WSU alum makes Team USA for Rowing World Cup
The event takes place in China in September.
Last month, Cunningham competed in several World Cup events in Italy and Switzerland as part of the U.S. National Team.
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He first took an interest in the sport in college, thanks to his neighbors. His first year at WSU was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing him to finish his spring semester online at home.
According to a release from the university, a pair of prominent rowers moved into the neighborhood. Anna and Bob Cummins rowed at the University of Washington. Anna won a silver medal at the 2004 games and a gold one in Beijing in 2008.
The couple encouraged Cunningham to pick up rowing, and he joined the Cougar Crew team in the fall.
During his final year at WSU, Cunningham and his teammates earned the Paul Enquist trophy as the top club team in the Pac-12.
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After graduating from WSU, he moved to Philadelphia to join the Penn AC Rowing Association. Cunningham says it helped him work and train full-time to make the national team.
He says his long-term goal is to win gold at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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New York Times
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A draft stunner, but from a predictable source. Plus: All-Star guide
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Indiana Fever All-Star Aliyah Boston joins Boston Legacy FC investor group
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There could be a path in which he plays a few games with the Sharks and mixes in a few games on an AHL conditioning stint before a try at winning World Juniors gold with Canada. And Grier floated the possibility that he might return to the London Knights as their captain. Advertisement Having Ferraro, Leddy, Klingberg, Timothy Liljegren and Vincent Desharnais in the lineup makes sense to enhance their trade value. Shakir Mukhamadullin's strong 30-game introduction should be something the Sharks build on. In his zeal to beef up a woeful defense, Grier has created a numbers game, and there will be more movement — whether it's before opening night, during the first few months of the season or just before the trade deadline. The difference in Yaroslav Askarov's numbers with the Sharks and with the AHL's Barracuda shows how much of a leap it is, not only to be a starting goalie in the NHL but also to have lasting success. At 23, Askarov is still in his NHL infancy with just 14 career starts, and there were up-and-down moments with the Sharks last season. But there is no denying the amount of raw talent he has, and now it's time to stick in the NHL for the long haul. The Sharks traded for Alex Nedeljkovic to support Askarov – and to give him a partner who is good enough to push him for starts. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic hasn't duplicated his terrific rookie season, in which he was a Calder Trophy finalist for Carolina, and he's been below average on some middling Detroit and Pittsburgh teams. Basically, he isn't going to lift a club up a club for a full season, but he can be sparkling on given nights and is serviceable enough to provide 30 to 35 starts. As of now, Gabriel Carriere could become the No. 3 with a strong season. Carriere, 24, doesn't have a ton of pro experience but he did get in 22 games with the Barracuda last season and had an .894 save percentage with two shutouts. He had another 25 in the ECHL with the Wichita Thunder and performed well to earn the bump up in levels. The Sharks did sign Jakub Skarek, 25, on Thursday as an experienced AHL goalie to pair with him. (Photo of Will Smith: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
