Northville Rowing Builds a Legacy with 2025 State Title and National Championship

Northville Rowing: Building a Legacy

Go behind the scenes with Northville Rowing as the team trains on the scenic waters of Kensington Metropark and reflects on a historic 2025 season. From a growing middle school program to standout performances on the national stage, both the men’s and women’s teams delivered exceptional results—with the men capturing State and National titles, and the women earning the State Runner-Up title and their third consecutive Varsity 4x championship.

Show Transcript

Northville rowing more than just a team it's a commitment a lifestyle and for these athletes a second family Northville rowing is so unique because genuinely there's not another club like it we Tread On Water here almost every day of The Fall season and spring season we're giving such a massive opportunity to use high-grade equipment and we have such a massive team to do everything together and it's great many Northville athletes start already rolled through a middle school program designed to grow the next generation of Growers there's this middle school program that we do to help educate upcoming novices to get them to grow better get them to commit overall to the winter program in ER and getting better and that's how I originally learned about the sport eighth grade I began rowing on the water here and it's absolutely beautiful and I don't regret doing it a single bit it's gotten me into shape and it's been a massive part of my social life so it really started in 6 grade when my mom signed me up for the middle school program and I had never heard of rowing at the time and I sort of just fell in love with it even like at a Middle School Pace the middle school program is amazing it's super unique and I fell in love with the team work a row and I absolutely loved it and I joined high school and now I'm here since its humble beginnings in 2009 Northville rowing has grown into 1 of the largest and most competitive programs in the state when I took over in 2016 been with 37 athletes on the team all high school and we've been in the high 80s low 90s since uh since co uh and we started the middle school program in 20 I believe it was 2018 so that's just help help this girl and help us sustain the the numbers that we have everybody here starts off with really having no knowledge about rowing and I think that's just the really special part about rowing is everyone comes together and uh sort of learns together on how to get better and how to I guess strive for greatness and it's just a really special it's a special sport because of its uniqueness with different boat classes singles pairs quads 8 rowing takes not just power but Precision I mean when you're out in the boat it's not an individual race it's a 8 person race it's a 4-person race they're looking at a boat rather than an individual at the heart of that teamwork is the coxing the smallest but most vital person in the boat like an on the water coach the Cox and steers calls commands and drives the crew forward with precision and purpose 7 seat hold 2 seat row the culture runs deep it's not just the athletes families alumni and coaches are all part of what makes Northville rowing special it is a commitment um and it's a commitment for for the entire it's not just son or daughter but when we're hosting riatas in the spring uh with 55 teams from 8 States uh it just takes a lot of bodies uh but it again it can be a really rewarding experience for entire family that commitment paid off in 2025 North Phil's men's team claimed the Michigan state championship and went on to win the national title in the men's Varsity 4 plus to tell and just don't know wow Northville wow there's no better feeling it's I mean you feel the adrenaline rushing through you as if the boat is moving fast it just everything just you sort of zone out a bit and just every thing is like you're you're so locked in and so focused that it just goes by quickly and especially when we form great bonds with the people that were in boats with and you you trust in everyone that they're going to push their hardest every single piece every single race so it's just there's really is no feeling like it and I it's hard to describe because it is just an amazing feeling to me like it gives me a sheer sense of Pride being a part of something really touched my heart because before this I didn't have anything and now I can safely say that rowing has changed my life 10 times towards the better rowing takes a lot of hard work and if you love being here and you every day want to strive to get better um and you love the sense of teamwork and being on the water all the time I would say this Sports for you Northville rowing it's not just the sport it's a journey and for these athletes it's only the beginning for Northville Public Schools I'm Katie RoR the district communication specialist ready

On the waters of Kensington Metropark, a powerhouse has been steadily rising. What began in 2009 as a small, family-founded program has transformed into one of Michigan’s most competitive and community-driven high school rowing teams—and in 2025, that hard work paid off in a major way.

This spring, Northville High School’s men’s rowing team claimed the Michigan State Championship, battling wind, waves, and strong competition to bring home the title. Their victories included event championships in the Men’s Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+, and Freshman 4+, with additional silver and bronze medal finishes across several other categories.

The women’s team also had a standout performance, earning State Runner-Up honors and winning their third consecutive State Championship in the Women’s Varsity 4x. Seniors Maud Grobben, Megan Gibbons, and junior Megan Lauster continued their undefeated run in the event, joined by Emma Broglin, who earned her first event title.

At the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championships in Camden, New Jersey, the program reached new heights. The Men’s Varsity 4+—coxed by Calista Ye (‘25) and powered by Ryan Kretschmer (‘25), Owen Johnston (‘25), Marc Boissinot (‘25), and Benny Siddall (‘26)—captured Northville’s second-ever national title, finishing first out of 27 crews from across the country.

“Before this, I didn’t have anything. And now I can safely say that rowing has changed my life ten times toward the better,” said senior Vasilios, a team captain and four-year varsity rower. “We’re on the water almost every day during the fall and spring. The team is big, the energy is high, and the support system is like nothing else.”

Much of that support stems from the community’s deep investment in the program. Head Coach Nick Bickes, who took over in 2016, has seen the team grow from 37 athletes to over 90, thanks in part to a robust middle school program and a strong culture of family involvement.

“It’s a commitment for the entire family,” said Bickes. “Parents volunteer, siblings row, and we now have alumni who’ve returned to coach with us. Hosting spring regattas at Kensington with 55 teams from 8 states—it takes a lot of hands, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

With both men’s and women’s teams performing at an elite level, and three boats preparing to compete next at USRowing’s Youth Nationals in Sarasota, Florida, the legacy continues to grow.