Rowing

The mission of San Miguel Academy’s Rowing Program is to expand educational opportunities for student-athletes and support the Academy’s mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Through the discipline, teamwork, and commitment required in rowing, students gain access to transformative academic and athletic opportunities at the high school and collegiate levels.

The program has already proven highly successful in helping students secure continuing educational opportunities. In 2022, two San Miguel Academy eighth graders were accepted to Northfield Mount Hermon School and each received the prestigious Ashay Cooper Scholarship for Rowing, a highly selective four-year merit scholarship. Other institutions where San Miguel graduates have rowed or are currently rowing include Canterbury School, Dominican University New York, Fairfield University, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, Suffield Academy, SUNY Maritime College, and Vermont Academy.

Established in 2010 with a small group of boys using borrowed equipment and hand-me-down boats, the rowing program has grown into one of the largest middle school rowing programs in the country. Today, more than 40 boys and girls — representing over half of the student body — train year-round on ergometers and, weather permitting, on the Hudson River. San Miguel Rowing is also recognized as the nation’s largest minority middle school rowing program.

Although the program has achieved remarkable success, rowing would otherwise remain inaccessible to many San Miguel students due to the high costs associated with equipment, training, and competition. The opportunity for students to participate is made possible through the generosity of donors and organizational partners, including the New York Giants Foundation, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, the Head Of The Charles Regatta / Philadelphia Gold Cup Foundation, and USRowing.

With the support and encouragement of Arshay Cooper and the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, San Miguel Rowing began competing competitively in 2021. The following year, the San Miguel U15 quad team qualified for the USRowing Youth National Championships after capturing first place at the Northeast Championships, one of the nation’s most competitive youth rowing events. At the national championships in Sarasota, Florida, the team finished 11th overall.  The following year, two San Miguel boats finished in the top 10 at the USRowing Youth National Championships, marking a historic achievement for the program and the Academy.