Year 12 student Will Rogers will take to the world stage this month for the 2024 World Junior Rowing Championships at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Will and his brother are 6th-generation Kingsmen. Both his father and grandfather attended King’s, and his grandfather taught at the School for over 40 years. Will is the 2024 Captain of Boats, a School Monitor and a boarder in Broughton Forrest.
“Will has typified what it is to be a Kingsman during his time here. From his commitment in Rowing to his leadership as a School Monitor, Will has sought to immerse himself in all things King’s and lead through action,” says Mr Wesley Dunne, Deputy Head (Co‑curricular).
To earn his place in the world championships, Will had to excel in the most challenging rowing discipline – the Single Scull. At the 2024 Australian National Rowing Championships, Will won two national titles. One in the Schoolboy 8+ with the King’s 1st XIII, and another in the Men’s U19 Single Scull, a feat also accomplished by former King’s rower Cameron Girdlestone, who went on to win an Olympic Silver (2016, Rio) and Bronze (2021, Tokyo) medal.
In April, Will competed at the Australian Junior Selection Trials, showcasing his exceptional skill and determination to secure his spot on the Australian team.
“I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable time with The King’s School Rowing Club. I have been lucky enough to win the Head of the River, be a part of AAGPS crews and row in the Henley Royal Regatta,” says Will.
Will has had his sights set on qualifying for this event for some time, and over the past six months, he has trained intensely under the expert guidance of The King’s School Director of Rowing, Julian Huxley. Julian’s mentorship and Will’s unwavering commitment have been crucial in preparing him for this international competition.
Dunne says, “Will embarks on his next challenge of competing at the 2024 World Junior Rowing Championships in Canada with the support of his family, friends and the School, and we wish him all the best.”
Will believes the best lesson he has learned at King’s is that “hard work and determination can get you anywhere”.