Join the Legacy – Boat Dedication

Women’s V8+ boat name finally revealed!<!–

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Letter from Izzy Gonzales
2025/26 Women’s Team President

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Dear UCI Crew Alumni and Supporters,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Isabella “Izzy” Gonzales, current Women’s Team Vice President and incoming President for 2025–2026. I’m writing to share a special project from our Women’s Leadership Team—naming our Hudson V8+ racing shell.

In 2022, the Women’s Head Coach Mike Sullivan (now Men’s Head Coach) acquired the barely-used Hudson shell from UC San Diego for the Women’s Team—made possible through the generous support of our alumni board, Friends of UCI Rowing. While we initially wanted to name it after Coach Mike, he graciously insisted that Leadership choose a name with broader significance.

The 2022-2023 Varsity Women’s 8+ was the first Irvine crew to row and race in the shell, and since then, it has become considered our “baby”. It makes practice feel like a special occasion, and racing in it feels truly exhilarating. As a third-year student and varsity athlete, I’ve had the privilege of racing in it for two seasons, making this decision deeply personal.

With two appearances in both the ACRA and WIRA Grand Finals, and a historic win for the recent Berg Cup on our home-water in Newport Harbor, this boat has carried us to new heights and become a symbol of our team’s progress. It is with great pride and pure excitement that I announce to the alumni and supporters the chosen name for our Hudson V8+, “The Legacy.”

“Join the Legacy” has been our team’s slogan for as far as I can search back, and for good reason. The UC Irvine Crew has been building a legacy for almost 60 years now, with this milestone anniversary of the program coming this fall. From first year novices to our most senior alumni, this legacy runs deep and has shaped the college experiences of hundreds of student-athletes. I had the opportunity to chat with alum Dave Label at ACRA in Oak Ridge, TN. He told me that I have yet to realize the full capacity of what the legacy of this program truly holds.

“The Legacy” reminds us of those who made it possible for athletes like myself to love this beautiful sport; our alumni supporters, Friends of UCI Rowing Board, current and past coaching staff, the selfless parent-volunteers, and the dedicated rowers and coxswains who come to practice everyday with the intention to contribute to and create something greater than themselves.

Special thanks to Coach Jim Currie, Coach Janet Cheung, Coach Haley MacKay, and Coach Connor Breen for their continued support and leadership. We are incredibly fortunate to have coaches who not only understand the importance of the Irvine legacy but who also choose to teach and uphold it with integrity and care. To Coach Mike Sullivan, your selfless commitment to our team and program has been nothing short of extraordinary. Please accept our deepest gratitude.

This Legacy connects us all. UC Irvine Rowing leaves us with more than just memories—it gives us lifelong skills, friendships, and proof of what passion and grit can achieve. Cheers to The Legacy you have all helped to create for us, and that we proudly continue to build for those who have yet to join us. Thank you for being such an important part of it!

All the best,

Isabella (Izzy) Gonzales