In 1958, the crew paradigm at Georgetown of starts and stops was about to change forever. First, some context. The latter half of the 1950's were a low point for Georgetown athletics. University leaders had abandoned big-time college football in 1951 and the repercussions affected every other athletic team on campus throughout the rest of the decade.

By the fall of 1957, the Russians were about to spark a space race with the United States with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite in outer space. The Milwaukee Braves would soon defeat the defending World Series champion New York Yankees in seven games. Elvis topped the charts and, mirabile dictu, the class of 1961 entered Georgetown. It was members of the class of '61 who largely responded to a organizational flyer to form a rowing team to compete against the established squad from neighboring George Washington U. Auspicious as this response may have been, it was a start not unlike all the previous endeavors at Georgetown. Given the past record of rowing initiatives and the austere state of athletic affairs at the time, this new effort could have, perhaps should have, never lasted more than four or five years.

Something happened though that made this venture different. It may have been part of the Kennedy-esque can-do spirit that swept college campuses in the early 1960's. But surely, it was more than that.

To learn what happened with the class of '61 and the rowers that followed them, please join with the community of Georgetown Rowing next September 19-21. Come to campus to hear the story of the modern crew during the 50th anniversary gala weekend. For more information, click this link: Never Row.