Our Crimson Knights

Strength in Every Stroke: Salisbury Crew Prepares for Another Big Year 

Few teams across New England have had the success of Salisbury. Head Coach Toby Ayer’s first boat, which races with eight rowers plus a coxswain to guide the shell, is consistently among the top finishers at each year’s New England Championships. The same can be said about the second boat—a testament to the culture Ayer and his assistants have built—which can almost always be seen in the championship heat at the year-end race. A talented third boat adds depth to one of the hardest-working groups of oarsmen in the region. 

And while each boat races with only nine Knights total, the program can be viewed as one. Each practice starts the same way, regardless of skill or experience level: a mile-long run down to the Curtis Boathouse on Washinee Lake. While Ayer views the run as a healthy warm-up to the practice ahead, he feels it unites his program like nothing else. This is evident in how each practice ends—running back up to campus. A multi-hour, physically draining workout in the boat is capped off with a mile of uphill running. The process serves as a built-in metaphor for the sport itself. “Rowing is hard—and often not fun—but the rewards match the effort,” said Ayer. 

This year’s top rowers are highlighted by three key returners—plus a coxswain who surprised in his first season last year. Captain Thomas Judge ‘25, Rollins College commit Jack Berens ‘25, and Will Pierce ‘25 serve as the veteran presence that is always needed on a team. Their cox, Will Wilkinson ‘27, picked up the sport last spring and has made massive strides. Each time he gets in the shell, the fourth-form Wilkinson is tasked with guiding a 60-foot boat in a straight path to the finish line. Only the slightest miscalculation can be the difference between disappointment and glory. On top of guiding his teammates, he is actively motivating their efforts—ensuring each gives 100%. Luke Lacilla ‘27 does the same for the second boat. 

Joining the three returning seniors are newcomers Lorenzo Rizzieri ‘25 and Luke Hoffman ‘25—a pair of Naval Academy commits who have trained relentlessly this offseason in preparation for the season ahead. It is a rarity for one of them not to be in the erg room honing their craft. The same can be said about Will Qi ‘25, a future rower on the lightweight team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

Others vying for a spot in the prestigious first boat are headlined by returners from last year’s second boat. Among them are multi-sport athletes Dom Valcin ‘25, a nationally ranked wrestler; Nash Barillaro ‘25, a starter on varsity soccer and a role player on Salisbury’s varsity basketball team; and Pierce Baskin ‘26, a fellow contributor on varsity basketball. Meanwhile, Cal Miller ‘25, Reid Barry ‘26, Davis Williams ‘26, and Oliver Pzynski ‘27 look to make the jump to the top boat after a strong season a year ago. 

The group of experienced Knights is accompanied by first-year Hilltop members Matt White ‘26, Albert Heinrich ‘26, Jo Kaijima ‘27, Grayson Kruse ‘28, and Tate Sink ‘28. All have rowed in the past and are ready to make an impact on Salisbury’s program. 

Rounding out the names to watch are returning third-boat participants Jackson Kuls ‘25, Robert Madison ‘25, Nick Feret ‘26, Luke Feller ‘26, and Rhyer Simon ‘27. Simon, a coxswain-turned-rower, is excited to make the switch to holding the oar this season. 

Outside the top teams in the league—Andover and Deerfield—the Knights have two main opponents hovering in the back of their minds this season: Kent and Brunswick. Coach Ayer takes pride in the opportunity to knock off Kent, which is usually one of the best in New England. Salisbury Assistant Coach Tony Mantegani—a Kent alumnus—deepens the rivalry. Brunswick, on the other hand, is reserved for a one-versus-one race each year. The Bruins and Knights race for the Curtis Cup, with the winner keeping it until they lose. 

While past successes certainly make the story of Salisbury Crew more compelling, it is up to the team of today to write their own story.