Alumni Athlete: George Fauver '18

“My experience at boarding school was amazing,” George said. “The people, faculty, and facilities were tremendous. I still played most of the sports that I played at RCS. Coach K [Vincent Kwarula] and Coach Ed [Edison Clarke] helped prepare me for basketball and soccer at Deerfield. And RCS helped prepare me for the academic side of Deerfield, too.”

George credited Deerfield’s Rowing Head Coach Spencer Washburn as the individual who impacted him the most during high school, pushing him not only to improve through discipline but also to enjoy the sport so much. Before Deerfield, Coach Washburn was the assistant coach at Princeton University, where he honed his skills and expertise. His arrival at Deerfield brought not only a wealth of knowledge but also collegiate-level training to the rowing program, enriching the experience for athletes like George.

“Over my four years, I learned how to think like an athlete,” George explained.

Coach Washburn spoke highly of George, commending his immediate impact on the team and his continuous determination to improve. 

“From his first day as a member of the rowing team at Deerfield, George made an impact,” Coach Washburn said. “He arrived with real on-the-water skill and immediately contributed to the top boats; racing to a fourth place finish at the USRowing Youth National Championships as a ninth grader certainly highlights that! More importantly, his quiet determination to be his best helped him to develop in impressive ways. His approach, a healthy balance of competitive drive alongside the knowledge that having fun would make everyone better, also positively impacted those around him and the development of the team mirrored his growth. We got better every year and he was right in the middle of it. Given the way he invested himself in the process of getting better, it was fitting that in his senior spring, he was integral in leading the team to a New England championship and a National Championship. George helped the program weather the pandemic and all the challenges that came with that and we emerged stronger than ever; his leadership was critical to navigating those years with such success. We are a better program because of George’s presence and his impact continues to be felt today.” 

 

Reflecting on his transition to Bates College, George said he sought a school that offered excellence in rowing and academics. Bates proved to be the perfect fit.

“My first year at Bates went very well,” George said. “The year prior, the team graduated three-quarters of the varsity boat. We had three freshmen fill in and others stepped up as well. Many teams in the league counted us out because of this. However, as the season went on, we kept on improving. During the fall, I was in the number two seat, which is the second seat from the back of the boat. We got 11th at Head of the Charles.”

As the spring season approached, George took on a pivotal role as the stroke of the boat — the eighth seat from the back and the one responsible for setting the rhythm for the entire crew.

“I believe I was chosen for this because my rowing technique is easy to follow and predict as well as the determination late in the race that I learned from Deerfield. By the end of the season, we earned third at IRAs (Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship), only 0.08 seconds behind second, and made Bates program history.”

George will be a junior this fall at Bates College. His experiences at RCS and Deerfield Academy have left a lasting impact on his journey, fostering lifelong friendships and contributing to his growth as an athlete and individual.