Families of ND Rowing

Notre Dame Rowing Wins Bronze at 2025 ACRA Nationals!

A Strong Showing from the Irish: Notre Dame Men’s Rowing delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, fielding its largest ACRA lineup in recent history: three varsity eights and a novice four.

For the third consecutive year, the 1st Varsity 8+ earned a podium finish, capturing the bronze medal in a highly competitive Grand Final. This consistent top-tier performance cements Notre Dame’s status as a program committed to excellence.

The 2nd Varsity 8+ just missed qualifying for the A Final but responded with a commanding win in the B Final—posting the fourth-fastest overall time in the event.

The 3rd Varsity 8+ advanced to the A Final and finished 6th overall, demonstrating impressive depth across the program.

Our Novice 4+ capped off their season with a victory in the C Final, placing 13th overall in their category.

As a team, Notre Dame tied Rutgers for 6th place in overall team points—an achievement that reflects the dedication, discipline, and competitive spirit of every athlete in the boathouse.

Final Results:🥉 1st Varsity 8+ – 3rd Place | 2nd Varsity 8+ – 7th Overall | 3rd Varsity 8+ – 6th Overall | Novice 4+ – 13th Overall | Team Points – Tied for 6th

THE 1st VARSITY 8+ TEAM:Coxswain BRIDGET MURPHY Class: Sophomore || Height: 5’ 5” || Hometown: Havertown, PA || Major: BiologyStroke EUGENE TUNNEY Class: Senior || Height: 6’ 4” || Hometown: Minneapolis, MN || Major: Finance & Philosophy7 WELLS BENSON Class: Junior || Height: 6’ 3” || Hometown: Devon, PA || Major: Civil Engineering6 JOSEPH DAUENHAUER Class: Senior || Height: 6’ 2” || Hometown: Midland, MI || Major: Finance & Economics5 NOAH BARKOFF Class: Graduate || Height: 6’ 1” || Hometown: Glencoe, IL || Degree: Biology Doctorate4 COLE SCHOENBORN Class: Sophomore || Height: 5’ 10” || Hometown: Clarence, NY || Major: Biology – Pre-Med3 AIDAN WALSH Class: Sophomore || Height: 5’ 11” || Hometown: St. Paul, MN || Major: Theology & Economics2 JOE JACKSON Class: Senior || Height: 6’ 0” || Hometown: Dorchester, MA || Major: Computer ScienceBow AIDAN KILEY Class: Junior || Height: 6’ 0” || Hometown: Washington, DC || Major: Neuroscience – Pre-Med

2025 Notre Dame Rowing: 10 Athletes Named to All-Academic Teams and 3 to All-Region Team!
The American Collegiate Rowing Association proudly announces the 2025 ACRA All-Academic teams. To be eligible for recognition a student-athlete must no longer be considered a freshman at their institution.☘️
All-Region Teams:

Joseph Dauenhauer, Noah Barkoff, Wells Benson

First Team, All-Academic:

Aidan Kiley, Bridget Murphy, Joe Jackson, John Frederickson, Noah Barkoff

Second Team, All-Academic :

Aidan Walsh, Cole Schoenborn, Jack Kelleher, Lily Hirt and Tommy Lariccia

This selection is a testament to the exceptional training and dedication that defined this season! Congratulations to all those who received All-American honors!

Meet the 2025 GraduatesMeet the Class of 2025: Joe Jackson, Eugene Tunney, Pedro Mattos Bellizia, and Joseph DauenhauerThese four seniors just graduated from the University of Notre Dame—but not in the usual way. While their classmates walked across the stage in South Bend on Sunday, May 18, 2025, Joe Jackson (President), Eugene Tunney (Captain), and Joseph Dauenhauer (Alumni Relations) were lining up at the starting line in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to compete in the ACRA Grand Finals. Pedro Mattos Bellizia, who raced in the 3rd Varsity boat, finished his event Saturday night and made it back in time to graduate in person.Joe, Eugene, and Joseph raced in Notre Dame’s 1st Varsity 8+, which earned the bronze medal at ACRA—the top regatta for collegiate club rowing. They also captured gold in 2024 and bronze in 2023. This consistent success over multiple years has put Notre Dame firmly on the map as a competitive program with a clear focus on winning.These four rowers exemplify what Notre Dame Men’s Rowing stands for: dedication, discipline, and drive. Their decision to compete rather than attend graduation reflects their commitment not only to the team, but to raising the standard for the program as a whole.JJ, Eugene, Joseph, and Pedro—you’ve helped shape a culture of excellence. You make us proud.

