On the national stage, the Brock Badgers men's rowing team continues to make waves. 

The Badgers placed second out of 27 schools with 100 points and earned four medals at the 2025 Canadian University Rowing Championships held at the Olympic Basin in Montreal, on Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2. 

"We're incredibly proud of the team's results and efforts this weekend," said head coach Katie Bruggeling. "Coming second is an amazing result and is a display of everyone's efforts all year long. This team is gritty and tough like no other." 

In a close battle for first, the Badgers finished 12 points shy of the winner, the UBC Thunderbirds, while a fellow West Coast school, Victoria, placed third with 89. 

Riley Watson concluded his sensational season with three medals and the CURC Male Athlete of the Year award, marking the fourth straight year a Brock athlete has earned the honour. 

"I am very proud of the whole group," Watson said. "All of the team left their heart out there in every race; it's the Badger way. The whole team carries the same mentality that a wise coach once told us: any boat, any seat, any time." 

Watson began his medal haul with a silver in the men's lightweight single in a time of seven minutes, 38 seconds and 378 milliseconds, before winning a gold in the men's lightweight double with partner Connor Dodds (6:47.966).  

Dodds and Watson also captured a gold medal in the men's lightweight coxed four with crewmates Joe Coughler and Sawyer Dalton and coxswain Serafina Dell after crossing the finish line in 6:44.111. 

The Badgers added a bronze to their medal haul with Charles-Etienne Tabet in the men's single (7:27.093), which opened the second day of competition.  

A fourth straight second-place result at the national championships underscores the continued legacy of the Brock men's rowing program, which is coming off a fifth consecutive OUA title and 16th overall.