Aug. 8, 2011
WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON - Georgetown Heavyweight alum Jack Carlson '09 (Weston, Mass./BB&N) and Lightweight sophomore Philip Oertle (Zurich, Switzerland/Kantonsschule Freudenberg) have both earned spots on the United States National Rowing Team and will compete at the World Championships in Bled, Slovenia later this month.
Carlson, who will cox the Lightweight Men's Eight, served as the Heavyweight Crew Captain in 2008-09 under Director of Rowing, Tony Johnson. Upon graduating from Georgetown, Carlson earned an Allbritton Fellowship to continue his studies at Oxford where he coxed the Isis crew in the 2010 Boat Race. At the selection camp, Carlson beat out three other coxswains to earn his seat, including a returning National Team coxswain.
"I'm thrilled at the chance to represent the USA at Worlds," said Carlson, "I know our crew will have stiff competition from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Australia, and the other countries, but it is a very aggressive group with something to prove. I'm also very happy to represent Georgetown on the national team, and I'm glad another Hoya, Phil Oertle, also made the team."
Oertle, a rising sophomore on the lightweight squad, is the first Georgetown oarsman to make the U.S. National Rowing Team as an undergraduate. Oertle was the youngest member of the initial group of twenty five oarsmen at the camp, one of only two collegians, and the only oarsman with no prior National Team experience. He is a three-time Swiss National Champion and rowed in the five-seat of his freshman crew last year.
Philip commented, "My head coach from Georgetown, Evans Liolin, suggested that I attend the camp and, after I showed doubts that I would have a chance, he told me 'the experience will make you a better athlete, whether you make it or not.' That convinced me. Once my pair partner and I began rowing together, we believed we could do it and are very happy how it turned out. We have a lot of work ahead of us if we want to accomplish our goals."
Georgetown Crew has now seen sixteen of its own make the U.S. National Team. This marks the first appearance for both Hoyas.
Details surrounding the World Championship can be found at www.usrowing.org and www.row2k.com
