To All Who Support Washington Rowing: Thank You!
November 26, 2025 | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
There's no better time of year than now to express gratitude, and the Washington Rowing program has a long list of reasons to be thankful.
It is because of the support that the UW Rowing receives from its fans, parents, alumni and donors that the Husky men and women continually compete at the highest of levels on the water and in the classroom. The support these student-athletes receive is crucial to that success.
To that end, here is a story from the latest edition of "SWEEP" magazine, spotlighting alumnus Dave Herness '91, a three-year letterman and All-Pac-10 rower.
We are grateful for all that people like Dave – and there are many others – do to support this program. Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
To read the entire, new edition of "SWEEP," click on the link at the top of this page.
MIDDLE OF THE BOAT, HEART OF THE TEAM
Dave Herness on Rowing, Legacy and the Future of Washington Rowing
By Eric Cohen '82
Dave Herness is a self-described "middle of the boat guy". At 6'6" it was likely his destiny to become a rower, but as a young man growing up in Bellevue, he had no idea his future would be so heavily impacted by the sport and by his experience at Washington.
"I had never rowed until my first day at the shellhouse when – along with about a hundred others – I came down to try out," Dave said recently. "I wasn't great, but thankfully Yerka (Jiri Zaplatel, frosh coach from 87-92) and Bob Ernst (in his first year as head coach) gave me a little space to figure it out. I made it into the second frosh boat that year, and I was hooked."
With the goal to "get better every day", Dave made it into the V4 as a sophomore, a boat that was undefeated on the season. "Physically, I didn't show up on day one as a guy that could make a varsity boat, so it took a lot of work to get there. Charlie Fix, who I had first met in high school, really encouraged me to try out. It was incredibly rewarding to row with the person that got me there in the first place."
His last two seasons were spent as a mainstay in the Varsity 8, and his teammates, throughout his four years on the team, remain a central part of his life. "If I call or text, no matter how busy they are, I know that the first thing that they want to do is catch up. It is hard to articulate that kind of bond. This sport creates bonds that last a lifetime and I feel tremendous gratitude for it. If I can help empower another generation to have that experience, I want to do it. Yes, the wins are great, and the races… but like so many others who come through this program, what you take away is more powerful than that."
Dave is in the process of setting up a matching program to support the values of Washington rowing that he experienced, and he hopes that all current and future rowers at Washington have the same opportunity. "This was the most meaningful experience of my young life and I want to enable that for everyone who is willing to show up, work hard, and get better every day. Create the opportunity for someone who feels they can do something awesome but they don't know what it is yet. That was me, and I want that for everyone who is willing to commit."
When it comes to endowing the program into the future, Dave is optimistic. "If you feel the same way, there is an opportunity. If you want to make an impact, reach out to me. Let's do this together. There are a lot of alums out there who want to help and I want to say – let's do this together," Dave continued. "If you're in the middle of the boat sometimes they tell you to pull harder. When it's time to lean, let's lean in. That is my message. Let's lean into this together."
It is because of the support that the UW Rowing receives from its fans, parents, alumni and donors that the Husky men and women continually compete at the highest of levels on the water and in the classroom. The support these student-athletes receive is crucial to that success.
To that end, here is a story from the latest edition of "SWEEP" magazine, spotlighting alumnus Dave Herness '91, a three-year letterman and All-Pac-10 rower.
We are grateful for all that people like Dave – and there are many others – do to support this program. Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
To read the entire, new edition of "SWEEP," click on the link at the top of this page.
MIDDLE OF THE BOAT, HEART OF THE TEAM
Dave Herness on Rowing, Legacy and the Future of Washington Rowing
By Eric Cohen '82
Dave Herness is a self-described "middle of the boat guy". At 6'6" it was likely his destiny to become a rower, but as a young man growing up in Bellevue, he had no idea his future would be so heavily impacted by the sport and by his experience at Washington.
"I had never rowed until my first day at the shellhouse when – along with about a hundred others – I came down to try out," Dave said recently. "I wasn't great, but thankfully Yerka (Jiri Zaplatel, frosh coach from 87-92) and Bob Ernst (in his first year as head coach) gave me a little space to figure it out. I made it into the second frosh boat that year, and I was hooked."
With the goal to "get better every day", Dave made it into the V4 as a sophomore, a boat that was undefeated on the season. "Physically, I didn't show up on day one as a guy that could make a varsity boat, so it took a lot of work to get there. Charlie Fix, who I had first met in high school, really encouraged me to try out. It was incredibly rewarding to row with the person that got me there in the first place."
His last two seasons were spent as a mainstay in the Varsity 8, and his teammates, throughout his four years on the team, remain a central part of his life. "If I call or text, no matter how busy they are, I know that the first thing that they want to do is catch up. It is hard to articulate that kind of bond. This sport creates bonds that last a lifetime and I feel tremendous gratitude for it. If I can help empower another generation to have that experience, I want to do it. Yes, the wins are great, and the races… but like so many others who come through this program, what you take away is more powerful than that."
Dave is in the process of setting up a matching program to support the values of Washington rowing that he experienced, and he hopes that all current and future rowers at Washington have the same opportunity. "This was the most meaningful experience of my young life and I want to enable that for everyone who is willing to show up, work hard, and get better every day. Create the opportunity for someone who feels they can do something awesome but they don't know what it is yet. That was me, and I want that for everyone who is willing to commit."
When it comes to endowing the program into the future, Dave is optimistic. "If you feel the same way, there is an opportunity. If you want to make an impact, reach out to me. Let's do this together. There are a lot of alums out there who want to help and I want to say – let's do this together," Dave continued. "If you're in the middle of the boat sometimes they tell you to pull harder. When it's time to lean, let's lean in. That is my message. Let's lean into this together."
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