Among the senior class of 2026, there lies an enormous amount of talent in the Seattle Preparatory School crew team. Seniors Maja Gowans, Joey Tilghman-Havens, and Joe McDonald have all been recruited and committed to the University of Washington for their rowing prowess. These rowers have come a long way from their novice years of rowing to taking their first steps into collegiate competition.

Joseph Tilghman-Havens first began his rowing career as a freshman, encouraged by his friends and the Director of Campus Security, Mr. Chism, who jokingly told him to “shout him out on the Olympic podium” when Tilghman-Havens first mentioned giving rowing a try. Four years later, that one decision to begin rowing has become a defining part of his high school experience. Now the stroke seat of the top varsity quad and holder of multiple school erg records in the 2k, 5k, and 30-minute pieces, Tilghman-Havens looks back on winning The Windermere Cup as the most rewarding moment of his career and a full-circle moment from when he first watched the top quad compete there in his freshman year. Tilghman-Havens will be headed to the University of Washington, which both himself and many others call “undisputably the best rowing program in the nation,” drawn not only by its elite athletic standards but by the academic and personal support the University of Washington offers its athletes. More than just physical strength, rowing has taught him the value of commitment, humility, and leadership. “I love being around people who do hard work,” Tilghman-Havens said. “Those are my people.” For Tilghman-Havens, it is the teammates and friendships that have mattered most and how they have pushed him, shaped him, and ultimately became his closest friends.

Joseph McDonald started rowing back in middle school, but it wasn’t until his freshman year that he really decided to commit to the sport. He had read The Boys in the Boat and was inspired by the story, and with his cousin claiming that crew “gets you jacked,” it didn’t was an easy decision to stick with rowing. One of his favorite memories came in his sophomore year when his boat qualified for nationals in a four-man boat with fellow University of Washington commit Joseph Tilghman-Havens. Joe describes the moment as “unforgettable.” His success in winning the Windermere Cup in his junior year made the work real to him, and now he has a medal to show for it. Now the three seat of his team’s top quad, McDonald is heading to the University of Washington next year, attracted to the school by its deep rowing legacy and Olympic history. For McDonald, the school also stood out because of the team culture: intense, competitive, but a tight knit brotherhood. Over the years, rowing has taught him a lot, mostly that hard work really does pay off. “If you don’t work enough… You’re not going to end up where you want,” said McDonald. The tough practices, early mornings, and setbacks all make the victories feel that much better. It has shaped him into a better leader, pushed him past what he thought were his limits, and taught him how to be a teammate. His favorite part of being on the team remains traveling with the team and building friendships that go way beyond the water. McDonald is also a big metal fan, often heard blaring Linkin Park’s “In the End,” Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart,” or “Monster” by Skillet in hard workouts.

In July 2025, Maja Gowans announced her commitment to row for the University of Washington, marking a major milestone in her rowing journey. What started as a way to spend time with friends before tennis season, quickly turned into a real passion. She was drawn to the University of Washington’s competitive energy and team atmosphere, calling it “an environment where athletes thrive.” From tough practices to disappointing races, Gowans says every setback has made her stronger making the opportunity to row in college even more meaningful. After competing at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta, she’s added to her growing list of accomplishments. Despite the immense amount of success she has had in her rowing career, she believes her “biggest success is yet to come.” For Gowans, the best part remains simple: the friends and memories made along the way, which appears to be the common theme among every rower.

As the athletes shift their focus onto their first-year rowing for the University of Washington, they will clearly cherish the friendships they have made and recognize how those relationships are partially the reason they are competing at the collegiate level. The sense of belonging that Seattle Prep sports have established within each of these talented athletes makes their respective sports something more than an extracurricular activity, but a home to them.