When Old Collegian Angus Murfett (SPC 2021 – 2024) made the decision to move to St Patrick’s College in Year 9, he was excited by the opportunities the College’s rowing program could provide.
Today, he is studying and rowing on scholarship at Jacksonville University in Florida, a journey that began on the water at Lake Wendouree and one that has taken Angus by surprise.
Angus was introduced to rowing at a young age, following in the footsteps of his father, brother and sister.
“My dad rowed when he was younger, and my brother and sister rowed as well,” Angus said.
“I started coxing when I was about seven and then began rowing when I got to high school. It was always something I enjoyed.”
Finding his place at St Patrick’s College
Recognising the strength of the SPC rowing program, Angus made the move from Ballarat High School to St Patrick’s in Year 9.
“I was really excited about the rowing program because I knew I’d be able to go a little bit further and get a bit more out of it,” he said.
“I was nervous about changing schools because of friends and everything, but I became friends with all the rowing boys anyway.”
Those friendships would become one of the most valuable parts of his St Patrick’s experience.
“Rowing gave me a connection to people and to the school that will last a lifetime,” Angus said.
“It didn’t matter whether someone was a senior rower, a junior rower or a cox. You’d see people around school and always stop to say hello because you’d spent so much time together at training and regattas.”
A taste of National competition
One of Angus’ fondest memories was representing St Patrick’s at the Australian Rowing Championships as a member of the College’s Intermediate crew.
With the national championships relocated from Sydney to Nagambie due to flooding, the crew became the first St Patrick’s Intermediate crew to compete at the event.
“It was a great experience,” Angus said.
“We’d been racing against the same crews all season and then suddenly we were at nationals competing against crews from around Australia.”
More importantly, the experience gave Angus a glimpse of what was possible.
“It definitely made me want to work harder and keep going back,” he said.
“It made all of us hungry for more. We got that exposure and saw what it was like, and then we wanted to keep getting there.”
A Head of the Lake to remember
That drive eventually led to multiple national championship appearances and one of the most memorable races of his rowing career – St Patrick’s thrilling Head of the Lake victory in 2024.
“We’d never beaten them (Ballarat Clarendon College) before, but we knew we were close,” Angus recalled.
“About 500 metres into the race I thought, ‘This could be the day.’ We were right next to each other the whole way and trading positions all the way down the course.
“The time after crossing the finish line, waiting to find out who had won, was some of the tensest moments I’ve ever experienced.”
The victory remains one of his proudest sporting memories.
An opportunity across the world
After finishing school, Angus continued rowing with Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club and competing at state and national level.
Then came an opportunity he had never imagined.
After returning from a regatta in New South Wales, Angus received messages from rowing coaches in the United States who had noticed his performances.
“Before that, I didn’t even know going overseas through rowing was really a possibility,” he said.
With support and guidance, Angus explored several opportunities before eventually accepting a scholarship to Jacksonville University.
Today, he lives on campus in Florida, balancing university studies with the demands of collegiate rowing.
Most days begin with gym sessions alongside his teammates before classes and afternoon training sessions on the water.
“We’ve got a huge river where we train,” he said.
“We can row for kilometres in either direction and sometimes there are dolphins swimming past the boat. It’s pretty cool.”
Angus is currently studying Mechanical Engineering and says the scholarship has made studying overseas more affordable than he ever expected.
Through a combination of rowing and academic scholarships, he is able to complete his degree while competing at a high level and gaining international experience.
Lessons beyond the boat
While the scholarship is an incredible achievement, Angus believes the greatest benefit of rowing has been the personal growth it has fostered.
“It teaches you that you can always go a little bit harder,” he said.
“When you’re tired and your mind is telling you that’s enough, there’s always a little bit more you can give.”
Where could rowing take you?
For students considering joining the St Patrick’s rowing program, his advice is simple.
“Give it a go,” he said.
“You don’t have to be the best rower to enjoy it. Some of the people who had the most fun weren’t the fastest. You get to travel, race, spend time with your mates and be part of something bigger than yourself. It’s an experience that’s really hard to replicate.”
Reflecting on the role rowing has played in his life, Angus points to another benefit that extends far beyond competition. When he arrived at university in the United States, he instantly had a community around him.
“Before I even got there, the other rowers were messaging me,” he said.
“As soon as I arrived, the older boys were helping us out and making us feel welcome. It felt like I’d already been there for a year.”
It is a feeling he first experienced at St Patrick’s College.
“The rowing community is really special,” Angus said.
“And you never know where it might take you.”
