Sibling rowers help sweep at Nationals

By Katrina Craycroft

Last weekend, DUC astounded at USRowing’s Youth National Championship (Nationals) with its best-ever performance: seven boats finishing in the top 20, and three boats in the top 10. Among the 47 athletes competing were siblings from nearly a dozen families who found their passion and shared success in rowing. 

Sisters Ellie and Paisley Rodriguez stroked DUC’s First Varsity Coxed Four (1V4+) and Under 17 (U17) Eight, respectively. Ellie, a University of Texas recruit and four-time Central Regional Championship (Regionals) gold medalist, returned to Nationals this year with three oarsmen from DUC’s 2021 top-10 1V4+, finishing 12th. Paisley led her crew to silver at Regionals and 18th in the U17 Women’s Eight at Nationals. 

Nationals this year was the largest ever, in part because USRowing added new categories for Under Seventeen (U17), Under Sixteen (U16) and Under Fifteen (U15) races. Coxswain Kayla Quiorga and her U15 Coxed-Quadruple crew gave the DUC women their best-ever ranking at a Nationals event, coming in fifth. Kayla’s brother, Mauro, whose U17 Eight brought in a top 20 finish, cheered her from the beach after his races. Both Quiroga siblings were gold medalists in Regional competition. 

Some ties go way back. Seven-seat Archer Smith, of DUC’s Men’s First Varsity Eight (M1V8+), races with the younger siblings of two of his older brother Anson’s teammates. Before being recruited to Syracuse University, Anson raced in 2017 with David Slear who, as captain, led Princeton University’s Lightweights to two silver medals at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships. 

Another of Anson’s DUC teammates, coxswain Ava Craycroft, eventually joined eldest Craycroft sister, Rachel, at the University of Texas, where the pair helped the Longhorns win consecutive NCAA Rowing Championships in 2021 and 2022. 

Slear’s younger brother Matthew stroked DUC’s Under 17 Coxed Four to gold at USRowing’s Central Regional Championship and sixth place in this year’s USRowing Youth National Championship. Craycroft’s younger sister Caroline coxed Archer and DUC’s M1V8+ to their first gold medal in regional competition since Anson and David won it in 2017. 

That younger siblings take up rowing after seeing their older sibling’s success does not surprise Head Coach and Program Director Steve Perry. “The beauty of rowing for teens is its accessibility and opportunity. We don’t expect kids to know how to row when they come to DUC, but they can row on their first day. And, if they are dedicated, they will get more technical, stronger and faster. They may make life-long friends on the team, and if they decide to pursue it, there’s a good chance they will get recruited to college.” Since 2012, 66 DUC athletes matriculated to collegiate rowing. 

This summer, DUC offers beginner, intermediate and high-performance rowing camps to middle and high schoolers. More details can be found at DallasUnitedCrew.org. DUC is the largest rowing team in North Texas, with athletes hailing from 26 schools.