Commentary: UW Men's Rowing is the most impressive current local sports dynasty

We start with the most impressive news of the weekend: The Husky men’s crew team, winning an unprecedented fifth straight national title – and sweeping all five major championship races for the third time in the event’s history.

It’s the epitome of the word “Domination.” And it’s highly deserving of this celebration.

Crew team singing “Bow Down To Washington” Fortunately, I wasn’t the one singing it this time.

While every national title is special, this one might be the most remarkable. After all, the Husky men's rowing team didn’t win the annual Windermere Cup, like they normally do. They even lost to Cal in a dual race at home two months ago.

But when it mattered the most, the dynasty continued. Because that’s what it’s become – a legitimate dynasty that’s set a seemingly impossible bar for other rowing programs for years to come.

Listen, I don’t know much about rowing, other than I could barely get the oar in the water when I rowed with the Varsity Eight five years ago. But I do know that, in the world of Husky athletics, the men’s rowing team represents the standard to which every other program on Montlake should strive. The job that Director of Rowing Bob Ernst, and specifically men's head coach Michael Callahan and his coaching staff have done, year-after-year, to continue a storied tradition is extraordinary. They deserve all the kudos in the world.

I can only hope that 50 years from now, this current string of championships is celebrated in a similar fashion to the way the 19-36 team continues to be honored for their Olympic Championship. Because in my mind, sustained success over this decade is just as impressive.

With Bellevue football’s streak of six straight state titles coming to an end last December, the Husky men’s crew team now holds the most impressive current local sports dynasty. And there’s no indication that it’s coming to an end anytime soon.