25Temple Crew Makes History with 12th Straight Dad Vail Title By Temple University Athletics On a May afternoon along the historic Schuylkill River in 2000, Temple University’s men’s varsity eight etched their names into rowing history. With an emphatic victory in the championship final of the Dad Vail Regatta, the Owls captured their 12th consecutive title, setting a new standard of dominance in the event’s storied legacy. The win didn’t just extend Temple’s unmatched streak—it solidified the program as one of the most formidable forces in collegiate rowing. The crew surged down the 2,000-meter course in 5:43.68, leaving their competition trailing in awe. At the heart of the boat was senior captain Jason “JR” Read, the stoic stroke seat from Ringoes, N.J., and the first rower to ever stroke a varsity eight to four straight Dad Vail golds. But behind the gold was a season of uncertainty, grit, and transformation. With the graduation of several upperclassmen and a small incoming class, Temple’s varsity squad was down to just nine athletes and one coxswain. For Ferdinand Bergen, who stepped into the five seat that year, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. “I knew I was in the varsity eight boat, but I stepped up in my training,” Bergen said. “I didn’t want to be considered a guy that just got into the boat because there was nobody else. If we won that year, it would be 12 straight—I didn’t want to be the guy who broke the streak.” The lean roster meant there was no room to hide. Every practice was high stakes, every erg test critical. “Everything was serious, everything was make or break,” Bergen recalled. “There weren’t two boats worth of people to rotate in and out. It was all in.” Temple’s journey included early-season growing pains but also flashes of brilliance—none more telling than their dramatic heat at the San Diego Crew Classic. Trailing Yale by nearly a full length with 500 meters to go, Read, a future Olympic gold medalist, turned to coxswain Marcus McElhenney and demanded a surge. “We sprinted past Yale like they were standing still,” Bergen said. “That moment—it proved we had speed and the fight to make something special happen.” By the time the Owls reached Dad Vails, they had matured into a fierce and cohesive unit. While semifinal heats were handled with controlled aggression, the final brought their biggest challenge: Dowling College, stacked with European U23 national team talent. Still, Temple entered the race with steely confidence— bolstered by a legendary pre-race speech from head coach Gavin White. “He told us he’d laid out our whole race plan to Dowling’s coach,” Bergen said. “We were stunned. But then he looked at us and said, ‘They don’t know how well we’re going to do it. And there’s nothing they can do to stop us.’ That lit a fire.” From the opening strokes, Temple seized control. By the 700-meter mark, they had a solid lead. As Dowling made a late push, the Owls responded with a punishing sprint. “They were in the lane next to us,” Bergen said. “We could hear them yelling to sprint. But there was absolutely nothing they could do. We just dropped the hammer.” The victory was decisive. As oars lifted skyward and cheers echoed from the grandstands, Temple’s 12th straight title was sealed. A few weeks later, the Owls tied their best-ever finish at IRAs, placing fifth nationally. For Bergen, who would go on to coach and mentor others, the impact of the season—and Coach White—was lasting. “He expected more of us than we thought we were capable of,” Bergen said. “Those lessons shaped who I am, far beyond rowing.” Two decades later, the 2000 Temple varsity eight remains an icon of resilience, unity, and legacy. Their blend of talent, grit, and unrelenting belief continues to inspire generations on the Schuylkill and beyond. YEARSAGO
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