While the Men’s Alumni Eight doesn’t feature current collegiate stars, it offers a chance to see some of the most experienced athletes back on the water. Former varsity athletes from top programs across the world return to race on the Charles. Crews from universities with long rowing traditions, alongside established alumni clubs, make for a field where any boat can challenge for the top spots.
University of Washington Alumni
The defending champions come into 2025 as the crew everyone will be watching. Winners in 2022 and 2024, and runners-up in 2023, the Huskies’ alumni have proven they can perform at the highest level year after year. Their roster is filled with athletes who are still active in competitive rowing, and that experience is evident. Their combination of technical skill, depth, and championship pedigree makes them the team to beat, and they’ll be pushing to continue their streak of strong performances on the Charles and make it back-to-back victories in the event.
Brown University Alumni
Brown’s alumni crew has quietly been one of the most consistent in the field. Finishing fourth in 2022, fifth in 2023, and climbing back to second in 2024, they’ve steadily worked their way toward the top again. This crew comes from a program with a long history of producing elite rowers. Their combination of skill, strength, and experience gives them every reason to believe they can challenge Washington and make another run at the podium.
Old Dog Boat Club
Pulling from Yale’s heavyweight alumni, Old Dog Boat Club has made a habit of finishing on the podium. Third-place finishes in 2022 and 2024, along with fourth in 2023, show that they are both consistent and competitive. Drawing on the experience and training culture of Yale rowing, this crew blends power and precision, and they’ll be looking to turn their steady performances into a championship-calibre showing on the Charles.
Fat Cat Rowing Club
Representing Princeton’s heavyweight alumni, Fat Cat has shown flashes of brilliance, finishing fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2024, though a surprising 17th-place finish in 2023 was a rare stumble. With alumni from such a prestigious program, they have the experience to rebound, and if they find their rhythm, they could quickly move back into medal contention.
Ex Nemo Rowing Club
Ex Nemo Rowing Club, representing Harvard’s men’s heavyweight alumni, carries a motto that says it all: ex nemo non feces, or “no crap from no one.” That high standard has produced strong performances at the Charles, with a championship in 2023, fifth in 2024, and sixth in 2022. With a roster full of experienced rowers accustomed to competing at the highest level, Ex Nemo will be looking to reclaim the top spot and demonstrate why they remain one of the most formidable crews in the alumni eight.
Crabtree Boat Club
Representing the alumni of Cambridge University, Crabtree Boat Club do not have the history in this event of their opposition, as this is their first allumni eight since 2019. However, the decorated club had great success on the Charles last year. This crew contains five winners from 2024: the winning rowers from the alumni four plus Luca Ferraro from the championship eight. With this pedigree, they will be aiming to challenge their more established rivals in this event.
Predictions
With so much experience and talent across the alumni ranks, this year’s men’s alumni eight promises a tightly contested race. The University of Washington alumni have shown remarkable consistency and championship pedigree over the past few seasons, and their depth makes them the crew to beat. For that reason, I’ll pick Washington to take home the win and continue their recent streak of strong performances on the Charles.
