of novices has already shown strong progress and competitive promise, and they are flying toward a highly competitive spring season ahead. From early morning practices to race-day plans, their effort and trust continue to raise the standard across the team. We’re excited to see what they bring to the boats this spring, with some racing side by side in 2Ks for the first time. They are a meaningful part of the program and a big reason for UConn Men’s Crew is what it is.