USRowing announced on Tuesday, October 2, that St. Joseph Notre Dame graduate Cosmo Hondrogen, now a sophomore at Dartmouth College, has been named their 2025 Under 23 National Team Male Athlete of the Year.
Selected by the athletes and coaches of the team that competed at the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poznan, Poland, Hondrogen will be recognized at the 2025 Golden Oars Gala on November 13, along with teammate Phoebe Wise, who was named Under 23 Female Athlete of the Year.
Hondrogen clinched silver in the men’s lightweight single sculls, delivering a gutsy performance, USRowing stated in its announcement. Midway through the race, he surged ahead in the third 500 meters, setting a blistering pace and daring the rest of the field to keep up.
Known for his relentless determination, Hondrogen chose to train alongside the athletes at selection camp after his victory at Trials in June, constantly pushing both himself and his teammates to new limits. A member of the Under 19 team in 2023, he’s already proven himself at the highest levels. As only a sophomore at Dartmouth, Hondrogen is definitely one to watch in the years ahead, USRowing stated.
“I’m so honored to be named the Under 23 Male Athlete of the Year,” Hondrogen said. “It feels incredibly special to receive this award from a group of athletes and coaches I’ve looked up to for years. The U23 team this year was filled with so many incredible athletes and coaches, and it was truly a privilege to be able to train with them throughout the summer in Oklahoma.”
Hondrogen credited his coaches, family, and the rowing community.
“I owe so much to my college coach, Trevor Michelson, for his immense support and guidance, as well as my high school coach, Jovan Jovanovic, who has inspired my growth as both an athlete and a person,” he said.
“I also want to thank Noah Axford, who coached me through the summer as the selection camp intern and played a huge role in my development in the single. I’m deeply grateful to my family, who have supported me at every step, as well as the Dartmouth Rowing community for providing me with such a strong support system and being just a group of awesome people. I am so thankful for this experience.”
