Cedar Cunningham had a very successful rowing career at Washington State University. He graduated from WSU with a finance degree in the spring of 2022. During the 2021-22 racing season Cedar set the WSU 2K ergometer record at 6:04. Not ready to give up rowing, Cedar moved back east and joined the Penn AC Rowing Association in Philadelphia where he began training in the U23 summer camp. His training progressed rapidly both on and off the water. In April of 2023 he posted a new best 2K ergometer time of 5:54, ten seconds better than his WSU record.

Last July, Cedar decided to participate in the 2023 USA Senior Team Trials held at the Mercer County Racecourse in New Jersey. These trials determine the USA National team squad for the World Rowing Championships which were held in Belgrade in September. They also serve to qualify teams for the next Olympics.

In the sculling quarterfinals Cedar, rowing against older and more experienced rowers, three of which were former national team scullers, finished just 1.96 seconds out of first place and 0.7 seconds away from qualifying for the A Final. Cedar finished a very close second place in the B Final for an eighth place finish, besting the 2022 silver medalist at the World Rowing Under 23 World Championships.

Using this race as a springboard, Cedar continued to train, lowering his 2K ergometer time to 5:51, in preparation for the National Team Winter Speed Order Regatta which was held on Feb 18th. He raced four 2k’s over a three day period, continuing to improve each time he hit the water. Based on his performance at this race, Cedar received an invitation to join seven other current national team members to the Olympic Selection Camp which will began on March 3rd in Sarasota, FL. Cedar is the only non-national team member to be selected for this elite selection camp. This camp will determine the four members making up the Olympic Quad. The selection process will be completed March 24th. Once this quad is chosen it will still need to win the Olympic trials against any other challengers, which could include Cedar, if he is not selected to be one of the four members of the selection quad. The winner of the Olympic trials will be named the quad that will be going to the final regatta qualification race in Lucerne in preparation for the summer Olympics held this year in Paris, France.

While Cedar would love to make his Olympic debut in Paris this year, his long term goal remains the summer Olympic Games in 2028 which will be held in Los Angeles. Currently he is well ahead of his and his coaches timeline and training goals. The quad selection camp will provide valuable experience which will pay dividends in the years leading up to the 2028 Olympics.

Good luck Cedar! Go Cougs!

Written by Jim Austin