Faculty Tribute: Ben Wright

          To me and all of my teammates, Mr. Wright is much more than a coach. He’s a mentor, teacher, motivator, and someone we all look up to. Winning races has been fun, but what my teammates and I will remember most about rowing for the Lawrenceville Crew team are the lessons we have learned on and off the water from Mr. Wright. Through his coaching and storytelling, he has instilled in us the importance of hard work, leadership, teamwork, and service. 

          Mr. Wright has dedicated his life to service. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1985, he served 10 years on active duty and 10 years in the reserves for  the Marines. He fought in the First Gulf War aboard the USS Saratoga and was in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. After serving in the Marines and spending some time working in the business world, Mr. Wright decided he wanted to serve in another way by becoming a boarding school teacher. 

          Mr. Wright came to Lawrenceville in 2004 and took over the rowing program as Head Coach. Lawrenceville was a small program at the time, fielding less than 20 oarsmen on the roster each year. Mr. Wright made an immediate impact on the crew and has had great success in his 19 years as Head Coach. After a few years under his leadership, the crew roster grew to over 40 oarsmen and has been that way ever since. Guided by Mr. Wright, Lawrenceville has won 11 of the last 12 Mid-Atlantic Prep League championships, competed in the Henley Royal Regatta in England in 2015 and 2019, defeated his own alma mater, New England powerhouse Kent School in three of the last four years, and has appeared in three Stotesbury Cup Grand Finals in the Varsity Eight event. Additionally, Mr. Wright has guided over 50 oarsmen to row at the collegiate level, one of whom even went on to represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games. 

          Beyond all of his accolades, Mr. Wright’s most profound contribution to Lawrenceville is the impact he has had on the young men of the Lawrenceville Crew team. My teammates and I are eternally grateful for the opportunities he has provided for us, and we wish him all the best. Thank you, Mr. Wright.