September 3, 2024 — From the Hudson to the Thames and beyond, two Red Foxes have been making waves athletically and academically across the pond.

Jordan Irving '22 and Allie Bohenko '23 are both former Marist College rowing team members, and they both are pursuing their master's degrees at Oxford Brookes University (OBU) in the United Kingdom.

But a major draw for them is the chance to row at one of the best and most competitive rowing programs in the U.K.

OBU has a reputation for recruiting top talent from around the world. Jordan and Allie are the university's first recruits from Marist, a connection that rowing coach Campbell Woods hopes will become a lasting pipeline.

“It’s a super cool experience that a student can continue and get their master’s degree, continue their rowing career, and spend time abroad,” said Woods. He added that OBU’s rowing program offers a level of competition that challenges even the most seasoned rowers.

Both Jordan and Allie also saw their time at Marist impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving them searching for a way to finish out their rowing career on a higher note.

Jordan Irving ’22. Photo courtesy of Marist Athletics.

“People said Oxford Brookes was a great opportunity, especially because it was international,” said Jordan a former Team Captain for the Red Foxes.

Jordan’s time at OBU has been defined by the intensity and depth of the program. With a much larger squad than Marist, the environment at OBU can be quite a bit more competitive than the college rowers are used to. 

“The system works with or without you pretty much,” said Jordan. “It creates an environment where you can’t slack off because somebody is going to take your spot.” 

This intensity pushed Jordan and Allie to new competitive heights, culminating in their participation in the Henley Royal Regatta, one of the most prestigious rowing events in the world.

“I knew that I always wanted to try to go a bit further in rowing, but I didn’t always think that it was going to be a possibility,” said Allie, a coxswain for the OBU squad.

Originally having planned to attend a different graduate school, the opportunity to extend her rowing career at such a well-known program drew her in. “This is an opportunity I can’t pass up,” she said.

Allie Bohenko ’23. Photo courtesy of Marist Athletics.

OBU also afforded Allie the opportunity to study abroad, something she was unable to do in her four years at Marist. 

“I think the value of it—learning new experiences, meeting new people, traveling to different places—are things that I’ll definitely carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said. Allie is pursuing her master’s degree in education, and says that the experience at OBU will enrich her teaching, allowing her to bring new perspectives into the classroom.

Woods views the achievements of Jordan and Allie as a testament to the strength of Marist’s rowing program, which continues to develop athletes capable of competing on the world stage. 

As the first Marist rowers to compete at OBU, Jordan and Allie have set a high bar for future athletes. While Jordan’s squad drew a tough competitor in the first race and was bumped out of the regatta, Allie’s squad won the Temple Challenge Cup, one of the regatta’s eight races.

Woods is optimistic about the future, as another Marist alumnus, Gavin Crouch '24, will head to Oxford Brookes and compete in the upcoming season.

“I’m hoping that Gavin won’t be the last and that we will continue the pipeline into the future,” said Woods.