Drexel rowing aims for top 10 after 16th place finish
Coach Matt Weaver seeks a higher national ranking with a 53-member roster that just won the conference championship.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Reaching a national ranking is difficult for mid-major colleges, but Drexel University men's rowing has done it. Head coach Matt Weaver is now pushing for a higher position.
Weaver, in his fourth season at Drexel, stated his primary goal is to move the team into the top 10 range this year. Last season, the team's peak standing was 16th in an Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association poll. Weaver was also named a finalist for the IRCA Coach of the Year award during that period.
The program's success was cemented in May at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta. Drexel took first place in five major races, including the Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+, 3rd Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+, and 2nd Varsity 4+. That victory marked the fifth consecutive win for the Varsity 8+ at the tournament.
Managing the team requires handling a roster of 53 athletes, the largest in the university's athletics department. Weaver said he and assistant coach Gary Wielgus rely on upperclassmen to mentor freshmen. He described the team as a diverse group of students from Idaho, Indiana, Serbia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and India.
Weaver said the team's diversity helps athletes prepare for international competitions, such as the Under-23 Worlds or Olympic trials. He noted that many rowers have aspirations to reach the Olympic stage. The program also hosts a team Thanksgiving event called Teamsgiving, where athletes bring dishes from their home countries to build a sense of community in Philadelphia.
The team finished the fall season by winning the Navy Day Regatta and placing in the top 10 at the Princeton Chase. Weaver said he believes results follow naturally when athletes develop in all facets of their lives. He previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University before joining Drexel in 2023.
Weaver credited former head coach Paul Savell, who is now the director of rowing, for leaving a strong platform. Savell is entering his 20th year at the university. Weaver said his coaching philosophy focuses on bringing in good people and good athletes to ensure long-term success.
