The GW men’s crew team rowed its way to a second place finish in the six-team Varsity coxless-fours event at the National Intercollegiate Rowing Championships in Camden, N.J., June 3. The Colonials earned the silver medal, finishing the 2000-meter Grand Final in 6:32.77, about two seconds behind the University of Wisconsin (6:30.11).

We kept moving faster and faster, team MVP Justin Hutchinson said, according to Sports Information. We just ran out of room to catch (Wisconsin).

The four-man team of Hutchinson, Jason Anklowitz, Sal Assenza and Jeremy Dutra made their mark in the final 500 meters of the race when they charged down lane and passed fifth place University of Washington, fourth place Harvard University and bronze medal winner Cornell University.

Take pride in the fact that GW beat out Georgetowns boat in the heats, Anklowitz said, according to Sports Information. Take pride in the fact that Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Washington, Cornell, Syracuse and Rutgers – just to name some of the competition – all fell victim to a George Washington crew. Hold your head high when you say that you are a member of the GW men’s crew team. This medal is only a step toward the top. The ultimate goal is yet to come. But it is up to (future team members) to ensure that our talent does not go unharvested.

The Colonials struggled at the start of the race in a boat borrowed from a local high school and found themselves in last position 500 meters into the race. GW began to find its rhythm as the Colonials overtook eventual last place crew Rutgers University for fifth place.

I can only imagine the possibilities that await, said GW Coach Gene Kininmonth, according to Sports Information. I am extremely proud of these student-athletes. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to coach such talented athletes who have so much integrity.