Greenhills Crew Finishes First at Regionals and Earns State Championships

Competing against more than 50 programs from across the Midwest, the Gryphons captured first place overall in Division III at Midwest Regionals earlier this month, while also finishing an impressive 11th overall among all teams in attendance, regardless of division size. Greenhills also placed second overall in men’s sculling and eighth overall in women’s sculling, which is a remarkable showing for one of the event’s smallest programs.

For Head Coach Kit Bennett, the accomplishment reflected something larger than a trophy.

“We’re very process-focused on this program,” Bennett said. “You get points by getting boats into the top eight finals, so every athlete who makes a final is contributing to the team goal. To win Division III with nine athletes was really cool.”

The result marks a major moment for a Greenhills crew program that is now officially competing for the first time as a Greenhills varsity-club team, after years of athletes competing independently. More importantly, it signals the arrival of a group that has quietly built both depth and confidence through hard work and a shared commitment to one another.

“This season has really been about community and development,” Bennett said. “The kids have worked incredibly hard, and it’s exciting to see that pay off.”

Greenhills rowers delivered standout performances throughout the regatta. Senior Rowen Tindell won the varsity single title, while fellow senior Clara Thorne earned a fifth-place finish in a highly competitive varsity singles field after focusing on the event for only a short time this season. Juniors Reza Haerian and Cyrus Tehrani each captured victories in both the pair and double events, excelling in both sweep rowing and sculling—two distinct rowing disciplines—over the course of the weekend.

The Gryphons also showcased the depth of a young and growing roster. A sophomore quad featuring Gus Moore, Noah Taub, Tavi Draghici, and JJ Staebler narrowly missed qualifying for finals with an incredibly close ninth place finish.

“It’s a young group, and seeing that development has been really exciting,” Bennett said.

What stands out most to Bennett, though, is the way the team competes together.

“They genuinely care about each other,” he said. “They support one another, they work hard, and they want to see each other succeed. As a coach, that’s the part you’re most proud of.”

On Saturday, May 16, the Gryphons headed into state championships carrying significant momentum, and they continued to find success. Tehrani and Haerian won the state championship in the varsity double, while Tindell captured the state title in the varsity single. In the varsity quad, Draghici, Tehrani, Tindell, and Haerian earned second place, and in the varsity pair Draghici and Taub placed third. With all the success, the team has even bigger goals ahead.

Later this season, Greenhills will compete at nationals, where Bennett believes several boats could contend at an elite level. The program’s growth is also becoming visible beyond high school competition. Next year, two Gryphon seniors will continue rowing at the collegiate level, with Thorne joining the University of Michigan rowing program and Katie Cowen set to compete for the University of North Carolina.

For Bennett, those opportunities reflect both the athletes’ commitment and the level the program is beginning to reach.

“I think the greatest part is that the kids are proud to represent Greenhills,” Bennett said. “They’ve built something really special together.”