Vallancey-Martinson, Dunne, Rodriguez Named 2021 USRowing Under 23 Athletes of the Year

PRINCETON, N.J. – USRowing is pleased to announce that Alexandria Vallancey-Martinson (Corvallis, Ore./United States Naval Academy) has been named the 2021 USRowing Under 23 National Team Female Athlete of the Year and Griffin Dunne (Northfield, Ill./United States Naval Academy) and Gus Rodriguez (Rye, N.Y./Brown University) have been selected as this year's USRowing Under 23 National Team Male Athletes of the Year.

Selected by the athletes and coaches of the team that competed at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Racice, Czech Republic, Vallancey-Martinson, Dunne, and Rodriguez will be honored during the USRowing Annual Convention, which will be held virtually this year from December 6-11.

A first-time national team member, Vallancey-Martinson won two medals at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships. Sitting in seven-seat, Vallancey-Martinson helped the women's eight win the gold medal by nearly four seconds over The Netherlands. The crew took the lead in the second quarter of the race before dominating the field over the final 1,000 meters. Just a few hours earlier, Vallancey-Martinson and three of her teammates had claimed the silver medal in the women's four.

"I'm super grateful to be considered for this award. I know I wouldn't be here without the support from my teammates and coaches these past few years," said Vallancey-Martinson. "I'm incredibly thankful for having the opportunity to row and train with top athletes from around the country this summer. It was an awesome experience and so much fun to be able to race with my teammates and win some hardware in Racice."

Dunne and Rodriguez were boatmates in the men's eight that won the silver medal, just missing gold by two-tenths of a second. A national team rookie, Dunne sat in six-seat, while Rodriguez, who previously raced on the under 19 national team, stroked the boat. Dunne, Rodriquez and their boatmates waged a tight race with Great Britain and Germany over the final 1,000 meters, with the British crew edging its bow-ball ahead in the final few strokes.

"I am so very humbled to share the U23 Athlete of the Year with Gus," Dunne said. "To have been voted for this by our teammates is incredible, and I will work every day to be deserving of this great honor. The whole U23 process last year was such a great experience. When the times were tough, I could count on all my teammates to keep me focused on what we were training for. From selection to training to racing in Racice, I grew very close with the people on the team and know they will be some of my dearest friends for life. GO USA!"

"It's such an honor to be named U23 National Team Male Athlete of the Year," Rodriguez said. "Griffin's a beast, so it's pretty special to be named alongside him. I am so grateful for my family's support, and I could not have done it without them. Going from erging alone in my basement to the podium was a surreal way to end a challenging year."

USRowing will be announcing this year's beach sprint, under 19, under 23 and senior national team athletes of the year throughout the week of November 15. Those winners, as well as the board-selected award winners and referee award winners, will be honored during the USRowing Annual Convention in December.