Completed Event: Men's Heavyweight Rowing at Head of the Charles on October 18, 2025 ,
Final
Men's Heavyweight Rowing
at Head of the Charles
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Bender Qualifies for World Championships in Men’s Pair
7/31/2023 2:31:00 PM | Men's Heavyweight Rowing
Bender joins Dartmouth alum Oliver Bub ‘20 on the U.S. men’s senior national team
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — William Bender, a rising senior on the Dartmouth men's heavyweight rowing team, has qualified for the World Championships after finishing first at the USRowing Senior National Team Trials this past weekend. Bender and his pair partner Evan Olson qualified to race in the championships, which run from Sept. 3-10 in Belgrade, Serbia.
A native of Norwich, Vermont and graduate of Hanover High School, Bender joins fellow Big Green alum Oliver Bub '20, who was named to the men's eight. Bender and Bub both took part in the initial senior team camp, then after the eight was chosen, Bender turned his attention to senior trials in the pair.
Bender and Olson posted the top time in Thursday's time trial of 6:23.43 before finishing first in the final on Saturday (6:32.02). This isn't the first time Bender will represent the Red, White and Blue as he raced at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
"The race was good. We did a really good job of executing our race plan," said Bender to USRowing. "I'm obviously really excited about making the team. It became clear to me this summer that it's a totally different level than college or U23, and I'm stoked to get a chance to compete with, and against, all of these really talented guys."
Bender is a two-time first team All-American rower. He was a key member of the Varsity Eight this past season, including in the stroke seat at the IRA National Championship. The Big Green Varsity Eight enjoyed a strong 2023 season, beating Brown on Apr. 22 while also topping Wisconsin and Syracuse, and later Boston University, during the Lake Morey Invite. Dartmouth's Varsity Eight finished fifth at Eastern Sprints and 10th overall in the highly-competitive IRA National Championship.
A native of Norwich, Vermont and graduate of Hanover High School, Bender joins fellow Big Green alum Oliver Bub '20, who was named to the men's eight. Bender and Bub both took part in the initial senior team camp, then after the eight was chosen, Bender turned his attention to senior trials in the pair.
Bender and Olson posted the top time in Thursday's time trial of 6:23.43 before finishing first in the final on Saturday (6:32.02). This isn't the first time Bender will represent the Red, White and Blue as he raced at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
"The race was good. We did a really good job of executing our race plan," said Bender to USRowing. "I'm obviously really excited about making the team. It became clear to me this summer that it's a totally different level than college or U23, and I'm stoked to get a chance to compete with, and against, all of these really talented guys."
Bender is a two-time first team All-American rower. He was a key member of the Varsity Eight this past season, including in the stroke seat at the IRA National Championship. The Big Green Varsity Eight enjoyed a strong 2023 season, beating Brown on Apr. 22 while also topping Wisconsin and Syracuse, and later Boston University, during the Lake Morey Invite. Dartmouth's Varsity Eight finished fifth at Eastern Sprints and 10th overall in the highly-competitive IRA National Championship.
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