In Memorium: Austin Regier '20
November 17, 2024 | Men's Rowing
Former Washington oarsman and IRA champion Austin Regier '20 has passed away, his family has shared.
Regier, who won a national championship in the four in the final college race of his career in 2021, was the victim of a free-diving accident in the Philippines.
"Austin had a special spirit he brought to life," said UW men's rowing head coach Michael Callahan. "He always jumped into his communities with both feet, and left a positive impact on everyone who had the honor of spending time with him. He had a contagious, positive attitude and was wise for being so young. He was a man of the highest character, conviction, and insuppressible joy. He had a passion adventure, competition and camaraderie.
"Austin was a Washington oarsmen to his core," Callahan continued. "His heart for loving people and his faith was evident every day, and to all who knew him."
A true walk-on who learned to row at UW, Regier grew up with a family that served on Mercy Ships in Africa. He graduated from Mount Rainier High, south of Seattle, before enrolling at Washington, where he joined the rowing team.
A two-time IRA All-Academic honoree, Regier worked his way up the ranks and, after the pandemic canceled his would-be senior season in 2020, returned for a fifth year in 2021, when he earned both a Pac-12 and IRA title in the four.
After earning his degree in industrial & systems engineering, Regier and Husky teammate Madison Molitor '19 changed course to another maritime sport, joining the NYYC American Magic team and competing in the 2024 Americas Cup yacht race.
Regier, who won a national championship in the four in the final college race of his career in 2021, was the victim of a free-diving accident in the Philippines.
"Austin had a special spirit he brought to life," said UW men's rowing head coach Michael Callahan. "He always jumped into his communities with both feet, and left a positive impact on everyone who had the honor of spending time with him. He had a contagious, positive attitude and was wise for being so young. He was a man of the highest character, conviction, and insuppressible joy. He had a passion adventure, competition and camaraderie.
"Austin was a Washington oarsmen to his core," Callahan continued. "His heart for loving people and his faith was evident every day, and to all who knew him."
A true walk-on who learned to row at UW, Regier grew up with a family that served on Mercy Ships in Africa. He graduated from Mount Rainier High, south of Seattle, before enrolling at Washington, where he joined the rowing team.
A two-time IRA All-Academic honoree, Regier worked his way up the ranks and, after the pandemic canceled his would-be senior season in 2020, returned for a fifth year in 2021, when he earned both a Pac-12 and IRA title in the four.
After earning his degree in industrial & systems engineering, Regier and Husky teammate Madison Molitor '19 changed course to another maritime sport, joining the NYYC American Magic team and competing in the 2024 Americas Cup yacht race.
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