Inside Look: John Michael

‘20

COMMODORE JOHN MICHAEL NAJARIAN GETTING TO KNOW THE TEAM

Looking at the Men’s Commodore John Michael Najarian

former Head Coach Arthur Ericsson to look into Cougar Crew. Ericsson invited John Michael down to the boathouse before he had committed to WSU as a student. While he was expecting to just watch the team from the launch, much to his surprise, Ericsson had John Michael hop into a boat and row with the team. John Michael says in that moment, “I just sort of fell in love with the Snake River and everything it had to offer. It is the best place in the world to row I would say.”

Reflecting on his time with the team so far, what John Michael appreciates the most are the everyday tasks C ougar Crew’s current Commodore is John Michael Najarian. He is a fourth-year oarsman studying Civil Engineering. He will be graduating in Fall 2020 and we are currently enjoying his impressive leadership during his final season.

Before coming to WSU, John Michael rowed for four years at Bainbridge Island Rowing (BIR). During his time with BIR, John Michael learned to row and got exposed to national scale rowing. His junior year of high school, he had the fortunate opportunity to go to the youth national championships in a lightweight 4+ where his boat placed 4th in the B final, 10th overall. There he experienced the competitive nature of the sport on a high level, inspiring him to move forward with a collegiate rowing career.

In April of 2016, John Michael came to Pullman to tour WSU. While he came to check out the university and pursue

academic interests, he also got in touch with such as going down to the river on early mornings or afternoons. While it can be difficult to get out there on dark mornings, John Michael is always excited to do something so unique and special with his best friends. Even with all his experience with rowing and his teammates, it never ceases to amaze John Michael how capable people can really be. Approaching something with very little experience and growing to do things you never imagined you could do “can be so amazing, productive and inspiring.”

John stroking the V8 at Head of the Lake, 2019

John Michael brings a unique experience to the team, allowing him to take on a leadership position right out of the gate his freshman year as the novice captain. Following former Commodore, Devon McCornack, could be viewed as a daunting task, however, John Michael does not see it that way. Rather, he brings strong leadership skills and abilities that offer a different dynamic to the team. Regardless of his elected position as this year’s Commodore, John Michael continuously builds on the foundations of his early rowing years, doing anything necessary to make boats go fast.

Outside of rowing, John is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is currently the president of the Sport Club Federation at WSU. Post college, John hopes to acquire a job in the environmental construction field. John Michael sees himself staying in the Pacific Northwest for the foreseeable future.

When asked what he would like to share with his younger teammates, John Michael had the following to say: “Take full advantage of every stroke. Even though

you might take ten or fifteen thousand strokes a week, take advantage of every single one because being off for just five minutes at practice could be the difference between going home with a tank or nothing at all.”

Go Cougs!