Joseph Jackson

(President)

Hometown: Dorchester, MA

Major: Computer Science

Joseph Dauenhauer

(Alumni Relations)

Hometown: Midland, MI

Major: Finance & Economics

Eugene Tunney

(Captain)

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Major: Finance & Philosophy

Pedro Mattos Bellizia

Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil Major: Business Analytics

Joe Kiely ('24) Awarded

The Congressional Medal of Honor

We are immensely proud to celebrate Joe Kiely, Class of 2024, an extraordinary alumnus of the Notre Dame Men’s Rowing Team, who exemplifies the leadership and camaraderie that are the hallmarks of our program. Joe was recently awarded the prestigious Lieutenant Thomas Eadie, USN Congressional Medal of Honor Award by the Southeastern New England Chapter, recognizing his excellence in academics and military training—a fitting tribute to his steadfast dedication.Joe's journey from a walk-on freshman with no prior rowing experience to a celebrated leader on the world stage speaks volumes about his perseverance and drive. By his sophomore year, he had already led his crew to a First-Place finish in the Collegiate Fours at the 2022 Head of the Charles Regatta. In 2023, Joe represented the United States at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships, securing a silver medal in the men’s eight. As team captain in his senior year, Joe was instrumental in guiding the 1V8+ boat to a record-setting victory at the 2024 National ACRA Championship, solidifying his legacy within the program. Joe has been an American Collegiate Rowing Association First-Team All-American since 2022, as well as an ACRA Great Lakes First-Team All-Region athlete since 2022. He is an Eagle Scout and member of the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels. Joe plans to continue training throughout his time as a Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer and would like to compete for the senior national team.Joe Kiely’s story is one of exceptional leadership, resilience, and a commitment to excellence—values that define Notre Dame Men’s Rowing. We are honored to call him one of our own. Joe graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and his future, much like his rowing career, promises to be extraordinary.

Notre Dame Men's Rowing Wins Gold at 2024 ACRA Nationals!WHAT A RACE! What an absolutely incredible race! Off the line it was UVA with the slightest of leads on UCLA, who themselves had a two seat lead on Notre Dame. As the race advanced to the 750-meter mark, Notre Dame’s crew fought back to level with UCLA while both teams remained behind UVA. The turning point came at the 1100-meter mark, where the three crews were neck and neck, engaging in a fierce battle down the course. Each crew responded to the others’ moves, creating a heart-pounding race.As the boats neared the final stretch marked by the red buoys, Notre Dame surged ahead, gaining a half-boat length lead and UVA moved into second place. Notre Dame crossed the finish line first, with UVA trailing by 1.5 seconds and UCLA by 1.9 seconds.This victory stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit and brotherhood of Notre Dame Rowing. The crew, consisting of Eugene Tunney (Minneapolis, MN), Wells Benson (Devon, PA), Joe Kiely (Captain, Hebron, KY), Joseph Dauenhauer (Midland, MI), Noah Barkoff (Glencoe, IL), Aidan Walsh (St. Paul, MN), Joe Jackson (Dorchester, MA), Aidan Kiley (Washington, DC), and Coxswain Bridget Murphy (Havertown, PA), epitomized what it means to work as one, to trust in each other, and to push beyond their limits for a shared goal.The brotherhood forged through countless hours of training, early mornings on the water, and a shared pursuit of excellence was evident as these young men and women crossed the finish line. Their victory is not only a win for Notre Dame but a legacy of resilience, teamwork, and unity.As the echoes of this historic race resonate through Notre Dame, the Men’s Rowing Team has solidified its place in the university's storied athletic tradition. This win is a testament to their hard work, determination, and the unbreakable bond they share—a true "Boys in the Boat" moment that will inspire future generations of Notre Dame rowers.
THE TEAM:Coxswain BRIDGET MURPHY Class: Freshman || Height: 5’ 5” || Hometown: Havertown, PA || Major: BiologyStroke EUGENE TUNNEY Class: Junior || Height: 6’ 4” || Hometown: Minneapolis, MN || Major: Finance & Philosophy7 WELLS BENSON Class: Sophomore || Height: 6’ 3” || Hometown: Devon, PA || Major: Civil Engineering6 JOE KIELY (CAPTAIN) Class: Senior || Height: 6’ 5” || Hometown: Hebron, KY || Major: Aerospace Engineering5 JOSEPH DAUENHAUER Class: Junior || Height: 6’ 2” || Hometown: Midland, MI || Major: Finance & Economics4 NOAH BARKOFF Class: Graduate || Height: 6’ 1” || Hometown: Glencoe, IL || Degree: Biology Doctorate3 AIDAN WALSH Class: Freshman || Height: 5’ 11” || Hometown: St. Paul, MN || Major: Theology & Economics2 JOE JACKSON Class: Junior || Height: 6’ 0” || Hometown: Dorchester, MA || Major: Computer ScienceBow AIDAN KILEY Class: Sophomore || Height: 6’ 0” || Hometown: Washington, DC || Major: Neuroscience – Pre-Med

