St Augustine’s College world champion rowers return to a heroes’ welcome
They knocked off Sydney’s elite, but they weren’t done. Now back from Italy, these unfancied U19 world rowing champions tell how they did it.
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Second hand oars, a skinny kid who couldn’t eat enough, and a blessing from the Covid gods.
It sounds like bleary eyed campfire chat, but it’s not.
They’re the words of a gold medal winning captain. A yarn about five unassuming high school students, a devoted coach and a refusal to be denied.
Three weeks ago nervy skipper Josh Wilson’s dream seemed headed towards the bottom of Italy’s picturesque Varese Lake.
With 1500m already under their belt, all that stood between this under-19 men’s coxed four crew and world championship gold were the Turks, Italians, and another 500 lung-busting metres.
“The speed of the other crews at 1000m was a surprise. We were used to being in front by then, but even with 500m to go we were struggling in third or fourth,” a still beaming Wilson enthused.
Aided by the roar of travelling friends and family, Ryder Taylor, the youngest of the all St Augustine’s crew, snapped.
“I was getting nervous, and with 400m to go, I noticed the Italians started to push harder,” Wilson said.
“Our plan was to build for a strong finish 300m from home, but Ryder made the call - the plan was out the window.”
Thankfully the 13-year-old coxswain knew his stuff and wasn’t afraid to pull rank on his more senior oarsman.
For parents of hungry teenage rowers, this is when the exorbitant cost of filling the pantry pays off.
Not that food consumption benefited Taylor. Despite nursing a belly load of local pizza, the little boat steerer had to be weighed down like a Melbourne Cup favourite after failing to make the 55kg weigh-in.
Back on the water, alongside Wilson powering the boat were fellow HSC students Brandon ‘bad cop motivator’ Smith and Oliver ‘the unassuming hard worker’ St Pierre.
Had it not been for a bout of Covid at the national titles last March, Joe Lynch may never have scored the final seat. And according to Wilson, this story may never have seen the light of day.
“We were driving to nationals and one of the crew got Covid - unbelievable - so Joe got the call up, and I don’t why, but something changed,” he said.
And just like in the chase for world gold, this rag-tag northern beaches crew cobbled together on a shoestring budget compared to the country’s elite schools, needed a change, and fast.
But did they have the belief?
“None of us had paddled for the national team, so we were unsure at first. But before we left Australia, our coach Judith Ungemach said we were going over there to win,” Wilson said.
So with Judith sowing the seed, coupled with Taylor’s inspirational shout, they hit the front. But as the finish line approached, the Italians grew another leg and Wilson knew it was going to be tight.
“It came down to the line, I thought we’d won, but wasn’t sure and the Italians were celebrating too.
“Everyone at the pontoon knew we’d won, so that’s when it became real - we’d won Aussie gold.”
Now back on home soil, Wilson and his crew are still riding the crest of a wave.
“It’s been pretty crazy. There’s been recognition back at St Augustine’s and plenty of contact from people on the northern beaches who watched the race on YouTube,” Wilson said as the relatility seemed to sink in.
“It’s surreal. We won gold for Australia and we’re friends for life.”
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