2025-2026 Recap

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Georgia Rowing Alumni Association Annual Update

New dock, national champions, and looking ahead to hooch!

As the new school year begins, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year of growth and to look ahead from a brand-new dock!

Thank you to everyone who helped us pull in the same direction. It was a year of new heights, historic firsts, and lasting connections.

New dock!

Thanks to connections from the alumni board (huge shoutout to Bartley Smith!) and at no cost to the alumni association or the team, Georgia Rowing has a new dock at Fort Yargo! 

This has been a long-term goal, and the new dock is a major upgrade that will allow more boats to launch and return efficiently during practice times.

UGA National Championship Team History

The men’s varsity 4x of Leighton Wehrlin, Jake Yeager, Trevor Frank, and Joshua Dail brought home the first ACRA national championship medal in the men’s team history. We are incredibly proud of the crew and excited to cheer on the team in the coming year as it pursues another title.

UGA Rower Jake Yeager rows for Team USA at the World University Rowing Championship

The year also brought an extraordinary individual achievement. Jake Yeager broke the all-time men’s 2k record for the team, and then represented the United States at the 2026 World University Rowing Championships in both the men’s eight and men’s four. The eight finished sixth, while the four placed eighth overall.

Bow Ball Raised More Than $4,000 for the Team

Bow Ball 2026 brought current rowers, alumni, parents, and friends together at Fire Maker Brewing to celebrate the program and invest in its future.

Thanks to everyone who attended, donated, bid in the silent auction, purchased a seat or oar dedication, volunteered, or otherwise supported the event, the alumni association donated $4,223.59 directly to Georgia Rowing.

We are grateful to everyone who made the evening such a success and excited to build on that momentum in the year ahead.

Looking Ahead: Come Row at Head of the Hooch

This fall, we’re inviting Georgia Rowing alumni to get back in a boat—or cheer from the riverbank—at Head of the Hooch, November 7–8 in Chattanooga.

Whether you’re ready to pick up an oar again or would rather cheer on the team, we hope you’ll join us for a weekend of racing, reconnecting, and representing Georgia Rowing.

Interested in racing or cheering on the team? Please complete the Head of the Hooch interest form by September 18.

2026-2027 GRAA Board

We also welcomed a new set of GRAA Board Members:

  • Anna Grace Bayliss (’20), President

  • Devon Covey (’18), Secretary

  • Walker Ferris (’15), Vice President

  • Grant Hawkins (’02), Board Member

  • Karsten Holmquist (’16), Board Member

  • Denham Jones (’22), Board Member

  • Josh Reini (’18), Treasurer

  • Eric Sherman (’04), Board Member

  • Bartley Smith (’11), Board Member

  • Megan (Lemerande) Warneke (’09), Board Member

We looking forward to serving the Georgia Rowing alumni and supporting the team in the coming year.

Row Dawgs,

The GRAA Board