Rowing Club

History of the Team

Aztec Rowing was established in 1925 with the mission to cultivate competitive student-athletes. The team gained momentum in 1960 when H. Del Beekley took over as head coach, leading the program to numerous victories, medals, and trophies. Over the decades, Aztec Rowing has developed athletes who compete at some of the most competitive sports stages like collegiate regional regattas, national regattas, rowing world championships, and the Olympics. As a program that travels extensively along the West Coast, Aztec Rowing regularly faces top-tier competition, including NCAA Division I teams, representing San Diego State University on both regional and national platforms.

Recent Successes or Struggles

In 2023, Aztec Rowing rebuilt from just five members, the same crew that earned bronze in the Varsity 4 at WIRA, while reviving the women’s team at the club level to form a competitive co-ed program. The Spring of 2024-25 season brought major wins, including a men's novice victory at the Newport Regatta over top California programs like UCLA, UCSB, UCI, USD, and LMU. Later in the semester the Women’s Varsity 4 received gold medals at San Diego Crew Classic against UC Davis, UCSB, Cal Poly, and Arizona State, setting a strong foundation for the centennial year in Fall 2025. With growing alumni support and high expectations, the team looks forward to the upcoming 2024 season and aims to add the ARCA regatta to their spring schedule.

Highest Costs

The most significant expenses for the team include maintaining the racing shells, securing qualified coaching, and covering rower dues. Proper upkeep of the boats is essential, requiring access to boathouse rentals and frequent replacement of worn or outdated equipment. As a club team with many rowers starting without prior experience, investing in knowledgeable and effective coaching is critical to the team’s development and success. With a growing competitive team, we have welcomed a group of highly capable coaches: Tracy Falkenthal, Bernard Aparicio, Scott Walsh, and Jack Neuhaus. Bringing on these talented individuals represents the largest portion of our budget, but their leadership is essential in shaping us into stronger athletes, and even better men and women, both on and off the water. To cover the rising costs, rowers contribute dues of $1,200 or more, alongside extensive fundraising efforts to sustain the program.

Call to Action

Aztec Rowing has a long-standing history of excellence and perseverance, from its founding in 1925 to its recent successes on the water. Unlike larger, well-funded programs, we rely on the passion and dedication of our athletes, alumni, and supporters to keep the team moving forward. Our student-athletes balance academics, rigorous training, and financial contributions to maintain our program’s competitive edge.

As a self-funded club team, every donation we receive directly impacts our ability to train, compete, and grow. Contributions help us maintain our equipment, secure knowledgeable coaching, and cover the costs that allow our rowers to compete against top-tier programs. By donating to Aztec Rowing, you’re not just supporting a team- you’re investing in the future of student-athletes who are driven to represent SDSU on the regional and national stage.

Your tax-deductible donation will ensure that we can continue to develop new talent, build on our successes, and uphold the rich tradition of Aztec Rowing for years to come. Together, we can make a lasting impact and keep our boats on the water.

Join our centennial campaign today to be a key member of our generational tradition! This campaign asks donors to give $1,000 for 5 Years campaign. So far, 44 generous donors have joined the effort, but the program is looking to build momentum to reach its goal of 100 donors by the end of the fall semester. For more information on SDSU Rowing and how you can support the program, please visit aztecrowing.com. To support the endowment, please reach out to Jen Stanley, Executive Director of Development for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity at jstanley@sdsu.edu.

New Year, New Goal
Each year, Aztec Rowing launches our annual letter-writing campaign to keep the team on the water, covering essential costs like coaching, equipment maintenance, and travel. These funds are the backbone of our program and make it possible for student-athletes to compete and grow.

This year, we are setting our sights even higher. In addition to our annual $10,000 goal, we are raising an extra $18,000 to purchase a much-needed Men’s Heavyweight 4+ racing shell. Last season, our men’s four had great success, even winning a Novice Cup at the annual Newport Regatta, all while racing in a shell designed for much lighter athletes. Because the boat sat too low in the water, every stroke required extra effort and cost the crew valuable speed. A proper heavyweight 4+ will sit higher, run more efficiently, and allow the rowers to apply their full power each stroke. With the right equipment, this crew can unlock its true potential and compete at a championship level.