PRINCETON, N.J. – Washington's Andrew Gaard has been named USRowing's inaugural Under 23 Male Athlete of the Year, USRowing announced today.
 
Gaard, a senior from Madison, Wis., was named alongside women's winner, Emily Kallfelz. The honor was selected by the athletes and coaches of the team that competed at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poznan, Poland, Gaard and Kallfelz will be honored at the 2018 Golden Oars Gala on Thursday, November 15, at the New York Athletic Club.
 
"It's a great honor to be nominated and voted on by my teammates," Gaard told USRowing.org. "Everyone had a huge role this summer in bringing the team up to a higher standard. It was a massive team effort, and I think it serves as a great stepping point to developing the next generation of U.S. rowers."
 
This summer, Gaard stroked the United States men's eight at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poland, one of six Huskies in that boat, which was coached by UW men's coach Michael Callahan. The U.S. crew won the gold medal, winning the grand final about two-and-a-half seconds head of Great Britain.
 
Last spring, Gaard rowed in the UW second varsity eight that won the Pac-12 Championship and then won the silver medal in the varsity eight at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships. He has also won IRA gold in the third varsity eight in 2017 and in the freshman eight in 2016.