Team Awards

At the completion of each season a number of awards are presented to members of the program that have distinguished themselves during the course of the year either through their actions on the water, off of the water, or most likely, both. Some of these awards are presented by the coaching staff and some of them are awarded to members by their peers. The following is a description for each award and a list of recipients from past years.

Matt Franitch Cup - This award goes to the "Most Inspirational Oarsman". It is an award that is presented by the coaching staff and is given to the rower on the men's team that has, in some way, demonstrated the ability to overcome great obstacle to achieve a high level of commitment to the program and to his crewmates. This is the team's oldest  and most prestigious award, dating back to 1980. It is dedicated in the honor of Matt Franitch, former rigger for Cal's heavyweight men's team. Matt was a significant supporter of the lightweight program in its formative years and with this trophy the lightweights will never forget the hand he had in fostering the long term success that the team has experienced.

Michael Fennelly Cup - This award goes to the "Most Inspirational Oarswoman" and, like the Franitch Cup, is presented to a member of the women's team by the coaching staff. The Fennelly Cup is named in honor of Mike Fennelly, the current rigger for the men's heavyweight team. Mike is an alumni and former coach of the lightweights and is a continual supporter of the program. Mike donates hundreds of hours each year to repair the teams equipment in times of great need. The lightweights will always be indebted to Mike's generosity.

Most Outstanding Varsity Rower Award - Voted on by the members of the men's varsity squad, this award goes to the oarsman who the team feels has exemplified himself both on and off the water whether leading by example or otherwise. Teamwork, dedication, work ethic, and attitude are just a few of the attributes members look for in the recipient of this award.

Jenkins-Tuttle Award - This is the women's equivalent to the award described above. It is named after Kelley Jenkins and Sarah Tuttle, co- recipients of the award in it's inaugural year. Kelley and Sarah were members of the women's team in it's first few years of existence and were key in its early development. All past, current, and future lightweight oarswomen have them to thank for the strength and quality of the program that has existed since.

Jeff Wilk Award - The Jeff Wilk Award is given to the most outstanding novice oarsman and it is voted upon by the novice men's squad. The standard is the same as for the Most Outstanding Varsity and Jenkin-Tuttle Awards except that the recipient must be a novice. Jeff Wilk is a former coach of the lightweight program who led the team to a west coast championship in 1987.

Megan Welsh Award - The Welsh Award, as with the Wilk Award, is voted upon by members of the novice squad and is presented to the most outstanding female novice rower. Megan Welsh is the first woman to have been a four year rower for the lightweight of California. She graduated in 2002 and set a standard for all future members of the program to strive to achieve.

Most Outstanding Coxswain Award - This award is presented by the coaching staff to the standout coxswain of the program each year. Leadership, ability, and enthusiasm are some of the traits that are recognized with this award.

The Shaft - The shaft is actually an oar shaft from an oar that had its blade broken off while in use. This trophy is awarded each year by the coaching staff to a team member that has done something that the staff feels deserves to be recognized but that may not be recognized by one of the other awards. It is a "Wild Card".

The Knuckledragger Blade - This award is the blade from the aforementioned broken oar. It is presented by the coaches to the member of the program that has exemplified him or herself by being one of the physically stronger members of their respective squad while maybe not showing the greatest amount of grace and style. They are and will always be members of the "Engine Room".

Matthew White Four Year Oar - Every member of the program that survives four years at Cal and rows during each of them leaves us with something for which to show. It's an oar blade, painted gloriously in blue and gold, with a plaque affixed to it on which their name is engraved. They will forever have a piece of the program to be kept as theirs. The award was named in 2002 after Matthew White. Matthew was one of the first recipients of a four year oar in 1995. He was a coach, primarily for the women's program, from January of 1997 through the end of the 2002 season. He also served as the Director of Lightweight Rowing from the fall of 1998 through his retirement from the team.