The Washington-Liberty High School crew team celebrated a banner 2026 season on and off the water at its annual end-of-season banquet on May 19, capping a spring defined by team growth and impressive results across seven highly competitive regattas.
Coaches, student-athletes, and families gathered in the W-L cafeteria to reflect on a season that began with early water-quality disruptions but quickly gained momentum. The Generals opened at the St. Andrew’s Noxontown Regatta in Delaware with ten boats racing and an early first-place victory from the Girls 4+. Strong finishes continued at the Ted Phoenix and Charlie Butt regattas, where W-L crews secured multiple first- and second-place results, with varsity and novice boats alike contributing to the team’s upward trajectory. By mid-season at the TBC Bustle, W-L crews were demonstrating measurable progress and resilience against competitive teams and challenging conditions.
The season culminated with the Virginia Scholastic State Rowing Championship on the Occoquan River and the prestigious Stotesbury Cup Regatta on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River—two of the most competitive stages in scholastic rowing. At States, the Boys 1V8+ captured bronze in an exciting Grand Final, while the Girls 1V8+ dominated the Petite Final. Additional bronze medals from the Boys 3V8+ and Girls Novice 8+ underscored the program’s depth. At Stotesbury, multiple W-L boats advanced into semifinal rounds, and the Girls Junior 8 delivered a standout performance in the finals, earning silver against some of the nation’s best.
“This season was about teamwork and steady growth,” said Head Coach Kara McPhillips. “From early challenges to racing on the biggest stages in scholastic rowing, our athletes showed what it means to compete with heart and represent W-L with pride. I couldn’t be more proud of how they rose to every moment.”
Virginia All-State Team Honors
Several W-L student-athletes were named to the Virginia All-State Team this spring, an honor voted on by area coaches:
- Boys 1st Team: Austin Cooper and Finn Cupples
- Girls 2nd Team: Marina Soderlund
- Boys Honorable Mention: Jake Gower and Sebastian Monroy
Banquet Highlights
During the banquet, the program recognized its student-athletes, graduating seniors, and dedicated coaches. The W-L Crew Boosters announced the recipients of the Charlie Butt Scholarship, named for the program’s founding coach who established W-L Crew in 1945 and helped shape rowing across the D.C. region. Awarded annually to two graduating seniors who exemplify integrity, dignity, sportsmanship, and perseverance, this year’s scholarship winners are Bellum McPhillips-DeFilippi and Sebastian Monroy.
The coaching team also recognized several student-athletes with team awards, including Finn Cupples, Lex Maricle, Alan Siegel, Bellum McPhillips-DeFilippi, Julia Pinto, and Morgan Thomas.
Later, the evening honored outgoing team co-captains Anna Brodsky, Bellum McPhillips-DeFilippi, Isabel Pearson, Finn Cupples, Austin Cooper, and Sebastian Monroy, and introduced the newly elected 2026–2027 co-captains: Oyane Ondias-Souna, Julia Pinto, and Marina Soderlund (Girls Team), and Teddy Learch, Calvin Lee, and Evan Menard (Boys Team).
Finally, outgoing Boosters President Keri Cupples was recognized for her years of service as she passed leadership to incoming President Patrick Kunze and a new Board slate.
“This season showed what makes W-L Crew so special,” said Cupples. “It’s not just the medals or the finishes—it’s the way these athletes show up for one another, for their coaches, and for this program every single day. I couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplished and the legacy they continue to build.”