Notre Dame Men's 2nd Varsity 8+ Takes 6th at 2024 ACRA Nationals!
With the conclusion of the ACRA National Championship, this years squad, despite being one of the smallest rosters in the history of this team, put together one of the most impressive seasons in program history. The Second Varsity 8+ underwent massive improvement throughout the season, which was capped off with a photo finish placement in Saturday’s semi-final at ACRA to earn a spot in the Grand Final, out performing their initial seeding by 5 places. Never count out the seal team.
Coxswain LILY HIRT Class: Freshman || Height: 5’ 5” || Hometown: Chicago, IL || Major: Civil EngineeringStroke VINCENT MIANO Class: Senior || Height: 6’ 2” || Hometown: Portland, CT || Major: Environmental Engineering7 Seat COLE SCHOENBORN Class: Freshman || Height: 5’ 10” || Hometown: Clarence, NY || Major: Biology – Pre-Med6 JOHN FREDERICKSON Class: Sophomore || Height: 6’ 2” || Hometown: Peoria, IL || Major: Civil Engineering5 JUDE KOHLS Class: Sophomore || Height: 6’ 1” || Hometown: Manhattan, NY || Major: Finance4 THOMAS MCWHIRTER Class: Sophomore || Height: 6’ 4” || Hometown: Phoenix, AZ || Major: Global Affairs3 ROBERT RICHARDSON. Freshman || Height: 6’ 1” || Hometown: Milwaukee, WI || Major: Economics2 JACK NICHOLS Class: Sophomore || Height: 5’ 10” || Hometown: Evansville, IL || Major: Biochemistry – Pre-MedBow KEVIN GALLAGHER Junior || Height: 6’ 1” || Hometown: Oakton, VA || Major: Aerospace Engineering

Freshman picks up his first oar and wins National Championship!Congratulations to Aidan Walsh (‘27) on breaking the Notre Dame Novice 5k Record. More impressive is that Walsh had never sat on a rowing machine (erg) before he arrived at Notre Dame. Aidan Walsh was part of the First Varsity Eight that took home the Gold from the 2024 ACRA National Championships, the largest collegiate regatta in the US. ACRA brings together collegiate “club” teams from all four corners of the US. This regatta will crown individual boat class and team champions. Aidan is from St. Paul, MN and is majoring in Theology.

Meet the 2024 GraduatesJoe Kiely (Captain), Vincent Miano, and Noah Barkoff, all three dedicated Notre Dame rowers, missed their graduation to compete in the ACRA National Championships, the largest regatta for collegiate teams. On Sunday, May 19, 2024, while their peers in South Bend were walking the stage to collect their diplomas, Vincent, Joe, and Noah had all advanced to the Grand Finals and were about to make University of Notre Dame history.These three have always exemplified the camaraderie and dedication that define the men's rowing team. Notre Dame delivered their best performances when it mattered most, securing victory with exceptional teamwork and determination. Their success wasn't just about winning races—it was about the bonds they've forged and their commitment to never letting their teammates down. This spirit of unity and perseverance led them to become ACRA champions for the first time, showcasing what we love best about the sport.Vincent, Joe, and Noah, you make us all proud!

JOE KIELY (CAPTAIN)

Hometown: Hebron, KY

Major: Aerospace Engineering

VINCENT MIANO

Hometown: Portland, CT

Major: Environmental Engineering

NOAH BARKOFF

Hometown: Glencoe, IL

Graduate Degree: Biology Doctorate

Notre Dame Rowing: 6 Stars Named to All-American Teams!

Congratulations to the six members of our team selected to the 2023-24 ACRA All-American and All-Freshman teams 🇺🇸 ☘️

All-American First Team: Joseph Dauenhauer and Joseph Kiely
All-American Second Team: Noah Barkoff and Wells Benson
All-Freshman Team: Aidan Walsh and Bridget Murphy

This selection is a testament to the exceptional training and dedication that defined this season, culminating in the first national championship in team history. Congratulations to all those who received All-American honors!

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